An unexpected house fire is terrifying and distressful, as well as costly. Smoke, soot, water damage, weak structures and mold growth can result in costly repairs, lasting damages to personal belongings and additional cost of cleaning is required post-fire.
You can take steps to mitigate its issues by protecting unaffected items in storage as well as hiring an experienced restoration company for cleaning after fires.
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Assessing the Damage
If the structure remains standing, the first step of fire restoration will be assessing all of the damage done by fire. This may include everything from smoke and water problems to corrosion of metals, corrosion-induced stains or odors as well as contaminants left by smoke damage.
A team dedicated to fire restoration will use inspection checklists to document all areas that require attention after an incident.
This assessment, known as a “Damage Assessment”, is important because it allows the team to determine which items are worth restoring and which should be discarded, while also helping with an insurance claim by showing costs of repair/replacement. Restoration teams will note any structural damages which need addressing during this process.
Keeping your cleanup in mind at this stage requires forethought about things like manual labor needed to remove sooty materials that have survived the flames, such as furniture, counters, walls, carpeting or any other surface that have survived charring and sooting from fire damage.
Keep a record of all possibilities while going through the property as this will be invaluable information later.
Cleaning Up the Debris
Fire often leaves behind debris of various kinds, from melted electronics and plastics, burned-out furniture and smoke-tainted drywall, to burned electronics and plastics, burnt plastics and smoke tainted drywall.
If the fire started by propane tanks or other dangerous materials, securing the site first may be necessary; professional restoration companies can help by covering entrances or tarping roofs to keep out animals or people.
As well as repairing structural and smoke damage, cleaning will also address odors and water damage caused by extinguishing the fire. Water used to put out the flames may pool on surfaces and soak into walls, leading to mold growth or even rot in some cases (source: https://www.consumerreports.org/mold/how-to-prevent-a-mold-outbreak-a1028957817/).
Dehumidifiers and air movers will be employed commercially in order to dry out the space quickly and remove excess moisture.
Sorting through debris can be daunting and many items you wish to save may have been destroyed by smoke and the water used to extinguish fires. But professional cleaners can often restore these items back to new, and most stains can be eliminated through thorough cleaning processes.
Restoring the Structure
At this step, a professional will assess your home to ascertain its extent of fire and smoke damage, along with how long and expensive repair work might be needed. According to this overview of residential fire damage restoration services, this is where you’ll be shopping around for the right people to work with. They’ll use this data to estimate when repairs may be required as well as estimate any related costs.
Once he or she has conducted their initial assessment, restoration experts will devise a plan and give you a cost estimate based on what needs to be done, along with an explanation of which items can be saved and which must be discarded. This estimate includes both timeline and service details as well as details regarding which services will be rendered by contractors involved in your project.
Once fire and water damage has been addressed, the restoration team will move quickly to clean up the affected area. They will remove all debris, sanitize surfaces, deodorize them as necessary and dry out your property in order to minimize further mold growth or corrosion damage, while eliminating lingering smoke odors.
Importantly, if your home has experienced severe fire damage, it may no longer be safe for habitation until its rebuilding process has concluded. Therefore, it would be prudent to contact a restoration professional about providing temporary shelter while the work takes place.
Documenting the Process
As part of your restoration plan after a fire, documenting damages should be the top priority. Gather receipts for temporary repairs, inspection costs, and any other costs paid out so they can be reimbursed from your insurance provider. It would also be a good idea to photograph or videotape areas that have been repaired to help keep track of how well work has progressed.
Once the debris is cleared away, professionals will begin cleaning and sanitizing your home. This involves airing out the property, pumping out any standing water and using dehumidifiers to dry out areas prone to moisture damage – this process may take many hours, especially during hot weather months. All areas affected by fire must also be thoroughly inspected for potential hidden damage and cleaned accordingly.
Insurance adjusters usually conduct an initial evaluation of your property to ascertain its safety for living purposes and what restoration work needs to be completed – this may involve rewiring electrical systems, installing new drywall and flooring, cleaning carpet and upholstery furniture as well as painting interior walls.