By Avra Sullivan

Since 1996 Rainbow International has helped countless people not only keep their carpets looking great, but recover when Mother Nature shows her ugly side. Owned and operated by Jay Viers and his wife Yachi, they originally focused solely on carpet cleaning, but later included restoration as part of their business. They have gotten lots of experience in some of the most devastated areas of our nation.

In 2004, Jay sent half his team to Florida to assist with one of the worst hurricane seasons in years. In 2005, Rainbow International was one of the first independent companies to begin work in New Orleans, arriving the day after Hurricane Katrina. Our area also has been visited by some harsh weather realities, most recently Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Irene before that and the blizzards of a couple years ago.

Weather isn’t the only culprit that can cause serious damage. Burst water pipes, malfunctioning sprinkler systems and fire and smoke also can do great harm. In 2011, Jay and his team were on-site and working within a couple of hours when a sprinkler system malfunctioned at the Liberty Building in Centreville. Their immediate response greatly minimized damage to the building and furnishings.

Rainbow International provides full restoration services for weather-related damage as well as for fire damage, broken water heaters and frozen pipes. They can clean soot off walls, remove or clean cabinets, replace damaged drywall and will even repaint after construction work is finished. The company also performs mold testing and remediation, which can be particularly helpful for those buying or selling a home.

While the majority of their work consists of restoration, they still offer a full carpet cleaning service with pricing based on square footage. Whether you need to have an entire room cleaned or just some high traffic areas, Rainbow International can help put the life back into your carpet. Jay recommends cleaning your carpets twice a year if you have children or animals. For singles or those without muddy feet traipsing about, once a year is sufficient. An in-depth cleaning and regular vacuuming can keep your carpets looking fresh and new for years.

Jay says his time in the Marine Corps gave him the work ethic that he feels has helped him become successful over the last 17 years. “We treat every customer the way we would want to be treated. If the appointment is at 10am, I try to be there at 9:50.” A flooded house, a fire or hurricane damage is a catastrophe for a family. Jay and his team understand this and strive to help the family through each step of getting their lives back to normal.

With frigid temperatures upon us, Jay wants to remind people to not turn off the heat completely if they are going to be away from their homes for any period of time or if they own a vacant house or building. Without some heat, the pipes can freeze and subsequently burst.

You can find more information on Rainbow International at their website at www.rainbowintl.com. You also can call Jay at 410-643-5408 or email him at j.viers@rainbowofmd.com.