Disaster Restoration Specialists
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Buffalo Restoration
Emergency Contact:
406-551-4270

News Archive

Happy Thanksgiving
11/30/2009

The team at Buffalo Restoration would like to wish everybody a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

Seminar in Michigan
10/3/2009

Brett Koppel, Christopher Yanker, Ben Yanker and Keesia Gowin attended a 4 day class in Detroit for training to use an online program to work with insurance companies.

AMRT Class
9/14/2009

Buffalo Restoration hosted a 4 day class to certify it's employees to be Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians. The class was also open for 2 days of CE credits for insurance agents and adjusters.

Cancer Event
8/8/2009

Chip enjoyed his time at the local Red Sox fundraiser in Belgrade for cancer.

Ben attends the 13th annual building science conference
7/1/2009

This summer camp features intensive discussions on building science in both a formal and informal setting.

Thank You!
6/2/2009

The team at Buffalo Restoration would like to thank the community for the support and patronage and for making us the premier restoration company in the valley.

Owners Meeting
5/2/2009

Ben and Gail Yanker attended the owners meeting in Ohio.

Bozeman Senior Center
4/1/2009

George McAdams and Christopher attended seminars in Indiana to become certified Applied Structural Drying technicians.

Meet "Chip"
3/31/2009

Our mascot has a name thanks to Jeana and Brett Paulson of Bozeman, the winners of our name the Buffalo contest. You can find Chip at the homeshows and events around Bozeman.

Emergency Board-Up's
3/5/2009

The team at Buffalo Restoration hopes everyone is safe from the explosion in downtown Bozeman. We are available to board-up surrounding buildings. Please call 586-8109 to contact a crew

Spring Home and Garden Show
2/25/2009

Look for Buffalo Restoration's booth at the Spring Home and Garden Show at the fairgrounds February 28th and March 1st. Stop by our booth for your chance to win an MP3 player.

New Team Member
1/28/2009

A new member has joined the Buffalo Restoration team! Our buffalo mascot was at the KBOZ homeshow and will be at the other 2 homeshows this spring. Enter to win our name the buffalo contest at the homeshows. Winner will be announced on March 31st.

Disaster Shield
1/6/2009

Buffalo Restoration has created Disaster Shield, a customized program for commerical and major buildings which offers support before, during and after a loss. Call 586-8109 for more information.

Happy Holidays
12/1/2008

The team at Buffalo Restoration wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you for your continued support this year.

Xtreme Team
11/25/2008

Ben and Christopher Yanker attended the Xtreme Team's week long traning program. This network is exclusive and teaches the latest and most effective methods of drying and water loss mitigation.

Business Networks
11/25/2008

Gail Yanker and Alisa Lister attended the semi-annual Businses Networks Conference in Baltimore Maryland.

Applied Structural Drying
10/26/2008

Nick Anderson attended an Applied Structural Drying class in Indiana and is now certified

Water Damage Class
9/8/2008

Ryan Hostetter attended a Water Damage Restoration class in Missoula. He is now a certified Water Damage Restoration Technician

New Look for Buffalo Trucks
6/12/2008

Buffalo Restoration has updated the look of its vehicles. The familiar white vehicles with black logos are now covered with green abstract graphics. Keep your eyes open for the twelve vehicles around the valley.

The Latest Drying Techniques
5/12/2008

Nick Anderson attended an advanced structural drying class in Missoula.

Xactimate Training
5/5/2008

Ben Yanker and Brett Koppel attended an advanced Xactimate training class in Las Vegas. This course covered the capabilities of the new Xactimate 25 estimating program that Buffalo Restoration uses to scope jobs.

Business Networks
3/12/2008

Ben, Gail and Alisa Yanker attended the semi-annual Business Networks critique in Sarasota Florida. This convention involves meeting with other restoration companies from the United States to critique a local company to help their business grow and succeed.

Buffalo Attends RIA Confernce 2008
3/12/2008

Ben and Gail Yanker owners of Buffalo Restoration attended the 63rd annual Restoration Industry Association (RIA) convention in Grapevine Texas. Some of the most experienced professionals in the industry are asked to speak at this convention. It is a time for business owners to network and talk about the industry.

Xtreme Team
2/12/2008

Buffalo Restoration joined the Xtreme Team. Ben and Christopher Yanker traveled to Indiana to become members of the Xtreme Team which specializes in in-place drying for water losses. This saves time and money for the customer when we can dry buildings without having to do any demolition. We are excited to be a part of this organization.

Project Report For Indoor Environment Connections
8/19/2003

Nobody would suspect severe mold contamination in rural Montana where dry land farming and drought conditions dictate economic and social life. However, just minutes from where Lewis and Clark had once camped on their journey to find the passage to the Pacific, a brick farm house and the microbial contamination inside had caused this farming family to vacate and consider the options for themselves, the structure and generations of belongings.

The assignment began with a phone call from an adjuster whose insured suffered several catastrophic water losses. The insured suspected a mold problem as the results of water intrusion from a break in the main water supply line from an artesian well that had been discovered by natural gas exploration in years past. The owners explained that the water line had burst several times over the recent years due to the highly alkaline mineral content of the water corroding the galvanized supply line. The water was never immediately extracted and dried, due to the owner's absence or preoccupation with the year's wheat harvest. With the spirit of self-reliance that makes Americas' farmers survive, the insured attempted a good-hearted attempt to rid the house of the unsightly and smelly gypsum board. It was ripped out, packed up the steps from the basement, through the upstairs living space and into a grain truck for disposal in the "back forty" -landfill sites. The owners had recently vacated the property complaining of health problems.

The occupants were reporting health complaints consisting of allergic type reactions, including skin rashes and problems with concentration. This led them to submit tape mounts to a microbiological lab. The most notable fungal types that were identified included; Stachybotrys sp., Stemphylium sp. and Aspergillus sp. These fungi are consistent with those normally recovered from construction materials that have been subject to elevated moisture and humidity for extended lengths of time. Upon our initial site investigation the owners completed a health information form, which revealed that, both of the occupants are over sixty years old, currently under a doctors care, and had respiratory problems including asthma. One of the owners had undergone surgery for the removal of their stomach and spleen, hip replacement and several back surgeries. It was clear that the owners had multiple medical conditions that could make them at high risk for reactions to fungal contamination.

The residence is a 1500 square foot ranch style brick home with three bedrooms, three baths, living, family and laundry rooms. There is also an attached two-car garage with access from the main floor. Downstairs is a finished basement with two bedrooms, A Photographic dark room, food pantry, wet bar, full size billiards table and playing area as well as 700 square feet of family room that was being used as storage of family items. The ceiling was suspended acoustic tile. Also located in the basement was a fuel oil forced air furnace and a storage area for pesticides. There was no door to the basement and a handrail with balusters separated the two levels.

Ben Yanker CR, WLS, CMR, president of Buffalo Restoration Inc. of Bozeman Mt. performed the initial site investigation at the request of the owners and the insurance adjuster in the fall of 2001. Some of the basement contents had been moved during the owner's partial removal of the gypsum wallboard. Moldy and rotted baseboard was still on top of the pool table. In the bedroom, pantry and billiards room the exposed framing was water stained and had visible fungal growth. Rot and decay on the lower portions of the framing was also noticeable. Some of the remaining gypsum wallboard in these areas had visible mold growth two to three up from the floor. Some of the contents also had fungal growth on them. The adjacent family room was not as badly contaminated, with only small areas of visible fungal growth. The upstairs main floor showed no signs of visible fungal growth but was suspected of secondary contamination due to previous demolition efforts and the HVAC air-handling unit being located in the basement adjacent to the most severely contaminated areas.

After the initial inspection Ben Yanker suggested that the owners do not enter the residence and that a Certified Industrial Hygienist with experience in dealing with microbial contamination and current remediation practices be contacted for sampling and protocol preparation. The insurance adjuster contacted Ms. Robin Billau, CIH of Indoor Air Quality and Occupant Health of Bozeman Montana.

Robin's site investigation and sampling was designed to include the following, perform a visual inspection, surface and air sampling, evaluate sampling results and prepare a remediation protocol to reduce occupant exposure to fungal contamination. A "Zefon" air sampling pump and "Air-O-Cell" cassettes was used for trapping airborne particles. The results provided by a qualified lab are in Table 1. (See insert). In addition, tape lifts were taken and submitted for microscopic analysis. Tape samples taken upstairs indicated the presence of several types of fungi including Stachybotrys sp. and Aspergillus/Penicillum sp. Based on the testing and visual inspection it was determined that spores from the active mold growth in the basement had contaminated the entire structure and contents due to air movement and occupant activities.

The guidelines referenced for removing the fungal growth and reducing the contamination indoors at the residence were from the following. The New York City Department of Health, Environmental & Occupational Disease Epidemiology, Guidelines on Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments November 2000, EPA 402-K-97-200, Should you have the Air Ducts in your Home Cleaned? October 1997, The National Air Duct Cleaners Association Standard 1992-01 and the IICRC S500 Standard and Reference Guide for Water Damage Restoration. These guidelines were chosen because of the expertise of the individuals who created them and the applicability of the documents to the project in question.

Specifically, remediation and restoration of the residence included the following items in addition to meeting the guidelines mentioned above. All contents of the house were to be removed and processed by HEPA vacuuming, wiped, washed or dry-cleaned. Those content items that could not be processed were to be disposed of or enclosed in an impermeable covering. The occupants and Buffalo Restoration Inc. decided that many of the contents were no longer of useful value and should be disposed of even though they could potentially be processed. This highly subjective task was complicated by the fact that the occupants were advised to not re-enter the residence without respirators and protective clothing and the sensitivity they may have developed to exposure to fungal contamination.

A health conscious and cost effective procedure was implemented by constructing a staging area with shelving units in an outside porch area that was protected from the weather. The contents were removed from the house to the staging area where the occupants could view them from a distance and direct the remediation workers as to their wishes regarding salvagability. Items that were selected for processing were then air washed prior to inventory and packing. Buffalo Restoration Inc. in conjunction with the CIH instituted a quality control program for the processing of the contents that will be discussed latter in the article.

The chemicals stored in the photo dark room and pesticides stored under the stairs were to be removed outside the house to a safe location prior to cleaning. Workers were notified of the chemical residuals on the shelves and floor and wore chemical resistant gloves, boots and clothing and organic/acid gas/HEPA filter cartridges when working in these areas. Cleaning solutions and materials used for these areas were not to be reused in other areas to avoid cross contamination.

The structural remediation/decontamination efforts were similar to that which readers are familiar with, including removal and disposal of moldy building materials, vigorous cleaning and then encapsulating stained structural members that remained.

However, prior to reconstruction project manager Everett Flikkema, discovered that moisture was still present in the basement slab. The original basement slab(s) had been poured over several years as funds and concrete were available. The elevated moisture was present at the "cold seams" some of which were over 2 inches in size. Reconstruction not started until the moisture source was identified and corrected.

Investigation revealed that the house did not have rain gutters or downspouts and that the grading around the residence allowed rainwater to migrate through cracks in the foundation and slab. To remedy the situation the perimeter of the foundation was excavated, foundation cracks were sealed from the outside, window wells were removed and reset to accommodate a new final elevation grade that sloped away from the residence, gutters and downspouts were installed. As additional drying was performed the size of the cold seam cracks was reduced and equilibrium moisture levels achieved.

It is important to note that the goals of the remediation efforts were clearly defined by the CIH at the outset of the project. Specifically, for all indoor spore trap results the spore counts for Stachybotrys sp. should be less than 87 spores/m3,(1 spore or less in a 5 minute sample at 15 liters per minute), no visible mold should be present and relative humidity levels in the home should be below 60%.

The processing of the contents was performed in a 2,000 square foot facility dedicated to mold remediation. Chambers were constructed to allow for an employee break room, donning and doffing areas in addition to storage and processing areas. Contaminated items were passed through flap doors from "dirty" storage to a work area equipped with downdraft tables, HEPA vacuums, compressed air and cleaning items. For further inspection, sampling and packing; the processed items were then passed though flap doors to a separate chamber, which was slightly more pressurized than the processing, and "dirty" storage room. Finally, the processed items were passed through to a "clean" storage area to await delivery.

As part of the internal quality control program, tape lift samples were randomly taken by the supervisor at the end of each shift and sent overnight to a qualified lab. The results were sent to, Robin Billau CIH and then on to Buffalo Restoration Inc. via e-mail. The non-viable samples of spores and fragments were quantified, from lowest to highest: "Trace", "Minor", "Major" and "Abundant". The values were meant to show relative quantities only. The amount of spores, fragments or particulate would indicate the effectiveness of the processing efforts.

It was agreed with the CIH that our processing goal was to only allow "trace" or less amounts of Stachybotrys or Penicillium sp. /Aspergillus sp. All contents processed for a particular work period would be held in the packing room until sampling results were received. Processed work that met the criteria would then be moved to a final storage area. If the results showed minor, major or abundant amounts the entire work shift production would be reprocessed and tested again.

At the beginning of the project several batches of contents did not meet the agreed upon criteria. Subsequently, the CIH visited our restoration facility to evaluate air- flow management and processing procedures and assist with the refinement of the procedure to accomplish the goals.

It was determined that a more thorough wiping and wet cleaning was required to remove particulate material as well as spores and sporulating structures. By increasing diligence during the wet side cleaning and wiping along with thorough drying prior to packing, proved to provide the anticipated results.

Final verification/clearance for the remediation of the mold growth at the residence consisted of a site visit by the CIH for a visual inspection, air and surface sampling to indicate the effectiveness of the remediation and reviewing and documenting that the clean up protocol was followed. The air sampling results can be seen in Table 1. Prior to receiving the sampling results which indicated that the project goals had been achieved, it was determined that additional cleaning was required for the ducts and the appliances. There was some soot dispersal in the ductwork from the fuel oil furnace. The appliance mechanical systems were given additional HEPA vacuuming and wiping. Following the sampling results and "clearance" the foundation walls and floor joist were coated/encapsulated prior to reconstruction.

The entire project consisting of investigation, sampling, project goal agreement, content inventory/pack out, demolition, structural decontamination more sampling and verification reconstruction and resetting the contents took a little more than 12 months to complete. To put that in a different perspective it was the about the same amount of time it took Lewis and Clark and the Corps of discovery to travel from St. Louis to the nearby campsite.

The Author Ben Yanker CR, WLS, CMR is president of Buffalo Restoration Inc. of Bozeman Montana. Buffalo Restoration Inc. is a full service restoration company that serves Southwest Montana. Ben is currently the chairman of ASCR's Water Loss Institute (WLI). He also has a marketing and education degree from Montana State University.

The Professionals at Buffalo Restoration
8/19/2003

The Professionals at Buffalo Restoration understand what fire, water or mold can do to your home or business. Buffalo Restoration provides expert fire and smoke damage repair, water damage cleanup, and mold remediation to return your property to normal as quickly as possible.

Buffalo Restoration's staff relies on more than 25 years experience and adheres to the highest industry standards. Buffalo Restoration's highly trained technicians provide each customer with quality service unsurpassed in the restoration industry.

The service professionals you'll work with at Buffalo Restoration hold 29 Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certifications in seven service areas including fire and smoke; water damage restoration; applied structural drying; carpet cleaning; repair and reinstallation; upholstery and fabric cleaning; and odor control. In the mold remediation area we have 11 remediation technicians, four certified mold remediators and two certified mold remediation supervisors. Buffalo Restoration also has two Master Restorers on staff as well as Montana's first Certified Restorer and Water Loss Specialist. Our technicians take pride in their work. Using state-of-the-art equipment, procedures and professional products, Buffalo's technicians rely on their education and experience to provide quick, professional service whenever damage occurs.

Buffalo Restoration strives to be the premier Disaster Restoration Company in Southwest Montana. We achieve this by meeting the needs of our customers through the use of appropriate technology and the highest quality of service. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (406) 586-8109. Buffalo Restoration is located at 107 Bridger Center Drive, Bozeman, MT 59715.

Putting People Before Profits
8/19/2003

By Pete Geddes

The Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend my family and I awoke to four inches of sewage in our basement. While we have many close friends, we didn't call them for help. No doubt some would have interrupted their plans and come over. But we didn't want to impose this bug, unpleasant job on their Thanksgiving plans. Further, they have neither the equipment nor the expertise of professionals.

The motto of the entrepreneurs who cover this niche, Buffalo Restoration, says it will: "We make it feel like home again." In our case they surely did. Here's the story and its message.

Thirty minutes after we called, a cheerful, competent crew arrived. In a matter of minutes they had tackled our problem. Soon the owner arrived. He and his crew spent most of the day cleaning our basement as my wife and I cleaned and salvaged our belongings.

All of this on a holiday weekend. Many believe that capitalism and the pursuit of profits is somewhat unseemly if not immoral. Naive critics claim that capitalism presupposes selfishness and greed. I demur. Capitalism presupposes only that people act in their own self-interest. Usually this self-interest benefits others, e.g., the man from AAA who comes out on a sub-zero night to start your car. Even those who disdain capitalism concede that it delivers services and products like no other system. Capitalism may work, they say, but does it produce a moral society?

Profit is the positive spread between costs and revenue. The potential for profit induces individuals to take business risks. They gain when others find benefit in their work. Entrepreneurs may be motivated by self-interest, concerns about family, ego, or the love of the game. However, it's the value of their services, not underlying motivations, that measure their social contributions.

Like fish in water, we take this social environment for granted. Yet it is this process that provides us with fresh fruit in winter, extra turkey in supermarkets at Thanksgiving, and yes, even cleanup crews on holidays.

What about alternative institutions to organize society? The MIT economist Lester Thurow writes: "Attempts have been made to organize productive societies without the profit motive. Communism is the best recent example. But in the modern work these attempts have failed spectacularly... Capitalism requires profits and profits require ownership. Ownership generates responsibility."

One key problem is that the information needed to create products and coordinate human activity is widely scattered. Central planners are not omniscient. They obtain only a ting fraction of this knowledge. They are thereby precluded from recognizing people's wants and fostering innovative ways to meet them.

Here's a simple example of the pervasive problem of acquiring the knowledge necessary to make good decisions.

A driver waiting for the later passenger to catch the bus cannot possibly know whether the good he does for her outweighs the harm he does to other passengers by delaying their trip. True, he delays each only a little. But it may be enough to miss a connection for a flight to visit a critically ill family member. The late passenger may be on a mission of mercy. She also might be on the way to meet her drug dealer or rob a store.

The important point is the driver can't know. And because he can't, he has a moral obligation to follow the rules. By waiting he is more arrogant than virtuous.

Here are two great advantages of the free market: It reduces the potential for human conflict while minimizing the amount of knowledge required to act responsibly. The peaceful competition of the marketplace is a profoundly cooperative process which increases net social benefits. And the material success that free societies enjoy allows us to pursue all sorts of "non-market" matters (e.g., spirituality, leisure, and volunteerism).

My insurance claims adjuster is located in Washington. He called while I was writing this column and gave me his number is case there was anything else I needed. He acted as though he was genuinely concerned about my family's welfare. He is quite unlikely to ever meet us, yet he acted as thought he cared about the desires of complete strangers.

That's the way the world should work.

Buffalo Receives Big 50 Award
5/1/2001

Buffalo Restoration received a Big 50 Award for 2001 from "Remodeling" magazine. This award is given to recognize the highest quality in the industry, nationwide. Ben Yanker, President of Buffalo Restoration traveled to Washington DC to be recognized for Buffalo's success.

Buffalo Restoration is a local disaster restoration company providing the following services to Southwest Montana: Water Damage Restoration, Smoke & Fire Damage Restoration, Mold Remediation, Carpet Cleaning, Duct Cleaning, & Remodeling.

Buffalo Restoration is located at 107 Bridger Center Drive in Bozeman, MT. Individuals with questions can call Ben Yanker at 406-586-8109.

Christopher Yanker Receives Certification
2/27/2001

Christopher Yanker, apprentice at Buffalo Restoration, received both the fire/smoke restoration and odor control certifications from the IICRC. Yanker has worked for Buffalo Restoration since 1998 and has been involved in the restoration industry for his entire career.

Ice Dams Scourge of Area Homes
2/7/2001

Ice dams scourge of area homes
02/07/01
By KAYLEY MENDENHALL Chronicle Staff Writer
photo by THOMAS LEE

Paula Abrams stands beneath the ice dam on her roof north of Bozeman Monday afternoon. Leaking ceilings, warped window frames and floor boards, soaked dry wall and moldy plaster -- who would have thought winter could bring such nasty treats to homeowners in Bozeman?

"There is a foot of ice in my gutter," said Bozeman resident Paula Abrams. "It's getting under the shingles because of a really unusual weather condition."

Abrams isn't the only Bozeman homeowner with an ice dam on her roof and a puddle in her kitchen. Many people are experiencing substantial ice build-ups that are damaging their homes on the inside and out.

"The real killer is the freeze and thaw cycles," said Ben Yanker of Buffalo Restoration. His office has been swamped with calls of people needing help with the water damage ice dams have caused their homes.

Yanker said that when snow on the heated part of the roof melts it runs off toward the gutter. When it hits the unheated eaves, it freezes again. When the thawing and freezing happens repeatedly it creates a large dam of ice both in the gutter and on the eaves.

"You think that your roof is cold, but it's still warmer than where the eave is," Yanker said. "The water runs down and freezes when it hits the edge of the roof."

Snowmelt that occurs after an ice dam has formed has nowhere to go, said Ross Leake of Safeco Insurance Co.

"It really, literally is a dam," he said. "The water just pools and sits there and will come back underneath the shingles. It migrates its own way."

This winter has produced larger ice dams and bigger problems than years past. Leake said temperatures haven't risen above freezing long enough to melt all the snow off the roofs. He said the problem attacks both old and new homes.

In the 22 years Sally Richter has lived in her Bozeman home, she's never had an ice problem. This year, her north side gutter was so full of ice it was hanging off the house and had to be removed.

"I've never had anything like this happen before," Richter said. "I was very surprised. I felt like my house had turned on me."

Once an ice dam has formed, the only way to stop leaks is to get rid of the ice.

Yanker said there are several methods for ice removal, but none of them are easy and some can be dangerous.

"One way to do it is you could chip it off," he said. "Of course, we don't recommend getting up on the roof for safety reasons."

If a homeowner can reach the ice dam safely with a ladder, then chipping the ice off is a good place to start. Yanker said it is important not to chip down too far because it is easy to damage the roof especially when shingles are frozen and brittle.

Once the ice has been chipped down so that only about an inch remains, Yanker suggests applying a chemical de-icing agent to remove the final layer. Rock salt can be corrosive and could harm vegetation in underlying flower beds.

"Some people are using a torch to heat it up," Yanker said. "But that is a difficult way to get it to melt."

The ambient air temperature around the flame is so cold that it takes a long time to melt large amounts of ice with a torch, Yanker said. Using hot water to melt the ice is a possibility but could cause problems because it adds more water to the equation.

"It's kind of a bad thing because it's very difficult to remove the ice, and the ice is the source of the problem," he said.

Once the ice is removed, homeowners are encouraged to either add more insulation to the area where the roof meets the eave, or install heating tape to keep the ice from rebuilding.

"You put it on the roof in a zig zag fashion and plug it in," Yanker said of the heating tape. "It's not to be used to melt the ice, but once you have the ice gone it is a preventative measure."

He said for 100 feet of tape it costs about $67 without installation. Most homeowner's policies will cover internal water damage, but may not pay to correct the roof problems that caused an ice dam to form, Leake said. As for the cost of ice dam removal, he said it would have to be determined on a case by case basis.