A home fire can be one of the most devastating disasters anyone can experience. Our homes provide shelter, yes, but they’re also the primary source of safety and security. Holding memories, keepsakes, and irreplaceable heirlooms. Losing that can be devastating, disorienting, and can leave you with a lot of questions.
Between the shock, the grief, and the overwhelm, it can be impossible to know where to begin.
You’ll need to know who to call and what to expect. Where can you stay? What happens to all the furniture? Can we still live here?
With PCR, you don’t have to face it alone. We’re here to help every step of the way while with a team of restoration experts.
Let’s take a look at the fire damage restoration process.
The technical definition of fire damage is damage to any physical structure or property caused by burning. But what does this really mean?
Fire damage includes damage to physical structures inside and outside and damage caused by smoke, soot, or other hazards like lead or asbestos.
Often, fire and water damage will occur simultaneously. As the fire burns, pipes, faucets, or hot water tanks can melt, causing pipes to burst. As the fire department puts out the fire, the structure is flooded with water, which can cause additional damage.
Beyond the visible damage caused by burning is underlying and sometimes catastrophic destruction, especially if it isn’t addressed immediately.
Some of the most common damages are:
Other types of damage can include damage to outside structures or other parts of the attached property.
Affordable Home Works is an all in one restoration service that can assess and repair damage to crawl spaces, basements (including sewage backups that can happen from fire damage), mold removal and remediation. However complex the damage from a fire may seem, we can handle it all.
A typical restoration process can take several weeks to complete as a non-professional, and longer if you’re trying to continue working during daytime hours.
Depending on the extent of the destruction, you may not be able to reside in the home during the restoration process either. Plus, proper restoration requires tools that can be costly for one-time use or unavailable for non-licensed use.
Fire damage restoration can be an overwhelming process for homeowners, even if the fire is small. The extra time invested in clean-up, grief, and the frustration of living out of a hotel can have you at wits end.
Consider home restoration services to speed up the restoration process, ensure restoration is thorough, and help reconstruction efforts. The last thing you need in the event of a home fire is to discover missed damage months or even years later. One small piece of damage can lead to more expensive repairs and replacements down the road.
A reputable company will have professional tools like deodorizers, thermal imaging cameras, dehumidifiers, HEPA vacuums, moisture meters, industrial fans, specialized cleaning products to remove smoke smells and soot without damaging surfaces or fibers, and more.
A home restoration service is well equipped to handle all the ups and downs while also dealing with insurance companies.
Before restoration can begin, authorities must clear the property for safety. This is usually done by the fire department or first responder team. Without this, no one will be able to access the property legally. The next step is to contact the insurance company.
Once those steps are completed, a team of professionals can begin the process of fire damage restoration. First, Affordable Home Works will assess the damage. Some factors we consider are the size of the fire, damage to the structure, electrical wiring, water pipes, insulation, mold, and smoke damage.
Once the assessment is completed, the real work begins. Large debris and remaining household items may be removed. If the fire damaged the roof or burned through external walls, those areas will be boarded up or closed with a tarp. The physical structure and property may be fenced in with caution tape or temporary fencing.
Next, demolition can start. This includes removal of damaged drywall and other materials that may have fallen during the fire. During this stage, any water caused by the fire or from the emergency response team will be removed.
Soot will be cleaned from all remaining surfaces with specialized cleaning products. Carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture will be cleaned. Air purifiers and dehumidifiers will be used to mitigate the smoke odor.
Finally, repairs and replacements can begin. All water pipes, electric wires, HVAC systems, and gas lines will be checked, assessed, and replaced if needed.
It’s best to check with your home owners insurance agent to determine what costs may be covered. Almost almost standard homeowners insurance policies cover smoke damage, but they can vary for repairs beyond that.
Our team of professionals comply with the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certificate (IICRC). We provide comprehensive restoration services from water and fire damage to crawl space and basement mold.
We work with the insurance company and have a structural repair and building reconstruction team in house. With 30 years of expertise, AHW is committed to turning devastating turmoil into organized recovery you can trust.
We specialize in both residential and commercial property restoration services and are available 24/7 for all your disaster needs.
Give us call at 951-494-6040 or contact us online for a free estimate or to get started on your home restoration service today. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will make you feel right at home when the unthinkable happens.