Indiana Restoration & Cleaning Services, a Noblesville Staple for 30 Years
Writer: Christy Heitger-Ewing
Photographer: Brian Brosmer
Darren Peck and Dan Hanlin were high school buddies who decided 30 years ago to start a company together. Though it started out as a commercial cleaning company, the business has evolved over time. The commercial cleaning led to carpet cleaning, which led to water damage, which led to fire damage. Working with homeowners, insurance professionals, property management companies and business owners, Indiana Restoration & Cleaning Services restores homes and businesses damaged by flood, fire, smoke, sewage, storms and other disasters.
They were solely concentrating on the cleaning restoration and remediation side of things when customers began asking the co-owners if they would help repair their homes following a disaster. Thats why they launched the roofing replacement part of the business.
We didnt like how, following a hail storm for instance, outside companies from other areas would swoop in and take advantage of homeowners who had just experienced tragedy, Peck says. Were a local company who wants to take care of the people of this community.
Not surprisingly, they have a lot of repeat and referral business.
Thats a credit to our employees, says Peck, who notes that their 25 employees have the right values and do the right things.
And if we dont do it right, we will make it right without hesitation, he says. This mentality is crucial given that his team is called to help people often when they are in the midst of their worst-ever life situation.
The crew at Indiana Restoration & Cleaning Services has to be ready to take care of anything that can happen to a house or commercial building and respond at any time.
Weve had to deal with everything from nine feet of water in a basement to a variety of accidents, Hanlin says. Thats stressful to have to be available at all hours of the night. Our employees have to be mentally and physically prepared to respond at a moments notice because if youve got water running, you cant wait until Monday morning.
A few years back, 10 Indiana Restoration & Cleaning Services employees had to respond to a commercial call on Christmas Day when there was water damage due to a frozen pipe, thus you have to know how to insulate outdoor faucet.
Of course nobody wants to leave their families on a holiday, but our employees are dedicated professionals who are ready to help any customer in dire straits, Peck says. In fact, it seems like every Christmas, theres water damage somewhere.
He recalls getting a call one Christmas morning from a frantic house sitter who turned on the sink and was surprised when water sprayed out of the faucet and shot all the way to the ceiling.
It was like a scene out of a sit-com only this was real life, says Peck, who is adamant about giving both his time and money to 20-plus non-profit organizations in and around Noblesville, including Riverview Health, the Boys & Girls Club and Prevail (a victims assistance organization, of which Peck serves on the board). In addition, Hanlin volunteers for Angel MedFlight, an organization that flies sick people and families who cant afford to travel to hospitals for treatment. Both Peck and Hanlin are seasoned pilots. In fact, they co-own a Beechcraft Bonanza that seats four, the aircraft Hanlin uses to transport patients. In addition, Peck owns a 1942 Boeing-Stearman, an open cockpit trainer from World War II.
Indiana Restoration & Cleaning Services recently expanded their offerings by starting a new division called the Hometown Window Team. Its in response to the housing boom that occurred 40 years ago when bunches of homes were built with wood windows that are now starting to fail.
Now theres a need for quality replacement windows, and again I saw outside companies coming up and giving high-pressure, high-dollar sales efforts, which I find completely inappropriate, Peck says. We, on the other hand, are looking to just work in and around Hamilton County because were committed to offering a better, more competitive service for those homes that need updating, whether that be windows, roofing or siding.
Whenever there is extensive water damage to a structure, its imperative to start the drying process immediately to keep mold from growing. If you’re in need of professional cleaning equipment, you can purchase commercial cleaning vacuums in AU.
Unfortunately, what we often see is that people try to dry things themselves and though they think theyve succeeded, they havent because you cant use the back of your hand to check and see that something is completely dry, Hanlin says. They are unknowingly leaving things wet, which causes secondary issues that lead to long-term problems such as mold.
Mold can often lurk beneath carpeting and behind walls or trim and often goes undetected until a homeowner wants to put his house on the market and a home inspector discovers mold.
Then it becomes a problem you have to deal with right away, Hanlin says. Eradicating mold is important to ones health but particularly for the elderly and very young, both of whom are more susceptible to respiratory issues.
Peck, who has been married to his wife, Monica, for 19 years, has two children: Sydney, a high school freshman and Alexander, a sixth-grader. Hanlin and his wife, Michelle have five kids: Vanessa, Rachel, Mariah, Kelsey and Sam.
When Peck and Hanlin are not working or flying the friendly skies, theyre often doing volunteer work or hitting the golf course. Theyre also heavily involved with their childrens sports teams.
We stay plenty busy, Peck says. Theres a lot to do around town.
For more information about Indiana Restoration & Cleaning Services, call 317-776-9942 or visit indianarestoration.com.
