Fire Damage Restoration is the process of bringing a home or business back to its original condition. There are three major steps involved in this process: Assessment, Cleanup, and Reconstruction.
Professional technicians will enter your property after it has been deemed safe by authorities and complete an inspection checklist. This will help them determine which items are able to be restored and which should be discarded.
The damage assessment process for fire damage restoration starts with a thorough examination of the extent of the damages to a property and identifying the different areas affected by the fire. This involves assessing both overt and concealed damages, from surface burns to structural compromises. It also includes identifying and quantifying losses from the fire to both personal and business properties. Additionally, this step helps in determining what needs to be done to restore the property and the estimated costs for each step of the process.
During the damage assessment process, it is important that professionals wear protective gear when entering damaged homes. This is because smoke, ash, and other residues can leave a harmful imprint on humans if not dealt with properly. It is also important that they take the time to inspect all parts of the home, including attic insulation. This will help them determine whether the home is safe to return to.
After the fire damage restoration team has assessed the property, they will need to secure it. This means putting up fencing around the property, removing debris in the surrounding area, and boarding up any openings in the structure. This will help to ensure that no one enters the building unauthorized and reduce the risk of cross contamination. Additionally, if there are any areas of the building that were not impacted by the fire, they need to be sealed off from these areas to prevent cross contamination.
Another crucial aspect of the fire damage restoration process is addressing water damage caused by firefighting efforts. This can lead to mold growth and other problems if not addressed immediately. It is essential that the professionals assess and address any water damage before moving on to other steps of the restoration process.
The assessment process can be difficult and stressful for the homeowners involved. However, it is important for them to understand what they are getting into and what the expectations of the restoration company are. This will allow them to feel more comfortable throughout the process and minimize stress. It is also a good idea for the homeowner to communicate with the restoration company and insurance provider throughout the process. This will make the whole experience a lot smoother and will lead to an efficient restoration process.
Decontamination
Fire damage is dangerous and scary, and soot can continue to stain and ruin items long after the fire is out. Additionally, the water used to put out the fire can leave behind water damage, which can lead to rot and mold. Therefore, it’s important that restoration professionals use proper safety measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in the process.
After the risk of injury and contamination are eliminated, a team will begin to clean up the property. They will remove and replace any items that are beyond repair, and they will disinfect surfaces to ensure that all harmful bacteria, contaminants, and soot particles have been removed. They will also sanitize ductwork and use deodorizing agents to eliminate lingering smoke odors from the air.
While this step may seem like a simple task, it requires a lot of time and labor to accomplish properly. A professional will follow set standards and guidelines to ensure that they are removing toxic chemicals and unsafe framing, components and systems. This will not only help prevent further damage but will also make it safer for a homeowner to enter the home again after the restoration is completed.
This step is important for the safety of the homeowner, the restoration vendor, and the insurance company handling the claim. It is imperative that all contaminated materials are disposed of correctly and safely so they don’t cause further damage to the building or its contents.
While the initial steps of this process may seem simple, they require a lot of work to complete. When done right, a property will be safe to return to, and it will be restored back to its pre-loss condition. This is why it’s important to hire a restoration company that follows strict standards and guidelines to ensure they are doing their job properly. The Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT team is well-versed in this type of work and has experience restoring properties following a variety of different disasters, including fires. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you!
Reconstruction
Fires are devastating for families, businesses and even pets. Often times, these devastating events leave behind priceless mementos and lost financial resources. In addition to the loss of items, the property itself suffers extensive damage and can be left unusable. Fortunately, prompt restoration is a critical part of the recovery process.
As soon as it is safe, a fire restoration professional will assess the damage to determine what services are needed. They will take several things into consideration including how much smoke and water damage is present, and the extent of the work that needs to be done. This initial assessment will help them give a more accurate estimate for how long the project will be and how much it will cost.
When the fire has been extinguished, it’s important to clean and deodorize all affected areas. This includes the floors, walls, ceilings and contents of your home or business. Additionally, it’s essential to inspect your roof and structural integrity for any damage caused by the fire. Depending on the level of damage, it may be necessary to repaint or replace surfaces.
The fire restoration team will also deal with any resulting water damage from the effort to put out the fire. Whether your home was sprinklered or firefighters used water to douse the flames, excess water can further damage building materials and encourage harmful mold growth. The restoration team will ensure that all damaged areas are thoroughly cleaned, dry and sanitized.
If the property has suffered from moderate fire damage, it will require more extensive cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing. This process will include boarding up windows and doors, cleaning personal belongings offsite, and performing any painting or repairs that are required.
Major fire damage is characterized by more severe structural damage to the framing of buildings and contents, and extensive smoke infiltration. This is often the most costly of all levels of fire damage, and it will typically require boarding up windows and doors, cleaning and sanitizing of entire structures, and performing painting and repairs.
The final step of the fire restoration process is to perform a complete walk-through of the property to verify that all of the work has been completed and meets the customer’s expectations. Once this is complete, the customer will be asked to sign a certificate of satisfaction to show their acceptance of the job.
Cleaning
During this stage, professionals will clean up the property and sanitize surfaces to prevent corrosion from smoke residue. They will also deodorize areas and use dehumidifiers to remove moisture that can lead to mold damage. The cleaning process will be tailored to the severity of the fire and the contents that were affected. This could be as minimal as a general cleaning for light fire damage to more extensive efforts to clean, disinfect, and deodorize building materials, furniture, and personal items.
If it’s safe to enter the property, professionals will wipe down walls and ceilings with special equipment to remove smoke residue and stains. This will include wet and dry smoke residue. Wet smoke comes from slow-burning fires that can damage synthetic materials and plastics, leaving a sticky residue. Dry smoke residue is lighter and creates powdery stains that are much easier to clean.
A lot of water was used to extinguish the fire, and a good portion of that water will end up in the walls and other structures of your home. Restoration experts will remove excess water using pumps and extraction tools, sanitize any affected areas, and dehumidify them to prevent mold damage.
After a thorough inspection and pre-testing, the fire restoration team will begin to remove and clean all items in the property. They will work on furniture, rugs, drapes, wallpaper, and any other non-porous surface that can be cleaned without damaging them. They will also sanitize and clean ductwork to remove any residual soot or smoke.
In most cases, a professional fire damage restoration company will be able to return most items in a property to their pre-fire condition. In some cases, this isn’t possible and certain items will need to be discarded or replaced. These may include things like perishable food items, electronics, and other delicate goods. However, it’s best to check with the fire remediation experts if there are any items that can be saved from the smoke and fire damage. They will help you determine if any items can be restored and provide you with the best options for restoring them.
