Fire is among the most devastating incidents you can face as a homeowner. Currently, about 358,500 home fires occur in the United States every year. Various fire causes at home include gas leaks, damaged electrical wiring, defective equipment, faulty electrical outlets, and bad heaters. In case of a fire outbreak, your home can sustain severe damages that require urgent repairs.
Here are four components of fire damage restoration:
The Assessment
The first duty of a fire damage restoration company is to complete a detailed assessment of the damage. First, they will assess the magnitude and intensity of the smoke or fire damage. Then, they will establish how deep the fire penetrated the structure of your home.
More importantly, they will check if the walls, fixtures, and furniture show signs of heat damage. You need to document everything they find since you might need the report later for insurance purposes.
Securing the Foundation
The other essential step in fire damage restoration is to prevent further damage. Here, the restoration experts will plug up weakened structures or holes. They will also inspect the roof, floors, and walls for signs of damage to determine if they need replacement. Afterward, they will inspect the house for signs of water damage.
Remember that water and fire damage restoration go together because the effects are somewhat intertwined.
Removal and Cleaning
Fire damage restoration goes beyond fixing damaged structures. The restoration expert will clean smoke stains on the floor, walls, ceiling, and other parts. On most occasions, they use a deep scrub, refinishing, and sanding to get rid of these stains completely.
They will also clean your home if there are signs of water damage. During the cleaning process, they will air and pump out all moisture. They will then utilize unique fans and heaters to dry out all components. You should note that removal and cleaning are essential elements of fire damage restoration since they help prevent mold and mildew growth.
Repairs and Restoration
Once a professional completes all the above steps, the repair and restoration work will begin. Oftentimes, fire damage restoration experts will start with the walls and ceilings. If the ceiling has collapsed, they will install a new one. They will also scrape and repaint all the walls carefully to remove any effects of the fire.
If some wooden surfaces are damaged by fire or soot, they may choose to apply a sealant over them to trap or mask the odor. If the surfaces are severely destroyed, complete repairs and restoration are necessary to restore your home to its former glory.
As you can tell, fire damage restoration goes beyond fixing all the ruined structures in your home. You will want to contact a residential disaster restoration company—such as Manta Construction & Restoration—to assess the damages, salvage items that weren't damaged, and begin repairs immediately after a fire outbreak.