Fire damage in your home can be extensive. The destruction caused by the flames and intense heat alone is devastating enough. But smoke damage is ruinous to many parts of the home that were not affected by the searing heat. And water from high pressure water hoses or internal water sprinklers may have caused significant water damage, too.
As the homeowner, you are probably overwhelmed by the loss and not sure what to expect when it comes to restoration. No doubt you have already notified your insurance company and your agent is working with you to determine the extent of your losses and insurance coverage.
To restore your home, you will need to work with a reputable company with certified experts in rebuilding and restoration of a home damaged by fire. Your contractor will evaluate the damage and discuss what will be necessary to restore your home. What exactly will be necessary will depend on the damage your home has experienced.
Common Fire Damage Restoration Services
Emergency Roof Tarping, Board-Up, and Water Restoration
Damage to your roof and windows must be dealt with immediately to prevent wet weather from doing additional damage to the interior of the home. Fire frequently destroys all or part of a roof.
If you need to protect any part of the interior of the home, professional fire restoration experts will first assess whether it is safe to access the roof. If they can proceed safely, they will cover the damaged part of the roof to provide temporary protection to the home’s interior against further damage. The tarp will remain in place until the roof can be properly repaired. If any parts of the home are inhabitable, the roof tarp will permit the residents to occupy the home safely.
Additionally, any broken windows and doorways need to be boarded up. This board up service will protect against severe weather and unwelcome intruders until your contractor can repair them.
In some cases, the fire may have caused a pipe or water tank to burst. The emergency fire damage restoration services will act quickly to stop any leaking before it causes more damage.
Damage Assessment
The contractor will need to inspect your home to assess the severity and extent of the damage. Specialists in fire damage restoration know how to determine how far the fire, smoke, and soot have traveled throughout your home, and they will assess the condition of interior structures and your possessions.
Once a thorough assessment has been conducted, your contractor can develop a remediation and restoration plan and give you an estimate of the cost as well as how long the project will take to complete.
Smoke Damage Removal
Smoke damage removal is the first part of the clean-up required before rebuilding begins. Everything that was affected by the fire will be covered with soot, dust, and smoke residue.
The contractor will clean all surfaces thoroughly. Cleaning involves not only shampooing carpet and furniture; it also includes removing odors caused by the smoke. During the assessment, the contractor will have identified which areas of the home need this cleaning even though they were not directly affected by the fire itself.
Water Damage Restoration
Your home likely has standing pools of water in the basement or on the floors, whether from the fire hoses or from burst pipes. The contractor will use submersible pumps to remove the water. After that, wet areas will be dried. Because contaminated water can be toxic to your health, the contractor will sanitize the area and treat it to inhibit the growth of mold.
Disposal of Irreparable Items
Items that are too damaged to be cleaned and repaired must be disposed of. For example, furniture, cabinets, and appliances that have been badly burned, or carpet that has absorbed a lot of contaminated water should all be removed and replaced. Your fire damage restoration contractor can take care of all of that for you.
Repair and Construction Services
Once the clean-up has been completed, your contractor can begin the repair and rebuilding process. Frequently, it includes replacing cabinets, appliances, carpet, drywall, painting, and flooring in the affected areas.
This is a good time to consider going beyond restoring your property to what it was like before the fire. You can use this as an opportunity to renovate and make the re-build something better than what you had before the fire. A reputable fire damage restoration contractor can give your nightmare a beautiful ending. A newly designed, updated space in your home can be the perfect way to make your home more comfortable than it ever was.
Speak to the Fire Damage Restoration Specialists at Monumental General Contracting and Restoration
Homeowners who have experienced a fire in their home will tell you they never want it to happen again. The fire damage restoration experts at Monumental General Contracting and Restoration will help you redesign your space in ways that can help prevent a fire. They can locate the best smoke detectors and install them properly, and they can give you other fire prevention and fire safety tips.
The fire damage restoration experts at Monumental General Contracting and Restoration are trained in helping homeowners get through the trauma of a fire and getting back into a comfortable home. They are ready to help you, too. Contact them for more information.