Calais, Baring, Robbinston, Charlotte, Pembroke and Perry are part of our service area, and the number to call is 1-800-479-6676 or 207-947-4454. Bouchard Cleaning & Restoration DKI takes calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. An answering service picks up after hours and pages our on-call staff, who call back within 15 minutes.
Every kind of job we do is open to Calais customers. The sections below begin with the older buildings that make up much of the city.
Mold assessment and removal in Calais
More than a third of Calais’s housing was built before 1940, and close to half before 1960. Old foundations and original plumbing give moisture a way into a house, and mold follows wherever it stays. First we work out how far the mold has spread and say if testing is called for. Materials past saving are torn out and rebuilt. Both the mold remediation page and our ways to prevent mold are written for owners deciding what to do next.
Water damage and frozen pipes in Calais
Pipes in older houses freeze and split, roofs leak, and basements take on ground water. About one home in twelve here is a seasonal or occasional-use home, and a closed-up camp can sit with a broken line for weeks. Moisture is monitored throughout, and the job is finished when readings are back to normal. We can also dry documents.
When the St. Croix runs high it floods Route 1 north of the city. If river water or spring melt has reached your building, we extract and dry it the same way, and we can bring in extra technicians and equipment through the DKI network when the job is large. See water damage cleanup and the emergency tips.
Smoke and fire damage in Calais
Close to six homes in ten here burn oil, and about one in five uses propane. A puff-back pushes soot through the whole house, and a chimney fire leaves residue that smears when it is wiped. Belongings that can be cleaned are inventoried and packed out while the structure is worked on, and the ducts are cleaned so the furnace does not spread what remains. A wood stove, used by about one household in sixteen, can do the same. Read the fire emergency tips before we arrive; the fire damage services page covers the rest.
Cleaning and sanitizing for Calais businesses
We clean and sanitize medical buildings such as the hospital, nursing homes, schools, municipal buildings and offices, either to prevent an outbreak or to deal with one. A border town also has offices and shops that see a steady flow of visitors, and those get cleaned on a schedule. About one housing unit in six here is in a building of two or more units, and we clean those apartments between tenants. The cleaning and sanitizing page has the method, and apartment and condo cleaning covers tenant turnovers.
Sewage and biohazard cleanup in Calais
We remove what a sewage backup leaves behind, clean the area and disinfect it. A backup in an older house can travel under floors and into walls, so the affected area is wider than it first looks. We also clean up after hoarding, animal waste and vandalism, and we work with the owner and the property manager on hoarding jobs. Camps and second homes that sit empty are another place a backup can go unnoticed. The biohazard work page is a good first read.
Duct cleaning in Calais
With so many oil-fired systems and wood stoves, ducts here collect more than dust. Oil is the main heating fuel, so soot from a puff-back is the usual thing to find in a duct system, and a smoky wood stove leaves a lighter film. Older houses that were renovated hold plaster and sawdust in the runs too. Pets or allergies shorten the three to five year recommendation. The duct work page covers the reasons to book this service.
Carpet, upholstery and floor care in Calais
Our van-mounted hot steam extraction cleans carpet and upholstery, and we move the furniture ourselves, so you do not prepare anything. Winter slush and road salt come in on boots, so entry carpet in offices and shops takes the worst of it. Pet odors and stains are pre-treated. Tile floors can be waxed and the grout cleaned in the same visit. Details are on the carpet and tile care page.
Post-construction cleanup in Calais
When a renovation finishes, fine dust and leftovers sit on the walls, windows and floors and in the ducts. We clear the debris, mud and adhesive, clean the walls and high spaces, take the factory stickers off new windows and wash the glass, sills and screens. Carpet and tile are cleaned, and the duct system is cleaned and inspected so drywall dust does not return through the vents. The same list applies after a repair following water or fire damage. See post-construction cleanup for what is included.
Clothing and contents restoration in Calais
Soft contents damaged by smoke, water, sewage or mold can be washed in a process that uses a phosphate-free detergent and about half the water of conventional washing. Many of these items can be restored, so ask us before anything is thrown out. Winter coats, boots and bedding often live in basements that take on ground water, and wood smoke from a stove fire settles into fabric. The contents restoration page covers clothing, linens and other soft contents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calais inside your service area?
Yes. We serve the entire state of Maine from our offices in Hampden and Westbrook, and we are available 24/7/365.
The house is old and the basement smells damp. Should I test for mold first?
Call us and we will assess it. We tell you what needs to be done and what testing is required before any removal starts.
Our camp near Calais froze and flooded over the winter. Can you dry it?
Yes. Standing water is extracted and the structure and contents are dried, with moisture monitored throughout. After weeks of water we also check for mold.
Can you do a duct cleaning after a chimney fire?
Yes. Smoke and soot travel into the ducts, so cleaning them is part of our fire restoration.
Do you clean medical or office buildings in Calais?
Yes. We clean and sanitize medical buildings, nursing homes, offices and other commercial space.
Who answers if we call after midnight?
A local answering service takes your information and pages our on-call staff. They call you within 15 minutes.
Can furniture and carpets be saved after smoke?
Often. We repair and clean carpet and upholstery, and we wash clothing and other soft contents.
Do you handle insurance questions?
Yes. Report the loss to your insurer first, and we will explain how the claims process works from there.
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