New blog posts and project case studies from our water, fire, mold and asbestos restoration work across metro Atlanta. 2026-06-10T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/ Flood & Flame Restoration 2026-06-10T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/water-damage-dental-office-chamblee/ 2026-05-28T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/water-damage-high-rise-sandy-springs/ 2026-05-14T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/mold-remediation-lindbergh/ 2026-05-06T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/asbestos-abatement-decatur/ 2026-04-06T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/mold-remediation-senoia/ 2026-01-22T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/blog/indoor-air-quality-vs-eating-organic/ <p>When it comes to health and longevity, food often takes center stage in our conversations. Debates over vegan, mediterranean, paleo, and carnivore diets dominate discussions about living longer and feeling better. Yet, there is one crucial health factor that rarely gets its due attention: Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).</p> <p>Surprisingly, IAQ might have a greater impact on our health and longevity than the food we eat. Think about it: the average American spends more than 90% of their time indoors. According to the EPA, the air inside our homes can be significantly more polluted than the air in even the largest, most industrialized cities. Air pollution in homes is typically 2 to 5 times higher than outdoors.</p> <h2>Health Consequences</h2> <p>If pollutants such as dust, mold, allergens, or chemicals are not effectively removed or filtered, our lungs essentially become the default filtration system. This constant exposure can have serious health consequences.</p> <p>This is why homes with consistently poor IAQ see much higher rates of severe respiratory diseases like stroke, reduced lung function, heart disease, and lung cancer. Bad IAQ can also exacerbate chronic respiratory conditions, including asthma. Vulnerable people, like young children and the elderly, are especially at risk.</p> <p>So with that being said, the question might arise how to improve indoor air quality. This can be quite tricky, especially since more often than not, the source of the problem will not reveal itself so easily...</p> <h2>The Hidden Sources of Poor Indoor Air Quality</h2> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Crawl Spaces:</strong> Homes with crawl spaces can see up to 50% of their indoor air coming from these areas. If the crawl space is dirty, moldy, or poorly ventilated, it can significantly degrade the air quality inside the home.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>HVAC Systems:</strong> Your HVAC system does more than control your home's temperature; it directly affects air quality. A poorly maintained or dirty HVAC system can circulate pollutants, increase humidity, and therefore worsen air quality. Regular maintenance is key to ensuring it filters out harmful substances effectively.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Gas Stoves:</strong> Cooking with gas stoves releases pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Without proper ventilation, these pollutants can accumulate and worsen IAQ, particularly in kitchens without effective range hoods or open windows.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Building Materials and Furnishings:</strong> New carpets, furniture, and building materials emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as they off-gas. As some materials age, certain items like plywood, paint, and insulation can release harmful gasses into your indoor air.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Chemicals:</strong> Everyday items such as cleaning supplies, pesticides, air fresheners, and personal care products contribute to poor IAQ. Even scented candles, incense and hair sprays release chemicals that linger in your air.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Biological Pollutants:</strong> Mold, dust mites, viruses, and pet dander are common biological contaminants that can cause allergies and respiratory issues. These pollutants are often drawn into the HVAC system and circulated throughout the home.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>How to Improve Indoor Air Quality</h2> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Source Control:</strong> Reduce or eliminate sources of pollutants. For example, let new furniture or mattresses off-gas outside before bringing them indoors. Opt for non-toxic or low-VOC cleaning supplies and building materials when possible. At Flood &amp; Flame Restoration we help home owners address microbial growth. What we find is that often homeowners are not aware of the amount of microbial growth because it is behind furniture, in the attic or crawl space or inside a cabinet.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Improved Ventilation:</strong> Proper ventilation is essential. Open windows and doors when weather permits to circulate fresh air, or even better: invest in a high-quality ventilation system. Europeans commonly air out their homes daily. A simple and somewhat effective practice, although nowadays continuous, 24/7 ventilation is considered far superior than just opening the windows once or twice a day.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Air Filtration:</strong> Air purifiers with HEPA filters can significantly improve IAQ by removing particles like dust, pollen, and smoke. Regularly replace HVAC filters to ensure your system functions optimally.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>What Should You Monitor?</h2> <p>There are many affordable devices available to monitor your IAQ. Brands like Airthings and Aranet offer reliable products that provide actionable data. By monitoring IAQ and making small adjustments, you can dramatically improve the air you breathe at home. Consider monitoring these metrics:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>CO2:</strong> High CO2 levels are a good proxy to indicate poor ventilation. Place a monitor in areas like the kitchen to determine whether your ventilation during cooking is adequate.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Radon:</strong> Radon is a radioactive gas that seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation. It's the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., and is a problem in northern Georgia where there is a lot of granite.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>VOCs:</strong> VOCs enter your home through off-gassing from household products and deteriorating construction materials. Track VOC levels to identify problem areas and take corrective action.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Humidity:</strong> High humidity promotes mold growth. Aim to keep your home's relative humidity below 50%.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>Don't Overlook the Air</h2> <p>Eating well matters, but don't overlook the air you breathe every second of every day. Indoor air quality has a direct, measurable effect on your health, and unlike a lot of health worries, it's one you can actually measure and fix. Next time the conversation turns to diet and longevity, it's worth putting the air in the room on the list too.</p> 2026-01-11T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/fire-damage-cleanup-marietta/ 2026-01-08T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/asbestos-abatement-funeral-home/ <p>Once the asbestos test came back positive, the water work froze in place: nothing could be removed until the asbestos was abated under containment and cleared by an outside inspector. That turned a straightforward cleanup into weeks of careful sequencing, in a building that kept holding services the whole time.</p> 2025-11-07T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/blog/save-hardwood-floors-with-injectidry/ <h2>Why the Injectidry System Is So Effective</h2> <p>The Injectidry system pushes warm, dry air down into the boards and draws the moisture back out, drying the wood from the inside instead of just the surface. Getting the water out quickly is what keeps the floor from warping, cracking or rotting later, and the wood holds its color and texture through the process. We've used it on a lot of hardwood floors, including some that had been soaked for almost 10 days.</p> <h2>Don't Make This Mistake</h2> <p>One of the most preventable mistakes you can make as a homeowner is to have your hardwood floor refinished too soon after drying. Wood that has suffered water damage needs months to acclimate again, even after it's been dried out by something like the Injectidry system. Refinishing the wood too soon by sanding it can lead to an uneven floor a couple of months later when the wood returns to its original shape. So let's repeat this here once more: <strong>Do not get your hardwood floor refinished shortly after drying it out!</strong></p> <h2>Can Injectidry Only Be Used on Hardwood Floors?</h2> <p>While we've had our biggest successes using the Injectidry system with hardwood flooring, it actually can work with some other floor types as well. Here's what you need to know about its effectiveness per floor type:</p> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Hardwood and Parquet:</strong> The Injectidry system is highly effective at drying hardwood floors. In fact, it can penetrate deep into the core of the wood, allowing for rapid drying and reduced damage. Some types of parquet floors can also be dried effectively using this system, but not all parquet options may be suitable.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Laminate:</strong> Unfortunately, laminate floors cannot be successfully dried with the Injectidry system. Laminate is made from a synthetic material that doesn't allow moisture to pass through easily, preventing the system from working effectively.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Tile:</strong> The Injectidry system can be used to dry tile floors, drawing moisture through the grout. This makes it an ideal solution for tile floors that have absorbed water due to flooding or spills. This solution does not always work well, in particular if the tile floors have a wood substrate.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Cement and Concrete:</strong> The Injectidry panels are also effective at drying cement and concrete floors. However, the water source should not be groundwater, which can affect how well the system performs.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Vinyl:</strong> Injectidry panels are not recommended for drying sheet vinyl floors. Vinyl is not porous enough to allow the system to pull moisture up through the material, rendering the technology ineffective.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>Let's Save Your Floors Instead of Replacing Them</h2> <p>For water damaged hardwood floors the Injectidry system provides a welcome alternative to ripping everything out and replacing it. We've used it successfully with many clients in many different situations. For tile, cement and concrete flooring it is often worth giving it a try as well. If you live in the Atlanta area and contact Flood &amp; Flame Restoration to help you out with your water damage problem, we will always find you a fitting solution to your problem, whether that is the Injectidry system, or any of the other water mitigation tools we have at our disposal.</p> 2025-09-18T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/blog/understanding-water-damage-categories/ <p>As if dealing with water damage in your home isn't stressful enough, filing an insurance claim adds even more complexity to the situation.</p> <p>One crucial aspect of the claims process is how the water damage is categorized by the water mitigation company. This so-called &quot;Category of Water&quot; is an indication of how much work it will be to mitigate the damage.</p> <h2>Category 1: Clean Water</h2> <p>This is water from a sanitary source, such as a broken supply line, that poses no immediate health risks if addressed promptly.</p> <h2>Category 2: Significantly Contaminated Water</h2> <p>This water has the potential to cause illness if ingested or if there is prolonged exposure. It can come from sources like washing machine overflows, dishwashers, or toilet overflows (without feces).</p> <h2>Category 3: Grossly Contaminated Water</h2> <p>This category includes sewage backups, flooding from natural disasters, and any water containing harmful bacteria or pathogens that pose serious health risks.</p> <h2>What Happens When You Don't Take Action</h2> <p>If a kitchen sink supply line breaks and the water is cleaned up within a couple of days, it will typically be classified as Category 1, because the water originated from a sanitary source.</p> <p>However, if the water sits for too long, allowing for contamination or microbial growth to take place, it could escalate to Category 2 or even 3.</p> <p><strong>The most common reason we see a claim change from Category 1 to Category 2 or 3 is due to delays in mitigation efforts,</strong> whether foreseen or unforeseen.</p> <p>Mold can grow in as little as 24 to 48 hours, and under the right conditions, a Category 1 water loss can turn into a Category 3 water loss within 72 hours due to extensive microbial growth.</p> <p>Category 1 losses generally require minimal cleaning with salvageable materials, while Category 2 and 3 losses require extensive cleaning, personal protective equipment, and material removal, all of which significantly increases the scope and cost of the job.</p> <h2>How Insurance Views This</h2> <p>Insurance adjusters scrutinize claims, especially when a Category 1 water loss escalates to a Category 2 or 3. They may question whether you as the property owner acted fast enough to mitigate the damage. Suspected negligence in response time can impact your coverage.</p> <h2>Key Takeaways for Homeowners</h2> <ul> <li> <p><strong>Act Quickly:</strong> Promptly address water damage and do not wait to take action. This prevents escalation from Category 1 to higher categories.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Document Everything:</strong> Take photos, keep receipts, and maintain a timeline of mitigation efforts. When you hire us to do mitigation work for you, we will be documenting every single step of the restoration process, but some photos and/or videos taken by you while you were waiting for us to arrive could still come in handy.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Understand Your Policy:</strong> Be aware of coverage limits and responsibilities to avoid disputes with your insurer or remediator.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Work with Professionals:</strong> Hire certified water mitigation experts to properly assess and categorize the damage. Take note of how they are classifying the water damage and ensure you agree with their assessment to avoid unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.</p> </li> <li> <p><strong>Dry the Materials Completely:</strong> A common mistake that DIY homeowners make is attempting to dry extensive water damage without realizing that moisture has seeped under flooring or between floors. Surface water may be cleaned up, but subflooring, ceiling joists, or hidden spaces may still be wet, allowing microbial growth to develop unnoticed. Once the microbial growth is identified, you may be limited in your ability to file a claim because you're either outside the notification window to insurance, or because it will be treated as a pre-existing condition by the insurance company.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>Why Speed Matters</h2> <p>Water damage gets worse by the hour. The sooner you act, the less of your home is ruined and the smoother your insurance claim goes.</p> 2025-08-03T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/blog/your-home-might-need-lead-testing/ <p>When you hire Flood &amp; Flame to do restoration work on your home, whether it be a water, fire or mold job, chances are we will require a lead test before proceeding with the work. If you'd ask us why this is necessary, the most obvious reason we could give you is that we are mandated by law to do the testing, but while that is true, it is probably more helpful to you to explain why these laws exist in the first place: for your health and safety.</p> <h2>Why Is Lead Dangerous?</h2> <p>Lead is highly toxic, particularly to children and pregnant women. Even low levels of exposure can cause significant health problems, including:</p> <p><strong>In Children:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Developmental delays and learning disabilities</li> <li>Behavioral issues, such as aggression and hyperactivity</li> <li>Damage to the nervous system and reduced IQ</li> <li>Stunted physical growth</li> </ul> <p><strong>In Adults:</strong></p> <ul> <li>High blood pressure and kidney damage</li> <li>Fertility issues in both men and women</li> <li>Cognitive decline and memory problems</li> <li>Nerve and joint pain</li> </ul> <p>Lead exposure is particularly insidious because symptoms may not appear immediately, making it difficult to identify the source until long-term damage has occurred.</p> <h2>Where Is Lead Commonly Found in Homes?</h2> <p><strong>Paint:</strong> If your house was built between 1940 and 1960, there's a 2 in 3 chance there's lead paint present, and any home built before 1940 has a 9 out of 10 chance! While intact lead-based paint may not pose an immediate risk, paint that is peeling, chipping, or disturbed during renovations releases harmful lead dust into the air. It's pretty obvious why we, as a restoration company, have to be careful about lead paint when doing any type of demolition activity in an older home.</p> <p><strong>Soil:</strong> Soil surrounding older homes could be contaminated by lead paint residues or past use of leaded gasoline. Children playing outdoors and gardening activities can stir up contaminated soil, so while you probably do not need another reason to tell your child to not eat dirt and wash their hands before eating, lead is actually a pretty good one.</p> <p><strong>Lead Pipes:</strong> Lead pipes or plumbing fixtures with lead solder could be present in homes built before 1986, and even modern brass faucets may contain trace amounts of lead. Lead leaches into water, especially warm or acidic water, increasing exposure risk for everyone in the household, with (again) children and infants being the most vulnerable.</p> <p><strong>Household Items:</strong> For things like toys, trinkets and jewelry this (again) has to do with lead-based paint being used in producing these items. For certain cosmetics, one of the ingredients could also contain lead. Be careful when importing cheap stuff from abroad, since there are still countries with less strict regulations surrounding the use of lead and lead paint who produce things (even some lead-containing edibles) you really should not be buying.</p> <h2>When Will a Lead Test Be Required?</h2> <p>Homes built before 1979 should always be tested for the presence of lead prior to starting remediation work, simply because the chance of lead being present in building materials is so significant. If you or a previous owner had a lead test done in the past and you have documentation proving this, another lead test will not be necessary.</p> <p>We're also responsible for requiring lead testing on any property, old or new, if we suspect lead might be present. This is unlikely in newer homes, but not 100% impossible.</p> <h2>Stay Safe</h2> <p>Flood &amp; Flame Restoration prides itself in prioritizing safety for both workers and occupants above all else. While doing restoration work, the primary lead-related issues we will be dealing with are going to be related to lead paint in older homes. However, that does not mean you should not care about the other ways lead can creep into your life. Get your pipes checked, get your child some quality toys, confirm the cosmetics you use are safe and stop buying those cheap tchotchkes online!</p> 2025-07-30T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/water-damage-cleanup-east-cobb/ 2025-06-12T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/blog/water-mitigation-in-schools/ <p>When operating schools or childcare centers, an all too common problem is water intrusion. This can happen not only from overflows from sinks and toilets, but also from sprinkler systems, HVAC systems and roof damage.</p> <p>Properly mitigating water damage in a school setting is imperative because developing children are more susceptible to the damaging effects of mold, which under the right circumstances can grow within 48 hours of a water problem occurring. Teachers are concerned too, both for the children and for their own health.</p> <h2>Complexities in School Settings</h2> <p>In a childcare or school setting there are additional complexities that arise during water or mold mitigation activities, including:</p> <ul> <li>Do the technicians have appropriate criminal clearances to be around children?</li> <li>Do the contractors understand how to protect children from the hazards of their equipment and chemicals?</li> <li>Do the contractors understand the regulations that govern schools and daycares and how this may impact their work?</li> <li>Can the contractors do the work efficiently so as to minimize disruption to the school or childcare center?</li> </ul> <h2>Flood &amp; Flame Has the Experience AND Expertise</h2> <p>Paula Charles, one of the founders and principals, spent almost 20 years operating childcare centers and understands both the regulations and the challenges of water, mold and fire mitigation because she had to address them herself.</p> <ul> <li>Our lead technicians possess comprehensive clearance letters from DECAL for childcare center work</li> <li>We recognize the need to maintain operations while addressing damage concerns appropriately</li> <li>Our technicians hold the highest industry credentials with IICRC in water, mold and fire and can do the job correctly</li> </ul> <p>If you have a water or mold problem at your school or childcare center, don't trust just any restoration company. Work with a team that understands the unique requirements of your environment.</p> 2025-02-07T00:00:00Z https://floodflame.com/work/fire-damage-cleanup-cartersville/ <p>The flames did the obvious damage, but smoke and soot travel a lot further than fire does, working into the insulation, the ductwork, and every surface in rooms the fire never touched. That is what made this a full gut and restore to <a href="https://iicrc.org">IICRC S700</a> fire and smoke standards rather than a patch on the rooms that burned.</p>