Knoxville Businesses Can Rely On SERVPRO For Storm Cleanup Help

11/15/2020 (Permalink)

When your business is facing cleanup after a storm, contact team SERVPRO. We are standing by 24/7 to take your emergency call.

Our Storm Cleanup Service Is Suitable For Every Kind of Knoxville Building

Knoxville is a lively, busy, and populous city that is proud to be the county seat of Knox County. With a population of 187,603, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the state, after Nashville and Memphis.

When settlers first colonized Knoxville in 1786, it was the capital of Tennessee. The isolated position put it at a disadvantage, but with the advent of the railroad, Knoxville started growing in size and power. Some people refer to it as an alternative Nashville – but calling it that means missing out on its own unique culture and history.

Knoxville has a strong manufacturing history. Although its fortunes waned a little after the Great Depression, it has made a comeback in the last decades, with many world-class businesses making their homes here.

A Fascinating Downtown

Knoxville visitors, and those who choose to set up their businesses here, are frequently amazed and delighted by the staggering range of architectural styles the city boasts. There are so many impressive buildings to look at, and the varied architectural periods help give Knoxville its unique vibe, which encompasses both historic and modern sensibilities. Just some of the gems you will find include:

• The Tennessee Theater. Located in the Burwell Building, the Tennessee Theater, is a bona fide 1920s movie palace. It was opened in 1928 with two thousand seats in the auditorium. The interior includes décor from all over the world, such as French-style chandeliers with Czechoslovakian crystals and Italian marble floors.
• Old Knoxville City Hall. The main building in this complex was completed in 1851. It started as a school for the deaf before becoming Knoxville’s first City Hall. The facade boasts an impressive portico with supporting columns, while other parts of the building have Italian Renaissance and Neoclassical elements.
• Howard Baker Federal Courthouse. Knoxville’s architecture did not stop in the 1920s! This impressive building was constructed in 1991. It has an elaborate interior that showcases the best of Neo-Georgian architecture and is large enough to occupy two city blocks. The Federal Courthouse started life as the home offices of Whittle Communications before the company folded and sold the building to the Federal government.
• The Andrew Johnson Hotel. This striking building has stood since the 1930s. When it was built, it was Knoxville’s tallest building and a notable feature of the skyline until the 1970s. The building is unusual, boasting a second story pavilion and a penthouse. These days it is an office block but still retains its history.
• William Blount Mansion. No visit to Knoxville would be complete without stopping by the William Blount Mansion, the oldest building in downtown Knoxville. Construction began on the house in 1792, and Governor Blount drafted much of the Tennessee Constitution here. The house features an elegant two-story wood frame construction, even though many homes in the area at this time were mere log cabins!

It is not only businesses that can boast incredible architecture in the city! Knoxville has the greatest number of homes by George Franklin Barber in the nation. Barber was a Victorian architect who was so successful that his designs were sold through mail order catalog.

Visitors or residents eager to learn more can visit The Ewing Gallery of Art + Architecture, which aims to educate about modern and historic building styles and trends.

What Puts Knoxville Buildings At Risk Of Storm Damage?

Knoxville has a humid subtropical climate, with warm summers and colder winters. Unfortunately for residents and businesses, the area is no stranger to storms and extreme weather. Tennessee, and Knoxville specifically, have seen their share of storms that knocked out power and caused wide-ranging damage to homes and businesses.

There were tornado outbreaks in both 1998 and 2020, where more than one tornado hit in a short space of time. The 1998 Tornado outbreak hit East Tennessee, causing twelve deaths and $133 million in damages.

It is clear that storms are a risk in this area. Thankfully, SERVPRO is here to help.

Understanding Different Building Materials Is Key To Storm Cleanup

When a city boasts as many different architectural styles as Knoxville, a knowledgeable storm cleanup service is necessary. Old buildings especially are prone to damp and mold, and we must take that into account. Building construction can affect many areas of remediation, including:

• How long it takes to dry a building
• How much risk there is of hidden water
• The likelihood of mold growth
• Which cleaning and drying methods are most suitable
• How best to deodorize the area

Our technicians understand how building construction affects drying and will design a drying plan that takes everything into account. We know how best to position equipment such as air dryers and dehumidifiers for the desired outcome. And because we train our staff to the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification standards, you can rest assured that our team is up to date on the latest best practices.

SERVPRO Monitors Drying In Every Kind Of Building

It is clear that every building is unique and requires an individual approach to storm damage remediation. Monitoring moisture levels both at the beginning of remediation and throughout drying means we are always on top of the situation and can make adjustments as needed. Some of the ways we monitor the problem include:

• Using moisture meters to measure moisture levels across walls and ceilings
• Using moisture probes to examine the levels inside the carpet
• Examining the sub-floor to see if water has penetrated there
• Monitoring humidity levels to ensure they are acceptable.
• Employing thermal imaging to check temperature differences and track the movement of moisture throughout building materials

No matter whether you run your business out of an ultra-modern condo or a renovated Victorian mansion, we have the equipment and training to restore it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Rocky Hill / Sequoyah Hills / South Knoxville is here for all your storm damage cleanup needs. Call us at (865) 862-8907.