If you’re like many people, you know that a fire can be devastating – but how do you restore a house after a fire so you can start getting your life back to normal? Here’s what you need to know.
How Do You Restore a House After a Fire?
For most people, the best thing to do after a fire is to get in touch with a fire restoration company. It’s often best to leave fire damage, smoke and soot damage, and water damage to the experts. When you work with a fire damage restoration company, your contractor will:
- Make sure the home is safe to enter
- Perform damage control
- Remove personal possessions
- Remove soot and debris
- Start the drying process
- Perform repairs
- Deep-clean and deodorize the home
Here’s a closer look at each step in restoring a house after a fire.
Related: Fire damage restoration FAQ
House Fire Restoration Tip #1: Make sure the home is safe to enter
Before you enter a house that’s been damaged by fire, you must make sure it’s safe inside – and your fire damage restoration expert will do the same. Your team of professionals will check for structural damage before going inside.
House Fire Restoration Tip #2: Perform damage control
Your fire damage restoration experts will prevent further damage by covering holes in the roof with tarps, boarding up doorways and windows, and otherwise protecting the space (both from the elements and from other people).
Related: What’s the top cause of house fires?
House Fire Restoration Tip #3: Remove personal possessions
All your personal possessions will come out of the house. Even if they’re not salvageable, you’ll likely need to take inventory and figure out what to submit to your insurance company when you make a claim.
House Fire Restoration Tip #4: Remove soot and debris
Your fire damage restoration contractor will begin removing soot and debris from your home. Soot causes damage over time, so the longer it’s on your walls, floors, ceilings and belongings, the less salvageable they are.
Related: How long will fire damage repairs take?
House Fire Restoration Tip #5: Start the drying process
The water that firefighters use to put out fires can cause exponential damage inside your home, so your contractor will start the drying process as soon as possible. Your pros will remove standing water and begin using fans, commercial-grade dehumidifiers and other tools to dry out soaked walls, floors and other items.
House Fire Restoration Tip #6: Perform repairs
Your restoration expert will start making repairs as quickly as possible. If some items need to be replaced, you can discuss those with your insurance company while your contractor is making repairs inside your home.
Related: Things you’ll most likely need to replace after a house fire
House Fire Restoration Tip #7: Deep-clean and deodorize the home
After a fire, it’s essential to deep-clean and deodorize the whole home. Soot and smoke particles can find their way all over the house through your HVAC system and other means, so professionals will use specific cleaning products and deodorizers, and they’ll look for signs of mold and mildew (and eradicate spores if necessary).
Do You Need a Disaster Remediation Expert in Washtenaw County or Jackson County?
If your home has already been damaged, we can help. Check out our services and call 517-262-3770 for your free disaster remediation quote today. We offer:
