Every 24 seconds, the fire department responds to a fire somewhere in the United States. Although not all fires are raging infernos, even a little fire may do significant damage to your property owing to the heat, smoke, soot, and water produced by the efforts to extinguish the fire.
If your house catches fire, you may have to deal with fire damage repair. Continue reading to learn about repairing your property after a fire, including expenses and precautions you can take to avoid future fires.
1. Conduct an Inspection
A fire damage repair company will assess the degree of your home's and possessions' damage to decide what may be saved. They will photograph or videotape their findings and report them to your insurance carrier. During their examination, they will use specialist equipment to assess rooms for smoke and soot damage. Following the completion of the initial evaluation, the restoration firm will explain their cleaning technique and offer you an estimate of how long the project will take.
2. Prevent Further Damage
Many fire damage restoration companies will not begin cleaning until the property is secure and safe. The restoration company may board over broken windows and damaged areas and remove smoke-damaged furniture.
3. Water Extraction
Water damage and smoke damage can have a significant impact on your belongings and flooring, so water removal is an important part of restoring your home. Water damage restoration companies will use a variety of tools, including:
- Vacuums with powerful motors
- High-volume fans
- Filtering systems
- Dehumidifiers
- Air movers
After the restoration company removes the water, they'll dry the area using industrial and commercial blowers, dehumidifiers, and air movers.
4. Demolition and Debris Removal
Fire damage restoration companies may need to remove and dispose of severely damaged items or entire rooms. If a bed, couch, or carpet can't be salvaged, it will need to be removed and replaced.
5. Removing Smoke and Soot From Surfaces
Smoke and soot can penetrate carpets, drapes, and upholstery, leaving dark stains. To remove the stains from these materials, fire damage restoration companies may use commercial cleaning products or specialized extraction equipment. The cleaning process is time-consuming, and can last for several days or weeks.
6. Repairs and Renovation
Depending on the extent of damage, fire damage restoration companies may need to patch, paint, or replace damaged walls, ceilings, and flooring. They'll also clean smoke-stained and burned items and reconstruct entire rooms. This process can take several weeks or months, depending on the size and damage of the fire. Fire damage restoration companies will provide a rough estimate of the project cost, but you won't know the final cost until the work is finished.
To protect your home from fire damage, take the following steps:
- Keep your home and belongings free of clutter.
- Keep your heating and electrical systems in good working condition.
- Use fire-resistant materials in your home and belongings.
- Make sure your smoke detector is in good working condition.
Conclusion
Fire damage restoration can be a long process. Restoration companies work with your insurance company to determine the scope of work needed to restore your home and belongings to their pre-fire condition, and you may need to complete additional repairs after the restoration process is complete.
Need help with fire damage restoration? Swift Restoration offers mold remediation, water, fire, and storm damage restoration in Florida and Louisiana. Get in touch with us today!
