Georgia Flooding Dangers

ATLANTA (AP) — A state insurance official in Georgia has told residents affected by widespread flooding that Clorox is going to be their best friend.Residents returning to neighborhoods soaked by days of torrential rain are also being urged to be cautious. Dangers include jagged debris in stagnant, murky water, and disease-causing bacteria. There has also been flooding at sewage plants in at least four Atlanta-area counties.

Ceramic Repair Expert Can Restore Your Valuable Collectibles for Years to Come

Invisible Repair and Restoration of Ceramic Ware
Ceramics have been an important part of day to day life for centuries. Early man found that certain types of clay, when heated and prepared properly, could be formed into durable and useful objects and figurines. From heavy use pots and vases, to one of a kind figurines and antiques, ceramics have remained at the forefront of every major household throughout the world.The reasons for the widespread appeal of ceramics are many and varied. Ceramics, by definition, can include many different types of materials used in a wide variety of ways. Whether it is a priceless antique or a sentimental heirloom, most families have at least one ceramic piece they treasure.While people have continued to use ceramics in day to day life through the centuries, few people ever considered the toll this use would take without constant ceramic restoration and conservation. As ceramics age, their monetary and sentimental value increases. Unfortunately, so does the number and types of cracks and chips that may appear. This invariably creates small cracks or chips in the surface that may affect not only the aesthetic appeal, but the overall value of the piece. Fortunately, ceramic repair means that there is no reason to throw out your beloved figurine or pottery just yet.Ceramic repair may sound daunting, but there are trained experts available to help you restore your figurines or priceless antiques back to their former glory. If you've found that your piece is suffering from cracks or entirely missing pieces, the ceramic restoration experts at Luel Restoration Studio can help.

Using a cutting edge process called invisible restoration, the individuals can glue back missing pieces and fill in tiny cracks. While these repairs may be extensive, they will hardly be noticeable to the untrained eye.Secondly, ceramic restoration can entail the creative use of paints and textures to restore a piece's color or pattern. Using similar techniques to the ones used to fill cracks, Luel's experts can identically match the style and pattern of the original ceramic piece. This recreation will go beyond appearance, all the way to creating a matching texture that will be almost indistinguishable from the original piece.After the repair is complete, the ceramic restoration artist at Luel Restoration Studio will work with you to ensure that the piece is able to stand up to future deterioration. Our skilled expert will work to strengthen particularly weak areas of the piece, preventing futures cracks and chips. All repairs and restorations should be able to bring the piece back to its original appearance and integrity without changing the object's overall substance.No matter how easy the repair may seem, never attempt a ceramic repair on your own.Only a trained and skilled expert can recognize the complexities and nuances of your pieces and recommend the most up to date repair options. A poorly done repair can not only damage your piece more, it may render the entire ceramic figurine or pottery beyond repair. This will not only destroy a sentimental heirloom, it will render your priceless ceramic antique worthless. Contact Luel Restoration Studio for your ceramic repair needs. http://www.luelstudio.com

Bailee's Coverage & Contractors Pollution Liability

Bailee’s Coverage and Contractors Pollution Liability available through Legends Environmental Insurance Services for your restoration company.

Did you know: If you are in the care, custody or control of your clients contents, without bailee’s coverage, you are 100% liable for any and all damage?

You need coverage for legal liability resulting from damage or destruction of your client’s property while under your temporary care, custody, and control. Legends can provide you with a job specific or full term policy with $20,000 to $2,000,000+ limits.

Are you unknowingly under insured? Did your agent lead you to believe that you are covered with a simple General Liability policy? Contractors Pollution Liability should be considered if you handle gases, liquids or solids. A pollution incident can put you out of business.

Big players in this industry can prove coverage to their clients, can you? Give Legends full service agency a call today at 800-992-6999 x291 and speak with Jennifer, your restoration contractor expert.

Barb Jackson, CR Speaks in Australia at Network Restorers Annual Conference

On the weekend of the 29th-31st May 2009 Network Restorers held their annual conference which was another roaring success.

Guest speakers from the US included Barb Jackson, CR and Libby Longstreth. They presented varying topics revolving around the conference theme “Pathway to Learning”.

These are some quotes we received from conference attendees.

"Just wanted to say thanks for a great weekend at the gold coast, everything was moved along well & kept interesting."

"Thanks to all involved it was great. Regards Jeff Nunn"

http://www.networkrestorers.com/NewsItem.aspx?id=15

To Train or Not to Train . . . That is the Question.

Some business owners refrain from training their employees for fear they will spend money training and then the employees will leave for greener pastures. Yet, the old adage goes . . . the only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave, is NOT training your employees and having them stay.

4 Layers of benefits derived from professional development are:

1) More motivated, skilled employees.
2) Increased productivity and thus greater ROI.
3) Long term positive change stimulated by new insights and ideas.
4) Improves communication and relationships with customers and team members.

So, what holds you back from training your team? Money? Fear of losing your trained employees? Unable to envision the ROI?

why would a business owner not want their team to be motivated, productive, and happy?
How can your bottom-line not be positively affected if your team is operating at their optimal level?

http://www.safarisolutions.com/to-train-or-not-to-train-that-is-the-question

Employee Cut vs Salary Cut

Small business owners need to be aware of the frustrations and concerns of their employees during this economic downturn. Owners must think carefully and act quickly. Keeping a small business “alive” today is a struggle, but what if employees do not want to stay with your company because they are scared of a job cut? Your business could go from running strong to barely breathing if your employees do not have your trust.
You want your employees to be loyal and to feel safe with you right?
Here are some key points that will keep that knot of trust tight.

• Communication is vital. Let your employees know how the business is doing. Hold meetings in which the owner can answer questions. Don’t wait until there is a pay cut or layoff; ask the employees ahead of time if they would be willing to take a pay cut to save the job.

• Give acknowledgement and show appreciation. Allow employees to take an extra day off or to go home early. Remember if there have been layoffs, other employees take on the additional responsibilities and can easily get burned out. Also tell employees that they are doing a great job and ask them if they have any concerns or questions.

Loyalty in a small business goes a long way. Just as you might be suffering with your business so might your employees’ lives. Keep their trust and keep your company!
http://www.safarisolutions.com/employee-cut-vs-salary-cut/

Shuttle crew become astro furniture movers

1:17PM Tuesday Sep 01, 2009

Space shuttle Discovery lights up the night sky after launching from Cape Canaveral. Photo / AP
Video Discovery arrives at space station
CAPE CANAVERAL - Astronauts hitched a giant chest of drawers to the international space station that contained a brand new freezer, sleeping compartment and treadmill bearing a TV comedian's name.
The Italian-built chest - nicknamed Leonardo, as in Leonardo da Vinci - was moved from space shuttle Discovery via a hefty robot arm and hoisted onto the space station.
It's loaded with nearly 8 tons of equipment and science experiments for the orbiting outpost and its six residents. Much of the gear is stored in portable racks; the bedroom is the size of a phone booth.
Leonardo will remain secured to the space station for the next week. The astronauts will remove the cylindrical vessel - 6.5 metres long and 4.6 metres in diameter - and place it back on space shuttle Discovery for return to Earth. By that time, it will be loaded with trash and unneeded items.
Nasa's brand new $5 million treadmill - officially called the Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill, or COLBERT for short - is in pieces and will need to be assembled after Discovery leaves.
The TV comedian ended up with an exercise machine named in his honour after he won an online vote for christening rights to a space station room. Unwilling to go with Colbert for the yet-to-be-launched room, Nasa opted for Tranquility to commemorate the Apollo 11 moon landing 40 years ago this summer. The treadmill was a consolation prize.
Shuttle astronaut Jose Hernandez will oversee Leonardo's unloading operation. He is filing regular Twitter updates from orbit, the first astronaut to do so in two languages, English and Spanish.
"Met our 6 neighbours & they seem nice!" Hernandez wrote.
Besides his bilingual tweets, Hernandez is taking part in several Spanish-language interviews during the mission. "I'm just happy to be able to share my experiences," said Hernandez, a Mexican-American who is the son of migrant workers. He grew up working the fields in California alongside his parents, two brothers and sister.
Next up for the 13 space travellers - seven on the shuttle and six on the station - is the first spacewalk of their joint mission.
The space station's newest inhabitant, Nicole Stott, will venture out on Tuesday evening with Danny Olivas to remove a depleted ammonia tank.
A fresh tank will be installed as part of the space station cooling system during spacewalk No. 2 on Thursday night. In all, three spacewalks are planned.
Stott carried over six mice in an enclosed container overnight. The mice are part of a bone loss study and will return to Earth with her in November, aboard shuttle Atlantis.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Nasa's mission management team, LeRoy Cain, delivered some good news Monday: Discovery's thermal shielding looks to be in good shape and should soon be cleared for re-entry, currently scheduled for Sept. 10.
Flight controllers, meanwhile, are looking at fuel-efficient ways to move the shuttle-station complex over the coming week. Discovery's tiny steering jets are unusable because of a leak.
- AP

Storing Beanie Babies in zip-lock bags is about the worst way to store your Beanies for perservation throughout the years. Zip-lock bags trap the off-gassing from PVC pellets that can destroy fibers and provide for no air circulation.

For the longest perservation, Beanies should be wrapped lightly in acid free tissue paper, unbleached muslin, or plain, uninked tyvek. They should be stored in a climate that is constant and not too humid or hot in temperature, with adequate ventilation.

In other words, not in a plastic bag stuffed into a closet or basement. After enveloping the Beanies in an acid free material, they should be stored in a container that allows for air circulation to allow for expansion, prevents mildew growth and damage from off gassing.

Periodically the Beanies should be repositioned and rewrapped to prevent stress on the fabric to cause damage that might eventually lead to cracking of fibers.

Boost Sales Without Spending A Dime!

Sales-from-the-podium expert Lisa Sasevich has x-ray vision for seeing the sales opportunities that exist in every company, and the creativity to convert them into gold! If you're looking for simple, quick and easy ways to boost sales without spending a dime, get your FREE Sales Nuggets now at www.theinvisibleclose.com.

WD-40 Uses for On The Job

On The Job
25 uses found

1. Cleans mastic off floor tiles (be sure to wipe floor clean after using WD-40)
2. Cleans adhesive tape residue on audio/visual cables
3. Cleans ballast oil from tile floors (be sure to wipe floor clean after using WD-40)
4. Lubricates handles on three-hole punch and prevents handles from sticking
5. Lubricates wood screws for easier installation
6. Removes adhesives from sewing machines
7. Removes plastic cement from tools
8. Removes stickers from guitars
9. Removes liquid nails from hands
10. Lubricates trunk latches
11. Lubricates safe rollers
12. Removes crayon from Formica®
13. Cleans gunk from phone buttons
14. Removes permanent marker from dry erase boards
15. Removes scuff marks from luggage
16. Cleans cell phones
17. Cleans cell phone battery connections
18. Keeps taping knives from rusting
19. Removes rust from old keys
20. Lubricates tape measures
21. Cleans printer toner from unwanted places
22. Lubricates vending machine locks
23. Loosens screws in watch bands to enable link removal
24. Frees stuck locks on lock boxes
25. Frees stuck tin snips

The uses of WD-40 described on this website were provided to WD-40 Company by end-users of the product, and do not constitute recommendations or suggestions for use of WD-40 by WD-40 Company. These uses, including the "Use of the Day," have not been tested by WD-40 Company. Consumers should exercise common sense whenever using WD-40. Always follow the instructions and take heed of any warnings printed on theWD-40 packaging.
Join the WD-40 Fan Club!
Get new WD-40 tips by e-mail each week––it's FREE! 300+ No-Mess Pen Uses

http://www.wd40.com/uses-tips/300-uses/category/on-the-job/

Crystal Repair - LaLique Cat Chipped Crystal Ear

Careless cleaning caused a chip on the ear of this LaLique Crystal Cat . Chipped Crystal can be ground and polish to look like new but when its Lalique after you remove the chip matching the etched finish is the challenge .

For more info - click below

http://www.brueningglass.com/tag/lalique-crystal-repair/

Replacing broken or missing pieces, or entire sets, is easy!

Did your darling nephew break a dinner plate at your last family dinner? Did a fork get chewed up in the garbage disposal?

Founded by Bob Page in 1981, Replacements, Ltd. (located in Greensboro, NC) has the world's largest selection of old & new dinnerware, including china, stoneware, crystal, glassware, silver, stainless, and collectibles. Their 415,000 square foot facilities (the size of seven football fields!) houses an incredible inventory of 13 million pieces in more than 300,000 patterns, some over 100 years old! Thousands of items are added to their site each day.

Use the "Find This For Me" service to be notified when the peices you are looking for are in stock.

http://www.replacements.com/

Why Recycle Monitors and TVs?

Why Recycle Monitors and TVs?
A NEW CHALLENGE FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT
“A cathode ray tube (CRT), found in older monitors and televisions, is estimated to contain five to eight pounds of lead. Lead is a highly toxic metal and may cause a range of health effects, from behavioral problems and learning disabilities, to seizures and death.”
According the US Environmental Protection Agency, computers and other electronics are the nation’s fastest growing category of solid waste. Currently, it is estimated that about 50% of US households own a computer and that at least 315 million computers will become obsolete annually. This is a result of rapid advancements in technology and greater consumer use of computer products.However, most of the electronic waste contains hazardous materials, such as lead and mercury, which are harmful to the environment if disposed of improperly. The increasing numbers of retired electronics and computers have brought the new challenges to our environment, ecological systems, and our one and only earth.

Laundry Pure - Eliminate or reduce usage of harsh laundry detergent

I laundered all the clothing from a household that had a protein fire. A turkey burned in the oven when the homeowners were out. There was not a lot of visible soot residue in the home but all the soft goods had a bad odor. Some of the kitchen towels and a tablecloth had an oily residue and ALL the clothing throughout the home had a strong protein odor. We washed 24 loads of clothes using this technology in a residential washing machine. All machine washable items such as towels, tablecloths, jeans, slacks, blouses, shirts and linens were laundered in cold water treated with the Laundry Pure unit. No detergent or deodorizers were used. All the clothes responded well - with no residual odor!

What happens in a LaundryPure cycle?

LaundryPure hooks up to a washing machine to treat incoming water with silver ions for killing odor-causing bacteria...

No need to get a new washing machine! LaundryPure installs on most brands and models, upgrading their effectiveness with Certified Space technology.

1. Uses oxygen and peroxides to lift dirt and odors away from your wash.
2. Reduces/eliminates the need for harsh laundry detergents and cleaners.
3. Helps eliminate allergic reactions due to detergent residue.
4. Kills germs without bleach or hot water with the power of Silver.
5. Clothes and linens become softer, fluffier, and last longer.
6. Whites get whiter, colors get brighter.

Click here for more info: www.ecoquest.com/totalcontentz

Sign up for this great new marketing tool to promote

your Contents Processing Division...

Become the GO TO Contents Restoration company in your market area!

Click here to see sample copy of Contents Solutions Newsletter


Click here to order your subscription to Contents Solutions today!

Customer Service is 80% of what we do in the Disaster Restoration Industry.

Receive your FREE Customer Service Checklist by clicking on the link below...

http://www.justsell.com/salestools/customerservicechecklist.aspx

From the bestselling author of 212° the extra degree®, Smile & Move is a call to positive action... to be happy and do something... a reminder of how we should approach our work (whether that work is done in the office, on the field, in the classroom or at home).

Click here to learn more...



It's about mattering to the world, all with a smile.

We hope the message serves you and those around you well.
SMILE
Be happy.
Wake up.
Show others you care by giving attention to their needs.
Be thankful.
The opportunity to serve is a gift... not an entitlement.
Be approachable.
We're at each other's services, and contact is where it starts.
Complain less.
We've got work to do.
Smile. Really.
It's where pleasantness begins.
MOVE
Do something.
Start early & go long.
Get lost in your service to others.
Exceed expectations.
Dismiss mediocrity. Expect more from yourself.
Have a sense of urgency.
Predict and pre-sweat the details for others.
Be resourceful & resilient.
Service is about giving someone what they need... no matter what.

Paper Moving Pads

Looking for an alternative to bulky moving pads which require laundering and storage? Paper moving pads provide protection and serve as a moisture barrier on wood furniture in transit and storage.

http://www.uline.com/

Click here

http://www.uline.com/Product/ProductDetail.aspx?model=S-11304&root=&searchedkeywords=paper%20moving%20pads

Circumspex© Debut Coming Soon

Circumspex, the intuitive web based disaster planning tool developed by David Mistick and Paul Campbell, will soon be rolling out to the public. Already it is receiving high praise during its beta testing and demonstrations to some of the nation's well known restoration contractors and property managers.
Paul Campbell touts the fact that "this is a disaster planning tool developed by property managers and disaster restoration experts. Circumspex is designed to meet the specific needs of property owners and managers. Dave Mistick and I have had our boots on the ground and in the mud and debris of hundreds of disasters across the eastern United States. In Circumspex we hope to assist our clients to better assess risks, develop mitigation strategies and execute recovery programs."
Circumspex offers an easy to operate yet very robust program for property professionals. It recognizes their need for a powerful planning tool that is delivered with talented consulting services at a very reasonable price point.

Click here to learn more:
http://circumspex.com/
http://davemistick.typepad.com/circumspex_disaster_plann/

Pack Out Pitfalls Article

Click here to read my article in R&R - Restoration and Remediation Magazine about pack out pitfalls.

http://www.randrmagonline.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000373965

Custom Mezzanines increase square footage of warehouse

Custom mezzanine systems can be installed inside contents processing facilities to a second or third level, thereby doubling or tripling the existing area. Typically, these mezzanines create new office, storage space, locker rooms, parts departments, stockrooms, breakrooms, and company records storage. A mezzanine can be designed to fit around existing plant equipment, building columns and other obstructions. Single or multi-level mezzanines are available to meet the exact area, height, color and load requirements of the specific application. They often incorporate conveyors, vertical lifts, racks, in-plant offices, shelving systems, programmable conveyor lifts, bar code scanners, - whatever the you need - to help maximize warehouse vertical space as well as improve product flow.

Check out this website for more information: http://www.cubicdesigns.com/

Leather Cleaning Restoration Forum

Great Site for Leather Restoration!

http://www.leathercleaningrestorationforum.com/forum/

Visit Our New Website

www.totalcontentz.com

Visit me at The Restoration Forum

www.therestorationforum.com

Visit the Total Contentz corner for

Contents Restoration Discussions

What's the big deal with Nitrile Gloves?

From www.wisegeek.com - See link below.

Nitrile gloves are made of synthetic latex. They contain no latex proteins and offer excellent resistance to punctures and tears. Nitrile gloves are three times more puncture resistant than rubber and can be used to offer superior resistance to many types of chemicals.

Unlike other latex gloves, nitrile gloves have low resistance to friction and are very easy to slide on. There are a few other reasons that nitrile gloves are more popular than other latex or vinyl gloves, including a higher degree of flexibility and superior solvent resistance. When choosing a glove, there are a few points to consider. You should consider how much protection you need, the glove's quality and how it is made, and whether you have any allergic reactions to the glove’s material.

In the manufacturing process of latex, vinyl and nitrile gloves, there are standard measurements applied to the gloves. In order to rate the protective qualities of the glove, they are graded from 1 to 3. The glove that receives a medical grade means that it has received the highest protection rating. These gloves are rigorously tested to pass FDA requirements.

The next grade is the high-risk category. These are used in the emergency medical service fields, such as paramedics. A very high level of testing is required in order to assure the proper requirements are reached.

The next level is the utility grade. These are not intended to be used in the medical field and they are not tested to any FDA specifications. However, these gloves are recommended for jobs that require hand protection, such as painting. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) regulates the standards of utility grade gloves.

In nitrile gloves, powder such as cornstarch is added in order to make putting on the gloves as easy as possible. Nitrile gloves come in a variety of sizes to fit all hands, from extra small to extra large. Nitrile gloves can be made in a variety of textures, cuff lengths and thickness. Nitrile gloves should not be stored under excessive light or heat as that can make the rubber disintegrate more rapidly.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-nitrile-gloves.htm

Digital Photo Inventory (DPI)

Interactive Online Training Program

Featuring

Two (2)-hour live webinar sessions with Barb Jackson, CR

Digital Photo Inventory (DPI)

Includes:
Complete Training of DPI System
Concept
Inventory Procedures
Forms
Digital Photo Inventory PowerPoint Handout
DPI Manual
DPI Label document

All materials will be delivered by email in PDF Format

Print the manual for attendees to use during each session.

Plus Free Bonus!
RIA Guidelines for Fire & Smoke Damage Repair 2nd Edition
($95.00 Non-Member Value)

The Restoration Industry Association “Guidelines for Fire and Smoke Damage Repair” is the respected standard in the industry for property restoration. Recently revised and expanded with updates, up-to-the-minute material, and an extensive glossary and index, this restorer-client-adjuster manual provides a foundation for the proper training of estimators, project managers and insurance claims personnel.
1 Copy per company - English Only - Free shipping to continental US
All for $799

Call to sign up

1-888-722-5688

Work Station Tape Dispenser

When you are doing a pack out, often you need short pieces of tape. Perhaps a strip of tape 3"-7" long. Are you tired of getting cut when cutting off a few inches of tape from the tape gun?

Use this instead. It holds a standard roll of 2" packing tape.

You can have these one your on-site and warehouse packing stations.

2" Industrial Multi-Roll Tape Dispenser

http://www.uline.com/ProductDetail.asp?model=H-440

Listen in on interview with Cliff Zlotnik and Joe Hughes

Tim and I were interviewed on IAQ Radio regarding Contents Processing.
Listen in here:
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCastCustomAds.jsp?masterId=1547&cmd=tc
Look for interview dated Friday 6/15/2007

Building a Profitable Contents Restoration Division

Read my article on "Building a Profitable Contents Restoration Division "

http://www.randrmagonline.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000068372