RESTORATION SERVICES BLOG

Water damage can happen unexpectedly and leave a lasting impact on your home or business. Failing to properly replace damaged materials can result in long-term structural issues, the growth of mold, and unhealthy living conditions.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is just two weeks away? Time flies, and with the holiday season upon us, our team is busier than ever, working hard to carry this momentum through the end of the year. As part of our monthly tradition, we love highlighting a different member of the GRS team. For November, we’re excited to introduce you to James Freyder, our Logistics Manager! About James James Freyder was born and raised in Metairie, Louisiana, as one of three siblings. After graduating from St. Amant High School, James attended Louisiana State University, where he pursued his childhood dream of becoming a Disney animator by earning a degree in Graphic Design. Later, he returned to school at Medvance to obtain a second degree as an X-ray technician. Before joining GRS in July 2015, James worked at McDonald’s as a truck driver and warehouse manager. His journey with GRS began as a warehouse manager in Baton Rouge, and over the past nine and a half years, he has grown into an essential member of our team. James has played a key role in GRS’s expansion, spearheading significant office moves in Baton Rouge, Kenner, and Gulfport, and helping to establish our first offices in Jackson and Mobile. His expertise and dedication have been pivotal to our growth across multiple locations. Beyond Work James is married to his wife, Michelle, and together they have six children. When he’s not managing logistics for GRS, James enjoys spending time cooking, painting, watching sports, and joking around. A die-hard sports fan, he loves the New Orleans Saints and LSU. He also enjoys following LSU athletes as they transition into professional careers—a true Tiger fan at heart!

When your property experiences damage two critical processes come into play: mitigation and restoration. Understanding the difference between mitigation and restoration can help you make informed decisions and ensure that your property is properly taken care of.

Properties damaged by fire can be completely destroyed, leaving behind smoke residue, structural issues, and other unidentified hazards. Creating a commercial restoration strategy requires first doing an extensive assessment of the fire damage.

Fire safety is essential for every business. Guarantee Restoration Services emphasizes the importance of fire prevention measures and offers practical tips to help safeguard your property.

This month, we're excited to introduce you to Stephanie Williams in our October "Meet the Team" spotlight. Each month, we highlight one of the talented individuals who makes our team at GRS so special. She is a Team Coordinator at our Gulfport, Mississippi Branch. Let's get to know Stephanie! Background and Journey to GRS Originally from the small town of Vancleave, Mississippi. She grew up in a place with only two red lights, and her tight-knit community shaped her values. Before joining our team in August 2021, Stephanie spent three precious years as a stay-at-home mom with her two daughters. Reflecting on that time, she says, “Those years were the most precious, being able to spend intentional moments with my girls.” When Stephanie isn't hard at work, her life is just as busy and rewarding. Her children keep her on her toes, and together they are always finding new and exciting things to do. Stephanie is passionate about spending time outdoors, traveling with her family—especially to Disney World—and making time for her favorite hobby: going to Bingo a couple of times a week. Although Stephanie admits she's not much of a sports fan, she’s always ready to bring the snacks and cheer for the team with the prettiest uniforms! Growing up, her dream job was to be a teacher, which reflects well in her role as a Team Coordinator.

Businesses can suffer significantly from fires, which can result in asset loss, company interruption, and sometimes, even permanent closure.

One of the most important structural elements of your business or home is the roof. Here are a few reasons why a quality, professional roof installation, and post-installation inspection are so important.

Selecting the right materials becomes essential while rebuilding or repairing after a disaster. The longevity and durability of any repair, as well as the safety and value of your property, are all affected by the quality of the materials used for your roof.

As Hurricane Francine approaches the Louisiana coast, we want to take a moment to share another edition of our "Meet the Team" series. Each month, we highlight a different team member from one of our six locations. This month, we are excited to introduce you to Maegan Crow, one of our talented technicians from Jackson, Mississippi. Maegan’s Journey to GRS Maegan Crow was born and raised in various parts of Rankin County, Mississippi, due to life challenges that shaped her upbringing. Reflecting on her experiences, Maegan shared, “This experience gave me a deep appreciation for the community and a strong connection to the people here. It also taught me resilience, adaptability, and a diverse perspective, which have been invaluable in both my personal and professional life.” Before joining Guarantee Restoration Services in April 2024, Maegan worked in law enforcement. She described her transition into the restoration industry as a rewarding one. “The satisfaction of bringing something damaged or worn back to life is incredibly rewarding. Each project presents a unique challenge, and I enjoy the hands-on work and the opportunity to see the tangible results of my efforts. Being able to help people restore something valuable to them, whether it’s a home or a piece of history, is what makes this career so fulfilling for me,” Maegan said. Life Outside of Work Maegan’s personal life is just as full as her professional one. She and her girlfriend, Nyah, share their lives with two beloved poodles, Knash (2) and Cookie Monster (4), who keep them busy outside of work. In her downtime, Maegan enjoys yard work, finding it a great way to unwind. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. “Balancing these responsibilities has taught me the importance of time management. Staying active and engaged in my personal life helps me bring more energy and focus to my professional role,” she noted. As a devoted fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Maegan cherishes her connection to her late father through their shared love of the team. “They were my dad’s favorite team, and supporting them has become a cherished part of honoring his memory. It’s something that brings me a lot of joy and connection to him,” she added.

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, the roof of your business or home is often one of the most vulnerable and affected parts of the structure. Here’s why a thorough roof inspection is essential after a disaster.

Whether the source is a sewage backup, chemical spill, or biological waste, professional restoration companies are equipped to manage the cleanup process safely and efficiently.

Mold and fungi can seriously harm properties and pose health dangers if left untreated. Keeping a safe and healthy environment is dependent on avoiding and treating mold and fungal infestations, whether in a business or a residence.

Can you believe it’s already the middle of August? With schools back in session, this time of year is always incredibly busy for everyone. Responding to Major Events Our team has been hard at work with our regular day-to-day projects, but we’ve also been tackling some significant challenges. Earlier this month, we sent our Large Loss Team to South Carolina to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall on August 5th. Additionally, we responded to a two-alarm fire in Johnstown, Colorado, earlier this week. Teach the Team Spotlight: Keith Weisman Each month, we take the opportunity to shine a spotlight on a team member from one of our six office locations. This month, we’re excited to introduce you to Keith Weisman from our Lafayette branch. Keith was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois. In 2022, he and his family made the move to Maurice, Louisiana. Keith jumped straight into the workforce after graduation, starting his career in residential construction, where he spent six years. A major highlight during this period was building a $14.9 million mansion. He also became a journeyman and joined the Carpenters Union. Before joining Guarantee Restoration Services in June 2022, Keith spent 24 years with the Carpenters Union, focusing on commercial projects. He led teams in constructing banks, hospitals, restaurants, grocery stores, and universities. A Peek into Keith’s Personal Life Keith is happily married to his wife, Rebbecca, and together they have seven children, four of whom they have adopted. Their daughter is set to marry in October, adding another member to their growing family. The Weismans are active in sports, camping, and various adventures. They also love to travel, with an annual trip to Mexico being a family tradition. Football Passion The Weisman family are passionate football fans. Keith is a die-hard Dallas Cowboys supporter, while Rebbecca cheers for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Together, they’ve visited seven NFL stadiums and aim to visit them all eventually.

When disaster strikes, professional cleanup and restoration are essential to restore safety and order. Guarantee Restoration Services offers a wide range of specialized cleanup services to address various challenging situations.

Homes and businesses can sustain significant damage from natural disasters, requiring costly repairs to return them to their pre-disaster state. Reconstruction is complex, involving a number of steps and specialized jobs that are all necessary to repair the property and guarantee its safety and functionality.

It is crucial to ensure your belongings are protected and preserved in the aftermath of a storm. A monitored, climate-controlled storage facility is one of the best ways to keep your belongings safe while the restoration is underway.

Reconstruction of a property impacted by a disaster presents different difficulties and complexities than building from the bottom up. Here's how working with a seasoned restoration business can really help.

By now, we hope you've all recovered from your Fourth of July celebrations. It's always such a fun time of year and personally my favorite holiday after Christmas. But let's get to more pressing matters. Hurricane Beryl's Impact We are now officially in storm season, with Hurricane Beryl making landfall in Matagorda, Texas this past Monday, July 8th. It arrived as a Category 1 hurricane, causing immense flooding, wind damage, and tornadoes throughout the Greater Houston area. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected as they recover from this storm. Team Member Spotlight: Michael “Woody” Woods Moving on to this week's new blog post. Each month, I have the pleasure of highlighting a different team member from one of our branches. For July, we're shining the spotlight on Michael “Woody” Woods from our New Orleans branch. Woody's Background and Career Woody was born and raised in the small town of Holden, Louisiana. After graduating from Holden High School, he embarked on his career, working for many years in the septic tank business and gaining experience in the mold remediation industry. He has been serving as a project manager since joining our team in November 2021. More About Woody On a personal note, Woody is a proud husband to his wife, Rebecca. They have been married for 12 years and have five children between them. He is also known as “Paw-Paw” to five grandchildren and loves spending as much time with his family as possible. They enjoy going on Caribbean cruises together. In his spare time, Woody is passionate about motorcycles and loves riding his Harley Davidson whenever he can. He and his wife recently purchased an older model white Jeep Wrangler and are excited to create new memories with it. Woody is a fan of all LSU sports and is a proud member of the Acacia Shriners since 2017. In 2021, he served as the Potentate, or president, of the organization.

It is critical to start restoration work as soon as possible after a storm in order to prevent further damage, save possessions, and get your impacted properties back to normal. This is why it's very important to restore storm-related water damage as soon as possible.

We are excited to announce the relocation of Guarantee Restoration Services' New Orleans headquarters from Kenner to a new, state-of-the-art facility in St. Rose, Louisiana. This move to a larger property at 10600 River Road, St. Rose, LA 70087, marks a significant leap in our commitment to enhancing service, delivery, and operational efficiency in the New Orleans market. Our clients and partners can look forward to even better service and capabilities.

Water damage can strike unexpectedly, causing significant disruption and financial loss. No matter the cause, pre-loss planning is a proactive approach that can help mitigate these risks and ensure a swift, effective response.

Hello, June! While the official start of summer is just over a week away with the summer solstice, it has felt like summer for well over a month along the Gulf Coast. Our team has had a steadily busy spring with the severe thunderstorms sweeping through our service areas.

Water damage can be disastrous for businesses and homes, resulting in significant property loss and endangering the health of employees and residents. Understanding the four categories of water damage is essential for mitigation and restoration efforts to be successful.