Media Blasting

Media blasting can solve many problems such as mold, wood staining, graffitti, corrosion on pipes, and many other situations.  No, it is not a miracle procedure that removes everything.  Sometimes wood is stained so deeply with mold that we can make the surface look better but not clean, which means that we have to replace the affected wood. 

Dry ice blasting is safe to use on most materials, and the best thing about it is that there is no mess left behind for us to clean up!  The only material left behind after dry ice blasting is what was blasted off during the process.

Sand blasting is also an option for many applications, especially where extra grit is needed to remove the problem. 

Following a fire, much of the wood structure is covered in soot.  This must be removed or you will smell the fire regardless of what else is done in your home or business.  Once the soot is blasted from the wood, it looks like it just came from the lumber yard - essentially looking new.

There are other forms of blasting that can be done including soda blasting.  The method chosen would depend on the job and consultation with our client.

If you think you may have a situation that calls for media blasting, call Advance Restoration and we will be pleased to review the job and recommend a method best suited for remediation.

Soot removal following fire

Pump cleanup

Repairing vandalism

Oil buildup removal



Pressure line cleanup

Graffiti removal

Attic Mold

Before Remediation

After Remediation

Attic mold is still the most frequent call we have.  Usually it comes following the sale of a home, where the building inspector inspects the attic.  The inspectors report to the purchasing family ends up with a demand the mold be removed prior to the new family's occupancy.

If the mold is only surface - not having penetrated into the core of the sheathing or trusses - then it can be an inexpensive remediation.  On the other hand, if the mold has been present for an extended period of time, it may well have compromised the sheathing or trusses to the point they need replacing.  This is easy to check by yourself.  If you can crumble some of the wood from the mold, or even worse, if you can crumble the entire 2x4 in your hands, the trouble is long past surface mold.

Rotted wood found above closet

Both of these cases are easily remedied, but obviously the more extensive one costs substantially more.  The good news is that this situation is avoidable.  You should check your attic every 6 months to be certain to catch any moisture leaks or blocked attic vents in the early stages.  This will keep the repair cost to a minimum.

Advance Restoration can do what is required to remove either the surface mold by sanding and encapsulating, or we can remove the deeper mold by either dry-ice blasting or removal and replacement of the damaged trusses or sheathing.  If dry-ice blasting is used, the boards, once cleaned (blasted) will look like new lumber or sheathing.  Once blasted, we also apply a coat of encapsulant to help prevent further damage from future mold if the problem occurs in the future.

If you decide to check out any mold you see in your attic or elsewhere, please be certain to avoid disturbing the mold.  This will release micotoxins into the air and spread the mold even more.  Also, it is advisable to wear a respirator and goggles. 

If you would prefer not inspecting the mold, Advance Restoration will be pleased to come and do an assessment for you.

If you plan on selling your home, it would be better to have the problem fixed prior to listing, as you are the one controlling the process and costs involved.

Asbestos Removal

We have lately been receiving calls to remove asbestos from homes prior to demolition.  Some of the jobs are extensive and others fairly simple.  What is common to all of them is that you must deal with ALL asbestos work using the necessary protocols for both worker safety and public safety.

To have asbestos containing materials removed from your home or business, adhering to all OSHA and Worksafe BC standards, call Advance Restoration at 604-522-0900 24/7.

Whoever you contract to remove the contamination from your home, be absolutely certain they provide you with an NOP filed with Worksafe BC 24 hours prior to start of work.  Additionally, you should require proof of insurance for asbestos remediation.  If these two items cannot be provided, you should not use that companies services.  To do so may expose you to insurance or other liability.

Mold & Moisture

A number of potential clients have called our office to ask for a mold inspection.  In quite a few instances the mold they are experiencing shows up in the bottom track of a window or bottom of window and sill.  This is not something you need a firm such as Advance Restoration to solve - a little soap and water will take care of the problem.  Because you may be sensitive to molds of various kinds, you may consider wearing rubber gloves to perform this simple clean up.

While the simple step above will solve the problem of mold in the window track or sill, it will not solve the cause of that water, which is condensation.  Any time you have warm interior air meeting a cold surface such as a window pane in the winter, the result will be condensation on the window.  As the condensation builds up it runs down the window and settles in the track.  If the track drain holes are blocked for any reason, the water just sits and eventually mold forms.  As noted above, in itself, this is not a big problem and one easily remedied; however, if left for a long time the moisture can build up and find its way onto the window sill.  The result is rot of the sill and if left long enough, rot and mold in the wall under the window.  In most cases, the rot will not be visible, but the micotoxins released by the mold will find their way into home and be present in the air you are breathing.

The good news is that this is entirely preventable, and without cost.  Always aware of your security, you should try to leave your window open just a crack - perhaps a half inch (centimetre).  In most cases this will prevent moisture from building up on the window.  In the first photo you can see the moisture on the window.  If you can't open the window for any reason, you must take steps to reduce the moisutre in your home or in any room with a high moisture content.  You could purchase a dehumidifier for the room(s) affected and run it as long as it takes to keep the moisture down.  Remember, the human body gives off between .07 litres and 2.5 litres of water daily depending on various factors.  Add to the cooking, showering, etc. and you get quite a bit of moisture being added to your home daily.

Overall, the level of humidity in your home should not exceed 45%.  When humidity is higher than that you will likely start to have problems with mold.

If you find evidence of mold in your home, call Advance Restoration at 604-522-0900 or 1-855-522-0900 toll free from the Abbotsford/Mission area.  We will be pleased to come to your home and investigate the level of contamination without cost to you.  We will provide you with a Scope of Work and Cost Estimate that will completly remove the mold from your home.  Our technicians have Clean Trust AMRT Certification and use the latest equipment and methodology.

Attic Mold

Attic Mold

Many of the calls we respond to are related to mold in the attic space of homes.  Most people find out about the mold when it comes time to sell their home and a building inspector reports the problem.  In most cases, the prospective owner wants the problem remediated prior to finalizing the deal.

If this happens to you, call Advance Restoration at 604-522-0900 and we will come and inspect the contamination and provide you with an estimate of the remediation costs. (There is no charge for an estimate)  An essential part of the inspection is to identify the source of moisture that is contributing to mold growth.  This must be resolved prior to mold remediation to be certain the problem does not return.

If you choose to have Advance Restoration remediate the contamination, we will quickly and completely remove the mold using the latest methodology depending on the extent or severity of the contamination.  Once the contamination has been removed, we apply Fosters encapsulant to help inhibit any future mold growth.  To ensure you pass your next building inspection, we use a clear encapsulant that leaves all surfaces visible for inspection and confirmation of complete remediation.

We guarantee that you will not fail inspection relating to the original mold contamination.

Frozen Water Pipes

Split pipe - the result of freezing.

During every Spring season, we deal with calls about water damage to a home due to burst pipes.  In most cases, these calls are preventable.

Many families fail to turn the water off inside the home, and drain the line, but only ensure the outside tap is turned off during cold weather.  The result is many cases is a frozen and split pipe leading to the outside tap. 

If you did not turn off the inside tap leading to the outside tap you will notice the split in the pipe as soon as the pipe thaws out.  The water will enter your wall cavity from the split and flood whatever area of the home is adjacent.

If you turned off the inside tap, you will notice the problem when you go to use the outside tap for the first time following freezing weather.  Once again, the water will enter your wall cavity and likely the interior of your home from the split in the water pipe.

These repairs are fairly easy, but are entirely unnecessary.  Ensure that you have turned off the interior tap leading to the outside tap and drain the line prior to freezing weather.  Also, make certain that you remove all hoses from the outside taps.  With these simple steps you can avoid costly repairs.

If you already have this problem, call Advance Restoration at 604-522-0900 for fast, efficient and thorough repair of the problem.