3/14/2017
Spring Update from Whalen Restoration Services
Fire, Smoke, Soot, Water & Mold Remediation Services Board­up * Cleaning * Deodorizing * Reconstruction
Spring Newsletter
2017 Welcome!
Spring teasers, winter reminders, and confused plants! Cape Cod has had a pretty mild winter so far, the tree buds and sprouting plants prove that, but the
forecast for this weekend and into next week reminds us that it's not over yet, so don't pack away
the shovels, ice melt and snow gloves! The good news is, with the start of daylight savings time
and the first day of spring just around the corner, we're that much closer to the warm weather! If you're tucked in on this snowy Friday, scan through our seasonal home maintenance checklists
(with new and improved printable versions), mark your calendar and indulge in the great recipe
below! We've also got some great tips on ice dams just in case next week's storm is a big one. If
you make the delicious blueberry croissant puff, or tackle any of your monthly to­do projects, snap
a picture and share it with us on Facebook or by email! We'd love to see them! Sincerely, The Whalen Restoration Services Team
Ice Dams
Snow + Insufficient insulation = Ice Dams
Funny article to have in a spring newsletter, but it's still winter and we have the snowy forecast to
prove it. Snow and fluctuating temperatures create the recipe for ice dam formation. So what in the
world causes an ice dam? Well, if there is snow on your roof and you have a "heat leak" (a spot
where there's not enough insulation and the heat from the house is escaping), the heat will actually
start to melt the snow above it. The water will run down the roof, but with the low temperatures it
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will then freeze into an ice dam. The
more snow that melts, the more
water that runs, the bigger the dam
gets. Once the temperatures rise
and all of the snow starts to melt,
water will back up behind the dam
and possibly leak underneath your
roof shingles and into your home. We still have plenty of winter left to
add to this potential recipe for
disaster, but you can avoid the costly
damage that can become of this mix
by monitoring ice dam formations and
keep clear drainage paths.
Continue reading...
Caring for the Community A little bit of kindness goes a long way
The best part about being in business on Cape Cod is being part of the most amazing community.
Business to business ­ neighbor to neighbor ­ it is beautiful to witness just how much people do to
help and support each other. It inspires us throughout the entire year to do our part. Proud to honor the flag We were overjoyed to receive a very sweet thank you letter from the
Harwich Fire Department Fire Cheif for taking care of cleaning their large American display flag. It
was the least we could do to support those who take care of all of us year­round when we need it
most. We look forward to seeing that flag proudly displayed at the Fire Department's events
throughout the year! Helping those helping others Tough times can fall on any family, but here on Cape Cod we can
be thankful for organizations like the Needy Fund and their amazing supporters that are there to
help those families. On September 19th of last year, St. George Greek Orthodox Church held their
7th Annual Charity Golf Classic raising more than $19,000.00 for the fund! We were pleasantly
reminded of how lucky we are to live in such a hard working community when we received their
thoughtful note. If you are interested in participating in the Classic next year it is being held in
September at the beautiful Willowbend Country Club in Mashpee! Mark Your Calendar
Great dates to remember
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Seasonal To­Do List ­ New & Improved!
For a Happy, Healthy Home
Years ago we created a yearly home maintenance calendar to keep you on track with properly
caring for your home, and to help you avoid costly damages. We've recently made some great
improvements to the calendar list making it even more thorough and easier to tackle. There's
only 6­9 items per month, so make sure to check them all off and you'll keep your home in the
best, safest shape possible! March
Daylight savings begins this month. Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors when you change your clocks.
Clean out your medicine cabinet. Safely dispose of dated prescriptions and over the counter
medicines (please not in the toilet!). You might find a local collection drive by calling your
police department. Examine your washer machine hose washers. Shut off their water source, remove the
supply hose, and replace any worn or damaged washers. Replace the hoses every 5 years. Clean out the garage. Gather all hazardous materials to be tossed (paint thinners, cleaners,
pesticides, etc.) and contact your city's Department of Public Works to find out when the
next collection date is. If you're a local on Cape Cod, you can find those dates here.
Clean your refrigerator inside and out, removing all food, shelves, trays, and old ice from the
ice maker. Replace the baking soda.
If you have one, test your sump pump by pouring water into it and making sure it pumps out.
Garbage disposal cleaner: Grind two trays of ice cubes made of 1 cup of vinegar and 1
gallon of water.
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Planning on planting a garden this year? Start drafting up a diagram of the space you you'd
like to use. Research how much space each plant is going to need, and the best season to
start them. You may even be able to start some of your seedlings indoors.
March Printable To­Do List
April
Test all of your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Clean your window screens with a bristle brush, a mild detergent and a garden hose.
Check for sales on winter maintenance equipment like snow shovels, generators, snow
blowers, etc. Prepare your winter equipment for storage and your gas powered lawn equipment for use. Inspect your home's exterior for signs of rot. Use a small awl to probe for any soft spots on
railings, window sills, and posts. Prepare to Grill! Grills can be cleaned with soapy water and a brass bristle brush. You may
need to also clean the gas hose, and don't forget about the drip tray. See your
manufacturer's instructions.
Re­caulk open joints around windows and doors, and replace weather stripping where worn.
Clean your range hood and either clean or replace the filter.
April Printable To­Do List
May
Test all of your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Clean and inspect your gutters. Make sure the clips and straps are all tightly fastened. Run
a garden hose in them and make sure the water is directed at least 3 feet away from your
foundation.
Don't let the beauty of spring and sunshine be clouded; make those windows sparkle!
Streak free tip: don't work directly in the sun.
Air­conditioning season approaches. Have your unit checked, clean the condenser or heat
pump of debris, and replace the forced­air filter.
Reset your thermostats and automatic sprinklers as the weather changes.
Paint your patio and deck furniture to enjoy it all season long. If there's no need to paint,
coat metal pieces with auto polish before placing them outside for the season.
Put away your winter clothes. Have articles you didn't wear even once this year? Donate
them and don't forget to keep track of your donations for taxes next year.
May Printable To­Do List
Have any questions or comments about these tips? Send us an e­mail.
Spring Recipe
Fresh blueberries will make your heart sing like spring sunshine! Blueberry Croissant Puff
from The Girl Who Ate Everything Serves: 10
Ingredients
3 large croissants, cut up (about 5 to 5½ cups)
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
⅔ cup sugar
2 eggs
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1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup milk
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place croissant pieces in a 9 inch
square pan. Sprinkle with
blueberries.
3. Beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs
and vanilla in medium bowl with
electric mixer until well blended.
Gradually add milk, beating well
after each addition. Pour evenly
over croissant pieces. Let stand
20 minutes or soak overnight.
4. Bake at 350°F for 35 to 40
minutes or until set in center
and golden brown. You may want
to cover it with foil for the last 10 minutes if the tops are getting too browned.
5. Serve warm sprinkled with powdered sugar.
6. Variation: Instead of baking in a square pan bake individually. Place croissant
pieces evenly in 10 (1/2‐cup) ramekins; sprinkle with blueberries and pour cream
cheese mixture evenly over croissant pieces. Let stand 20 minutes. Bake at 350°F
for 20 to 25 minutes or until set in center and golden brown.
Notes
This can easily be doubled in a 9X13 pan
Snap a picture and tag us on Facebook! Don't Take Our Word For It
Testimonials of the Quarter
Lydia Hopkins wrote a testimonial letter for Whalen Restoration Services Inc. for
the website ­ January 29
"I would highly recommend this restoration service. Bill Whalen is well respected
by his staff. Though it took over a year, the final product was worth the wait.
Excellent workmanship inside and out ­ and using this opportunity for upgrades.
John Baylis oversaw the total gut rehab project from start to finish with a
wonderful cheerfulness. Greg Martin made my life easier by helping me sort
through my life's accumulation after the devastating house fire. We laughed so
hard when I labeled the box "dirty books" ­ he changed it to "sooty". All Whalen's
workers were expert, respectful and kind (Charlie was sweet). Ron Lindholm, Art
Rescue in Dennis, did an exceptional job on restoring my antique oil paintings and
the very charred "Old Lady" picture/trophy from the Orleans Yacht Club. But I
saved the best for last. Jose is an amazing craftsman, a true artisan. Thank you
all December 1, 2015 to the present." Clark & Gail J. wrote a testimonial letter for Whalen Restoration Services Inc. for their website ­
December 8
"We were pleased with the mitigation and restoration of our home after severe water damage
beginning Dec. 28, 2015 and ending eight months later. Within an hour of our call for help your crew
quickly came in with fans, pumps, strength and EXPERIENCE to tackle the mess to our first floor,
basement and garage. The supervisor of this crew, Glenn, was there several times a day; the men
wasted no time completing Step #1. Each man was concerned about our loss and quietly went to
work. Every item to be saved was individually wrapped before putting in the large storage pod in
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our driveway.In retrospect, we appreciate the process Whalen Restoration Company took dealing
with the insurance company to arrive at a realistic cost of replacement for each specific job. What
seemed like a slow start was actually to our benefit; the figure finally agreed upon fully covered our
replacement and losses.There were many damaged areas that had to be completed. The work done
by the Whalen crew was exceptional. Friends and neighbors commented on the numerous vehicles
that arrived to work ­ the "white fleet". Workshops on wheels! To a man, each remarked how much
he enjoyed coming to work and the results of their labor demonstrated it. John Baylis kept us up to
date on the work being done and frequently checked in on the progress... no doubt a thankless job.
The men were polite, considerate of our property, soft­spoken, capable and personable­a mirror of
Whalen's training and expectations. Thank you for an excellent job from damage mitigation to the
final thorough clean­up."
Nadja M reviewed Whalen Restoration Services Inc. on Yelp ­ 5 star June 2
"Fast service by knowledgeable professionals. The experts at Whalen Restoration tackled
everything from making certain the building was secured and safe to cleaning and mitigating smoke
damage to structural repairs as well as cleaning rugs and furnishings. They worked quickly and
carefully, keeping everyone well informed of their progress. I would highly recommend them."
Contact
Whalen Restoration Services Inc.
22 American Way, South Dennis, MA 02660
508­760­1911
WEBSITE E­MAIL US
Connect with us!
"It is spring again. The earth
is like a child that knows
poems by heart." ~ Rainer Maria Rilke
"If people did not love one
another, I really don't see what
use there would be in having
any spring."
~ Victor Hugo, Les Misérables "The sun just touched the
morning; The morning, happy thing, Supposed that he had come to
dwell, And life would be all spring."
~ Emily Dickinson "And the Spring arose on the
garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt
everywhere;
And each flower and herb on
Earth's dark breast
Rose from the dreams of its
wintry rest."
~ Percy Bysshe Shelley, The
Complete Poems Claim Your
Gift!
Enjoy 15% off your next carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, or area rug cleaning with Chem­Dry by Whalen Services. http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1104176519289&ca=09bb5616­7f60­45d3­98fd­ac109c543065
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Spring Update from Whalen Restoration Services
15%
off
To book your appointment with us today call 508­760­5666 or toll free at 800­287­3222
Discount will be applied to any amount over our $125.00 minimum charge ($250.00 minimum charge for Woods Hole, Truro, and Provincetown, MA)
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