• Contact your insurance company immediately. Your agent will be able to guide you through the process of filing your claim, as well as tips to begin restoration.

• Take photos of the damage as soon as possible after the the catastrophe. By having photographic documentation of the damage, you can show your insurance company when filing your claim.

• Find out if your home or business is structurally sound. If it isn’t, you will have to make other living or business arrangements until the property is safe to occupy.

• Shut off the main power to your electricity and water supply. Make sure the power and water stays off until it is safe to turn them back on. This will ensure no further damage is done to the property.

• Move all of your valuables and important documents to a safe, dry place. Anything of value may want to be stored in a safe place before a disaster strikes.

• In the event of flooding, try to remove as much of the water as possible. Use buckets to remove standing water from your home; air your home out by running your air conditioner, dehumidifier or fan. WARNING: Standing water will begin to produce mold within 48 hours. An important suggestion would be to hire a water damage restoration company, such as NextGen Restoration http://www.nextgenrestoration.com/florida/water-damage to remove all traces of water from your home to avoid mold accumulation and other water damage. .

• If possible, cover any damaged windows and doors. Use plywood or plastic to cover broken windows and doors, as well as any damaged areas of the roof to prevent more moisture from entering.

• Inspect the property completely. Be sure to take notes of all of the damage you see. It will help with restoration once you have hired a restoration company. Check your roof for cracks, holes, missing shingles, etc. Look for damage to gutters, siding and chimney. Check all of your insulation for moisture or damage. Most importantly, inspect your foundation walls to make sure they are intact.

Most of the time, your insurance company will suggest a restoration contractor. You also have the option of seeking out your own restoration specialist. The following checklist will help you with that process.

• Find a restoration company that specializes in fire, flood and natural disasters. This type of contractor has certified and specially trained technicians with specialized equipment.

• Be sure the company is certified. You want to hire a restoration contractor that is licensed, bonded and insured in your state. Make sure they are also certified to use the proper equipment.

• Don’t sign a contract without noted specifics. Be sure the contract states, in detail, what will be done, the estimated price and what materials, tools and equipment will be used.

• Ask for references. Call the company’s references to make sure they are competent. You should also check with the Better Business Bureau to find out their rating. Also, take a look at their portfolio of before and after photos of the jobs the company has done.

• Don’t hire a company that requires a large deposit to begin work. Unfortunately, there are some companies that prey on disaster victims. Do your research and find out what the average down payment is for restoration contractors. If yours is overcharging, look elsewhere.

Your best chance of getting your life back to normal after a fire, flood or natural disaster is to refer to this checklist. Not only will it help you to stay safe and focus on what needs to be done, it will also help the restoration contract you hire to get the job done quickly and completely. Once you have followed the steps and have begun to the restoration process, your life will be back to normal before you know it.

NextGen Restoration specializes in clean-up, repair, restoration and rebuilding after fires, floods, storms, and natural disasters. We offer dependable, 24/7 emergency services 365 days a year. Our team is trained, certified and experienced in all aspects of the restoration process.

Call us today so we can help you get your life back in order! 813-962-6855

Click the link below to download a printable PDF checklist to make sure your disaster restoration specialist is qualified, licensed and bonded.

Pre-Qualifying Your Disaster Restoration Specialist

One of the first benefits you will receive if you invest in a home security company system is as simple as a little sign in your front yard. These signs, which you may have seen in neighboring yards or even in front of office buildings, simply indicate that your property is protected by an advanced security system. This little indication, or warning if you will, can actually do a lot to deter vandals and other criminals from attempting to trespass on your property.

If somebody were to attempt to break into your home or damage your property anyway, the actual security system itself could come into play in a number of different ways. To begin with, the most common home security feature is a house alarm, which alerts you (as well as the authorities) any time somebody forces his or her way into your home. For additional protection against criminals and vandals, you may also want to consider investing in motion sensors, laser trip wires, or even video cameras; in fact, particularly if vandalism is your main concern, video cameras may be your biggest ally, as they can record images of criminals and possibly allow you to aid the authorities in catching any offenders.

Remember: Damages caused by break-ins or by vandals can be both frightening to you and your family and also very expensive to repair. This is not a problem that you have to live with. The right security system really can greatly decrease the odds that your house is ever damaged by a criminal, meaning that the likelihood of you ever having to pay for damages will be very low.

life’s Unexpected Events…

Many people at some point in their life come face-to-face with an unpleasant situation that involves bio-hazardous materials. While we admit that these are not our favorite calls to receive, they are important to us. What, and more importantly, HOW we can respond to your need is the real issue. As you can imagine, these projects are each unique and we are sensitive to the special needs you have.

Why is Training So Critical?

The way a firm handles projects like this is critical. Doing work where you can come into contact with fluids and biological matter that can cause death to the handlers if not processed correctly requires training. It requires use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) that is tailored for this type of hazardous environment. Extraction, isolation and removal of the contaminated materials must be done with specialized equipment and properly identified storage containers. All materials or surfaces that are not removed must be sanitized properly. Then the sampling of the remaining affected surfaces must be performed to confirm the success of the project.

This may seem like a whole lot to do about nothing. But when we are talking about STD’s, Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and Aids as the door prize for poor work practices, you can understand why we make certain that not only we are safe, but that we leave you with a verified environment that is ready to re-inhabit.

Proper Disposal as Mandated by the State of Florida

The final item on the list is the processing and Chain of Custody of the materials. At NextGen, we are State Certified Bio-Hazard Disposal Transporters. Unless the you meet the stringent requirements of the State of Florida, you cannot transport bio-hazardous materials. This means that any materials that may be a reminder of the unfortunate event leave your structure with us.

One call to NextGen at 813.962.6855 ensures a professional, sensitive,
and caring response in your moment of need.

Water Damage / Mold Damage / Fire Damage / Lead Damage / Insurance Litigation

Losses happen every day, and everything doesn’t always go according to plan… Our company can not only help you with emergencies, but losses that may not have been handled as professionally as possible:

• Is your home infested with mold or bacterial growth because your house was not properly dried from a previous loss?
• Are you trying to buy a new home with visible water damage?
• Are you trying to restore an old home with architectural damage due to water intrusion and need an expert opinion?
• Do you need documentation to present to a homeowner’s association to get coverage for a water loss?
• Are you fighting an insurance company to recoup losses because of a mishandled water claim?

These are just some of the cases that we can help you with by providing an expert in the field of mitigation and remediation. We do charge a moderate consulting fee for our services, but we’ll also provide you with all of the documentation you need certified by an extensively-trained master in the field of restoration. Contact us via e-mail or phone and we’ll be happy to give you any information you require about our services.

Are you looking to save some $$$ by increasing the efficiency of your home’s energy resources or solve a pressurization problem at your facility?

At NextGen we have the latest technologies to identify and improve your structure’s efficiency administered by a BPI Certified Inspector. Inspection services include:

Thermal Imaging Cameras (to find sources of heat and air conditioning leaks, missing insulation, air leaks, etc.) Blower Door Testing (to find paths that air uses to enter or exit the structure, and establish optimal pressurization) A/C Duct Testing (for leaks in HVAC duct work) Electrical Systems Diagnostics (to find inefficient motors, lights and wiring)

The final result of an inspection has two great benefits: 1) An assurance that your home is GREEN & EFFICIENT, or 2) The creation of a concrete list of items to improve your energy stewardship, and LOWER YOUR ELECTRICAL BILLS!!!

Call our Tampa Office today to schedule an appointment and start saving today! 813.962.6855.

What is “Chinese Drywall” anyway?

While all the effects of “Chinese” or “odorous” drywall are still being uncovered, there is unanimous agreement that it is toxic, and harmful to both people and building materials. It’s a misnomer that all of the affected drywall is from China. Leading research has identified the culprit causing the issues as being a variety of sulfur compounds present in the drywall composition. While all drywall does have these sulfur compounds, the issue with “Chinese drywall” is created by the combination and concentration of them, coupled with the toxic environments where they are installed.

What are the signs that I have a problem?

• Corrosion on copper or galvanized metal. Copper oxidation (on air conditioner coils, refrigerator coils, etc.) should be greenish in nature. If it is black, it is likely due to contaminated drywall.
• Frequent replacement of A/C system or refrigerator components (such as air coils). DANGER: If you have experienced loss of “freon” or refrigerant from your A/C system, it may have leaked into your home from sulfur-eaten pinholes in your equipment.
• Electrical issues – Oxidation of copper wire is a hazard. However, the issue is compounded by the oxidation in that it affects the way that electrical current is carried on the wire. The electrical resistance changes, creating the increased likelihood of anomalies and possibly even fires.
• Silver jewelry turning black
• Respiratory problems

What is the process of removal? The general theory for remediation is to remove all of the affected materials. No one will argue that this would certainly include the drywall and HVAC system. However, trusses use galvanized gussets and the electrical system is composed completely copper wire, so the final level of demolition required is widely disputed. Careful evaluation of the current state of these additional components would be recommended

Does homeowner insurance cover the cost?

As of the latter part of 2010 and to the best of our knowledge, remediation of this hazard is not being covered by your homeowner’s policy. NextGen is hearing that this is being considered to be a construction and/or material defect and, as such, no coverage is being offered.

Where to begin: chinese drywall Inspections

There are several methods of testing currently being used, but unfortunately it is costly and no single test will find every sulfur compound suspected.

However, your “peace of mind” is extremely important, so NextGen does provide visual inspections and a full array of testing for these compounds on a consulting basis. It is our goal to use our current knowledge & expertise to locate any possible hazards in your home, and then work with you to find a solution.

Contact our central office in Tampa at

813.962.6855 for an appointment.

You may see a water spot on your bedroom ceiling that could actually be entering through a roof leak 100 feet away. However, through the use of thermal imaging and other data-collecting devices, we can detect water unseen to the eye, and also find the entry point of water coming into your structure.

Remember, just because it looks dry, doesn’t mean that it is dry….

As part of our services, we not only can find where water is penetrating your structure, but we’ll provide you with images & high-quality documentation you can take straight to your insurance company to fix the problem.

We are certified & trained on our equipment by the industry-leading Infrared Training Center. With a Thermal Imaging camera, a technician can survey from floor to ceiling in just moments, producing images such as the one below. Our data can be put directly into DVD format, making our imaging services even more convenient for our clients.

Above: Is this closet dry? Look again – moisture (seen in purple) still remains trapped in the wall unseen… This is the type of water NextGen makes sure does not remain in your structure, as it can easily cause mold growth.

Consumer Tip: Mold CANNOT be detected through use of our thermal imaging equipment. Thermal Imaging Cameras only measure a differential change in the temperature of building materials, which MAY indicate the immediate presence of moisture. Mold behind walls can only be seen if the building materials are removed or its presence is already on the exterior. For more information on finding and removing mold, please visit our Mold Testing and Mold Remediation pages.

Fire Damage Restoration

Trust the restoration of your home or business to NextGen Restoration. We are certified by a national body called the Institute of Cleaning & Inspection (IICRC) as Master Smoke Restorers and Master Textile Cleaners. We service all of Tampa Bay. If you’ve had a fire, the sooner you contact us, the better! Here’s why:

When a fire occurs in a structure, intense heat and carcinogenic smoke drives complex chemicals deeply into all porous contents and building materials. But, with quick intervention (“mitigation”), many building materials that would be require demolition or removal (if untreated) can be preserved. It is all a FUNCTION OF THE TIME ELAPSED since the fire.

A fire loss does not create just “dirty” clothes or contents. A trained eye is necessary to quickly triage contents that can be salvaged and ones that can’t. If they are restorable, restoration requires unique, specific techniques performed by knowledgeable, highly-trained technicians in order to effectively salvage them.

• Drying services
• Contents Cleaning – Both furniture and soft goods
• Contents Restoration – Including furniture, clothing, drapes, rugs, etc.
• Structural Cleaning – Including Dry Ice Blasting, Soda Blasting and Hydroxylated Ozone
• Restoration / Rebuild Services
• Inventory of damaged contents for presentation to the insurance carrier
• Valuation of damaged contents for presentation to the insurance carrier

Call NextGen Restoration at 813-962-6855 for all of your

Fire Damage and Contents Cleaning needs.