Fire Damage Restoration
Fires are unexpected events that can cause major damage to your home, personal belongings, or commercial property. The damage can cost potentially thousands of dollars. The first few hours after a fire are crucial to help minimize the damage to your property, and fire damage restoration services can help. Call Today!
What is Fire Restoration?
The first 24 to 48 hours after fire damage are known as the “golden hours” of recovery. An effective emergency response that quickly stabilizes the facility ensures the recovery of as much property as possible. The acidic soot and smoke damage that is often produced in fires accelerates the deterioration and corrosion of building components and vital assets. To compound the problem, fires are most frequently extinguished with dry chemicals or water. Plus, the toxic smoke odor left behind must be neutralized and deodorized.
The fire damage restoration process includes mitigating damage, providing smoke damage cleanup and water restoration as quickly as possible after the damage first occurs. Beyond the visible structural damage, contents inside the structure must be evaluated for recovery based on a number of factors.
Fire Damage Restoration Process
Let’s take a closer look at the fire damage restoration process.
After first confirming the property is safe to enter, the first thing a fire damage contractor must do is perform an assessment of the damage sustained in the fire and ensuing water intrusion. This typically involves assessing how far the flames and smoke have penetrated into the structure and how extensive any clean up is likely to be. This step also involves assessment of the contents inside of the property to determine what should be discarded and what can be packed out and restored. At the end of a thorough assessment, the restoration company will have a better idea of the scope of the work, how long it will take and can begin formulating a cost estimate.
After the assessment has been performed, the next step is securing the property. This includes installing fencing around the property, removing debris around the perimeter, and boarding up openings in the structure, as well as tarping or sealing off parts of the roof to protect what's left of the property from the weather. If certain areas of the property were not impacted by the fire, then it's important for restoration professionals to ensure that this area is sealed off from the area that was impacted to minimize any cross contamination.
The goal during this stage is to prevent further damage due to mold or corrosion by removing water and drying out the property. Personal property will be removed from the interior of the structure. Damaged drywall, flooring and other materials will be removed down to the studs as necessary. Water extraction crews will work with commercial equipment to dry out the structure. Roof tarps will be maintained during this stage to prevent further intrusion of water.
This is the most intensive part of a fire damage restoration job: clean up. This step typically involves a lot of manual labor to properly clean smoke and soot from interior and exterior surfaces. In many cases, every inch of the affected area will need to be cleaned. Following proper clean up, deodorizing agents are used to fully remove any lingering smoke odors. If water damage restoration has also been performed, it may be necessary to sanitize or apply antimicrobial chemicals to halt any subsequent mold growth. Off site, any contents that have been packed out are also likely being restored to pre-loss condition. Clean up also involves duct cleaning to remove any soot, smoke or debris that may have settled in ducts.
The final step in returning the property to pre-loss condition is performing any necessary fire damage repairs or to rebuild fire-damaged areas. In the case of a fire, parts of the structure may be completely unsalvageable during the initial assessment, and therefore have to be removed and replaced. This may include: rebuilding and replacing the roof, replacing electrical, replacing and painting drywall, replacing flooring materials, replacing interior counters, fixtures, etc. to bring the property back to pre-loss condition.
What are the Common Causes of Fire Damage?
The leading causes of fire damage are small kitchen fires, electric fires, smoking, and candles. No matter the cause of the fire, let Restoration Local® clean and restore your home and get your life back to normal.
- Candles
- Christmas Tree Fires
- Creosote Buildup in Chimneys and Fireplaces
- Electrical Fires
- Fireworks
- Flammable Liquids
- Lightning Strikes
- Malfunctioning Electric Blankets
- Malfunctioning or Improperly Used Space Heaters
- Oil or Grease Fires
- Small Kitchen Fires
- Smoking
- Turkey Fryer Fires
What are the Effects of Fire Damage?
Depending on the severity, a house fire can cause cosmetic and structural damage and ruin personal property.
- Cosmetic Damage: Black smoke and soot can stain ceilings, walls, carpeting, floors, furniture, and fabrics. Over time, soot can corrode metals. Depending on the damage, repairs include painting, refinishing, or even replacing some items.
- Structural Damage: Severe fires may damage walls or even your roof. Water from firefighting efforts can also severely weaken walls or flooring. In rare cases, a fire can weaken the structural integrity of your home.
- Personal Property Damage: Fire and water can damage furniture, electronics, books, photographs, musical instruments, and many other items.
How Much Does It Cost to Recover From a Fire?
On average, homeowners pay about $17,000 to repair their homes from fire damage. However, prices will range based on the size of the fire and the extent of the damage.
For example, if you experience a small fire and are able to put it out quickly, you may only face minor damage and repair costs of roughly $800-$2,800. If most of your home was damaged in a large fire and the repairs are extensive, you may have paid a high-end cost of $150,000.
The cost of fire damage restoration can get expensive since repairs can include:
- Water damage and cleanup.
- Soot removal and cleanup.
- Smoke damage restoration.
- Ozone smoke removal.
- Deodorizing furniture and materials.
These repairs can quickly add up, and some homeowners might not think the costs are worth the effort, especially if the damage has made the home unlivable. These homeowners have different options than investing in fire damage restoration, including selling their house as-is.
What Determines the Price of Fire Damage Cleanup?
Several factors determine the cost of repair after a fire. However, every situation is unique and different factors may apply. Once our fire damage contractors survey your home, they will provide a detailed estimate.
- Cause of the Fire: The source will impact the total price. For example, a cooking oil fire is usually less expensive to repair than a furnace fire.
- Size of the Area: A large house fire is more expensive to repair than a small bathroom.
- Length of Time: The repairs will get more expensive the longer the damage is left untreated.
- Materials Involved: The materials involved also impact the price. Carpeting is usually less expensive to replace than hardwood floors.
- Accessibility: Areas that are difficult to access are more expensive to restore than damage in open areas.
- If Additional Services are Required: Additional services like air duct cleaning, content cleaning, mold remediation, or water damage restoration will increase the total amount.
- Amount of Reconstruction: Sanding and refinishing floors and painting stained drywall will be less expensive than needing to install brand new items. You may also decide to remodel a fire-damaged space as well.
Does Home Insurance Cover Fire Damage?
Most homeowners insurance policies will cover the cost of fire damage clean after a sudden accident. Our restoration specialists are experienced in the claims process and can even bill your carrier directly.
What Types of Fire Damage Do We Repair?
From electrical shorts to kitchen fires, our restoration contractors can handle any type of fire damage. They will clean smoke damage, remove odors, and repair damage. If you need fire cleanup or repair services, call now to talk with one of our restoration specialists near you.
What Rooms are Likely to be Affected by Fire Damage?
Although fires can affect any room, certain factors make specific rooms more prone to fire damage.
- Kitchens: Nearly half of all home fires occur in the kitchen. From food left unattended to baked-on grease in the oven, there are numerous fire hazards in the kitchen.
- Bedrooms: After kitchens, bedrooms have the next highest risk of fire damage. Candles and malfunctioning space heaters or electric blankets are the leading cause of bedroom fires.
- Bathrooms: In bathrooms, candles and malfunctioning personal electrical devices like hairdryers and curling irons cause the most fires.
Why Hire a Fire Restoration Company?
Even a small kitchen fire can be a challenge to clean up. Fire restoration companies have the training and equipment to repair the damage quickly. Plus, they use specialized cleaning processes to restore your home fast. They can even repair additional damage from water and mold. For immediate fire restoration services, call for a no-risk free quote. Our fire damage contractors can begin work immediately once you approve our estimate.
- Always Free Estimates: Our technicians assess the damage and provide a free quote for restoration services.
- 24-Hour Emergency Fire Restoration: With our 24-hour emergency response, we can start repairs immediately.
- 30-Minute Response Time: Our experts arrive in 30-minutes to limit damage and start cleanup fast.
- Licensed and Insured: All of our restoration technicians are properly insured and licensed.
- Professional Equipment and Techniques: They use state-of-the-art equipment and advanced fire damage restoration techniques.
- Local Professionals: Our local fire professionals are trained and certified to restore your house safely.
- We Work With Your Insurance Company: They accept all policies and can work with your insurance carrier directly.
Fire Damage Restoration Services
At Fire Restoration, we provide the best service possible to bring you peace of mind. Disaster can strike at any time. That’s why we are available 24/7, when you need us most. Call Today!