Menold Construction and Restoration News

A kitchen remodel or a bathroom remodel can help make your home feel more personal and unique to you. Menold Construction and Restoration has been in the remodeling business for over 30 years. With a professional team of designers, project managers, and craftsmen Menold will ensure that your project is an enjoyable experience from start to finish.

Molds are everywhere. They are fungi that grow where there is moisture, may that be inside or outside. Exposure to a damp and moldy indoor environment where microorganisms flourish does pose health risks, especially to people with mold allergies. Menold Construction and Restoration has a team of highly trained professionals that specialize in mold remediation, mold testing, and mold removal. However, there are steps you can take before mold becomes a serious problem in your home or business.

Here are some tips on mold prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Menold Construction and Restoration is would like to welcome the community to our open house celebration at our new location on 807 Pioneer Street in Champaign, Illinois. The open house will be held on April 14th from 4-6 pm and will also include a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Champaign Chamber of Commerce!

Guests can enjoy music by Cliff Stoker and a live painting by Jennifer Heidrick. The menu will include delicious Hors d'oeuvres and refreshments provided by Chef Curtis McGhee. In addition, guests can enter to win a “stay-cation” package which includes a one night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign, gift certificates for breakfast and dinner, and even a bottle of wine. You won’t want to miss this great event!

The tornado that destroyed a large swath of Washington, IL, on November 17, 2013, was a stark reminder to all Central Illinois residents of how powerful storms can change lives in a moment’s notice. Though the Bloomington-Normal, IL, area escaped the smaller town’s fate, it still suffered extensive hail damage as pellets of frozen rain measuring as large as four inches in diameter, or the size of a softball, pelted the community. Bloomington-Normal also required tree damage repair as high winds wreaked havoc across the city.

In terms of the amount of harm caused, the horrific tornado in Washington may have been a fairly uncommon event. Hail damage is not. Hail causes $1 billion in lost property and crops each year. In 2014, Illinois reported the second highest number of hail damage claims in the country. There are things you can do, however, to limit the damage hail can cause to you and your property. Here are some safety tips from the National Weather Service:

Water damage can have short-term and long-term impacts on your home or business. A flood can force you out of your home. An unnoticed leak may have subtler effects, such as allowing mold to grow behind your walls or water to pool above your ceiling. Menold Construction and Restoration has highly trained professionals who will respond quickly when your business or home requires water damage restoration services in Bloomington-Normal, IL. However, there are things you can watch for in order to minimize water damage caused by a flood, storm, or leak.

• Keep a close eye on your water bill. A sudden increase in your bill could mean you have an unchecked water leak. Pooled water can rot your walls from the inside and create the conditions where mold will grow.
• Watch for mold. Molds are common fungi that grow inside and outside the home. But they thrive in damp, dark environments, such as basements and bathrooms. A home or business that has suffered water damage needs to be alert for the presence of mold. It can have long-term health effects on the people who live and work there. Symptoms can range from a skin rash and sneezing to more severe respiratory problems. People with allergies are especially vulnerable to mold’s negative effects.
• Dry soaked furnishings quickly. Make sure to ventilate areas exposed to heavy moisture so mold and mildew don’t have time to find a home in your home. Also dry carpets or rugs that have been exposed to heavy doses of water.
• Monitor your drainage. Make sure that downspouts are redirecting water at least five feet away from your foundation. Water can cause structural problems if it is allowed to pool too close to the building. Also, check your gutters and clear them of any debris.
• Check your pipes in the winter. Insulate pipes in attics and basements and those exposed to the exterior so they don’t freeze. Disconnect your garden hose when temperatures drop below freezing.
• Take a look at your roof and windows after a major storm. Don’t wait until there is a hole in your ceiling or a puddle on your floor to see if all is well. Check for missing shingles and cracked windows to prevent rain and moisture from getting in your home.

One last tip: It’s a good idea to check your sump pump every few months and clean it annually before spring rains come. The best way to keep dry is to prepare for the worst and be ready to respond quickly when major water damage does strike.

Mold is common. Tiny spores of mold are invisible to the naked eye and float through the air, inside and outside. Mold grows where there is moisture; it thrives in dark, damp places. So common are these fungi that you might not realize the damage mold can do to your home, business, and health. Menold Construction and Restoration has a team of highly trained professionals that specializes in mold remediation, mold testing, and mold removal in Peoria, IL. Here are five reasons that mold matters.

Hail damage is a problem in Peoria and across Illinois. Softball-size hail is not unheard of and can shatter glass, puncture the roof of your house or business, and destroy the exterior of your car. In 2014, Illinois reported the second highest number of hail damage claims in the country. As you can see, Peoria is no stranger to hail damage, not to mention the types of storms that bring flood damage.

A fire can be a devastating event in your life. You could lose your home, business, or something even more valuable—home fires kill an average of seven people every day in the United States. They also cause billions of dollars in property damage annually, according to the American Red Cross. Menold Construction and Restoration is your fire damage restoration specialist in Peoria, IL, and our experts can help you get your residence or commercial property back in order. There are things you should be aware of, however, in order to lessen your chances of ever needing fire damage restoration services.

Water damage is a problem that often appears out of nowhere. A flood or storm can devastate your home or business in a minute’s notice. An unchecked leak can rot wooden structures or compromise your foundation without you noticing it until it’s too late. If your residential or commercial property is in need of water damage restoration, contact Menold Construction and Restoration. We have the experts, experience, and equipment necessary to contain the damage and to restore your property to its pre-loss condition.

There are, however, things you can do to limit the risk of water damage and in some cases, prevent it from happening in the first place.

Structure fires can strike anytime of the year. The winter months, however, are the peak time for home fires. If tragedy does strike, remember that Menold Construction and Restoration is your Bloomington-Normal, IL, fire damage restoration specialist. Don’t let your holidays be ruined by a fire. Follow these fire safety tips from the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal.

Water damage can be destructive to your property and to your health. One major reason for that is mold. Mold grows where there is moisture and thrives in dark, damp places. Menold Construction and Restoration has a team of highly trained professionals that specializes in mold remediation, mold testing, and mold removal in Bloomington-Normal, IL. Here are five reasons that mold matters.

Home fires kill an average of seven people every day across the country, according to the American Red Cross. Fires injure another 36 people daily and cause more than $7 billion in damages annually in the United States. Menold Construction and Restoration is Central Illinois’ fire damage restoration specialist. However, there are things you can do to help prevent fires before they compromise your safety and property.

Here are five tips for preventing a home fire compiled from the National Fire Protection Association:

Pathogen control is serious business. Pathogens are biological agents that cause disease. These microorganisms come in the form of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. They can cause problems in a variety of settings such as hospitals, schools, day care facilities, public transportation, prisons, livestock production, food-processing units, hotels, and homes. Menold Construction and Restoration uses the NEXT Pathogen Control System to eliminate and control these viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

Menold’s NEXT Pathogen Control System utilizes a safe and proven anti-microbial system, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that delivers long-lasting protection against surface and airborne organisms. NEXT kills surface C. diff, MRSA, staph, and other known viruses, bacteria, and fungi, while reducing organic odors in the process.

Water damage can be insidious. An unnoticed leak may have subtle effects that go undetected until you have a hole in your ceiling or problems with your foundation. Menold Construction and Restoration has highly trained professionals who will respond quickly when your business or home needs water damage restoration services in Champaign-Urbana, IL. However, there are steps you can take to limit the toll water damage can take on your property.

Hail can be a major problem for you and your property. Every year hail causes a billion dollars in damage in the United States. Unfortunately, Illinois and its nearly 13 million residents are especially vulnerable to damaging hailstorms. In 2014, Illinois reported the second highest number of hail damage claims in the country, and in the previous 14 years, hail caused an average loss of about $180 million a year, the fifth highest nationwide. Menold Construction and Restoration has the experts to assess and repair any hail damage that your home or business may suffer in Champaign-Urbana, IL. Our professionals provide full restoration services in Champaign-Urbana and the surrounding areas. But before you need our help, keep in mind a few tips that might limit the damage to you and your home.

A fire can devastate your home or business any time of the year. The winter months, however, are the peak time for structure fires. If tragedy does strike, remember that Menold Construction and Restoration is your fire damage restoration specialist in Champaign-Urbana, IL. There are steps you can take to lower the chances that a winter fire will ruin your holiday season.

Are you looking to join a highly skilled and customer oriented team? Menold Construction and Restoration is growing and has new openings available in construction, remodeling, restoration, project management and carpentry in Central Illinois. At Menold, we provide unmatched customer service thanks to our dedicated employees. Our mission is to provide each client with the best experience during their time of need and we can’t do that without the right employees.

Menold Construction and Restoration is looking for construction project managers in our Morton, IL and Bloomington, IL locations, a remodeling project manager for the Peoria, IL area, a restoration/cleaning technician for the Bloomington/Normal location, and carpenters for Bloomington and Morton as well. Visit our careers page to learn more about these open positions.

The heavy rainfall in the months of May and June have caused flooding and water damage in many areas of Tazewell County, including Morton, Pekin, East Peoria and Washington. Tazewell County Emergency Management Agency is asking residents to report any uninsured flooding issues that have occurred since June 7th, 2015. Please report this flooding to the Emergency Management Agency no later than Tuesday, July 28th by 5 pm. Tazewell County Emergency Management Agency will submit the information to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA).

To contact the Tazewell County Emergency Management Agency, call 309-925-2271 or 309-477-2234 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You can also email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A fire in your home can be extremely devastating and in an emergency situation, it is helpful to have a game plan. Below we have listed the steps of what do to after a fire has occurred in your home:

1. Call fire department: Call 911 as soon as possible when a fire has occurred. Give them your exact location and let them know that there is a fire in your home. If you know the location of where the fire began this information can be helpful as well.
2. Help: Make sure each of your family members are a safe distance from the fire, including any animals that you may have. Check to ensure that no one is injured or needs immediate attention.
3. Call: One of the first calls after calling the fire department would be to call your insurance agent. It is important to give them as much information as you can so they can begin to make a claim. After you have called insurance, it would be helpful to also call your landlord/ mortgage company and inform them what has happened and discuss your options with them. Lastly, a call to the police would be beneficial informing them that this residence will be vacant for a little while due to fire, so they can patrol the area and keep your property safe.
4. Get recommendations for restoration companies: ask your insurance agent if they have any recommendations for fire restoration companies. They may have a good company with whom they have worked with before. This will help give you a start of who to call to help restore your home to its’ pre-fire condition
5. Ask if safe to go in: Before heading back into your home, be sure to ask the fire department when it is safe to go inside the home. While you are inside the home, if possible, try to gather as many important documents as you can as well as necessities needed to get you through the time being.
6. Find a place to stay: The next step is to contact friends, family, or even a disaster relief to find a place to stay until your home is restored.  
7. Notify various places of your new location: Notifying your work, kids’ schools, and the post office of your new location will be very helpful. You might also want to have the post office hold your mail until you are able to move back in.  
8. Save receipts: After the fire has happened be sure to keep any receipt for a purchase needed because of the fire. These will be useful for insurance and tax reasons.
9. Keep in contact with restoration company: While fire restoration company that you hired is working on your home, be sure to keep in contact with them getting updates, asking questions you may have, and getting timelines.

1. Protect your possessions: Gather any paperwork that is important such as birth certificates, social security cards, insurance paperwork, and information about your possessions and keep them in a water proof container in a safe place.
2. Develop a family emergency plan: This can include having a safety kit, teaching your children how to dial 911, and creating and practicing a flood evacuation and storm shelter route with your family.
3. Prepare Your Home: Check to ensure your sump pump is working, raise electrical components such as wiring, switches, circuit breakers.
4. Take inventory: Create a visual as well as a written record of any major household items that you own. This includes valuables like jewelry, artwork and appliances.  This will help when filing insurance claims

1. Fix Leaks: Even before the rain comes it is best to fix any leaks in the roof and fill in any foundational cracks. You will also want to make sure that the roof shingles are secure.
2. Turn Water Off: If you leave for vacation or an extended period of time, it is best to turn off the water in your home. This can prevent any surprise flooding due to leaks while you are away.
3. Check Grading: unrestricted and able to flow away from the house instead of towards it.
4. Clean Gutters: Without clean gutters water from the rain can become concentrated on one area of the roof and next to the house. Gutters are designed to carry water away from your home.
5. Align Downspouts: Also, be sure to check and make sure your downspout is far enough from your home so that water does not end up concentrating next to your property.
6. Test Sump Pump: Make sure you check that your sump pump is working correctly. If you suspect that there are any issues with your sump pump call a professional.

1. If there is mold growth in your property another concern is that growth inside the building can be a symptom of a much larger issue. Mold can be caused by leaks, condensation, humidity that is not properly ventilated and is a signal that water damage may be present.
2. Mold thrives in homes. Homes are made up of materials such as wood, drywall, paper, and have moisture in them, which all supply the mold and allow it to grow. Eventually, after long exposure, the mold can even cause structural damage to your property.
3. Medical research is continually being done to determine the health hazards associated with mold. MoldSensitized.com wrote “One of the latest and most blunt interpretations of this growing body of medical evidence was released by the California Department of Public Health. This document clearly states: “CDPH has concluded that the presence of water damage, dampness, visible mold or mold odor in schools, workplaces, residences and other indoor environments is unhealthy.”

If there is mold in your home, seek out professional assistance to ensure that the root of the problem is discovered and fully removed before you begin the restoration process. If there is a remnant left, it could result in a recurring problem and a greater expense. It is important during the mold removal process that proper testing is done to ensure that all traces have been removed.