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– Disaster Resources, Aftermath, and Update from Us –
Dear friends and families,
We hope this post finds you well. We have been heartbroken by this tragedy that has affected all of our neighbors here in Houston. This storm has been devastating for so many. Luckily all of our staff are safe, though some have encountered water damages.
We have resumed full operations as of today. Our showroom will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. From what we have already seen by the community banding together, we have faith that we will come back stronger and will work in unity to help rebuild.
We sincerely hope that you or your family were not affected by this storm.
Here are few tips we have found that can help with your flooded home:
Make sure to file your insurance claim ASAP.
Starting September 1, 2017, House Bill 1774 becomes law in Texas. The newly implemented law will severely limit homeowners’ ability to hold insurance companies accountable when they take months or years to pay for a claim, underpay or wrongfully deny legitimate claims.
While filing a claim might be the furthest thing from your mind right now, it is important that you have your claim submitted before the new law takes effect.
For more information on Texas House Bill 1774, click here.
Once it is safe to get into your home,
- Shut off main power if the wiring is wet or moldy. Have an electrician check the house’s electrical system before turning power on again.
- Open the house to fresh air if the humidity is lower outside than inside.
- Remove all wet items such as bedding, toys, furniture, rugs, carpeting, ceiling tiles, drywall and wood by-products. If drywall is soaked, remove to 1 foot (12″) above the water mark and discard. Check the interior of the wall for hidden mold. Demo and remove all wet insulation. Discard all.
- Blow floor fans onto the open studs for at least 24-48 hours to dry the wall cavities.
- Use dehumidifiers to remove excess moisture except when mold has already started to grow (fans may spread existing mold).
- Once dry as possible, you can spray household BLEACH such as Clorox over wall cavities and floors. Make sure to wear a mask and open windows. Let it sit for a few hours then wipe down. Spray again and leave it to dry.
- We also recommend coating wall cavities with KILZ. KILZ is a great way to help seal the walls and stop the growth of mold.
- Discard any soaked or moldy carpeting. Remove dirt and debris by cleaning all other items first with soap and warm, clean water. Next, sanitize all surfaces with 1 cup household liquid bleach per 5 gallons of water. Be sure to wear gloves and boots when cleaning.
- Discard all possibly contaminated food products or anything that is not in a water tight container.
If you were affected by the storm, we would love to assist you where we can with your flooring, countertop & cabinet needs. We realize it may be a while until our customers are ready for these services. However, we are working diligently on lining up crews and having materials ready.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 713-463-5800.
Sincerely,
Traditional Designs Ltd.
