Every homeowner should know basic survival skills. These abilities include understanding where to locate water, how to start a fire, what to eat in the wilderness, and other vital survival knowledge.
Although the threat of house fires is gone after flames are extinguished, lingering residues pose a significant health risk. This is why you should consider hiring a fire restoration company.
What is Fire Restoration?
Fire Restoration is a process that involves cleaning and repairing items on your property that were affected by fire damage. This can include removing soot, addressing water damage to prevent mold growth, sanitizing and deodorizing your property, restoring salvageable items, and making structural repairs.
Making an estimate and evaluating the damage is the first step in the fire restoration procedure. This assessment considers factors like the extent of the fire damage and how it spreads throughout your property.
Once your property has been deemed safe to reenter, fire restoration experts will begin cleaning the charred areas and sanitizing salvageable items. They will also use techniques like thermal fogging and ozone generators to remove any lasting odors from your home. Soot can stain fabrics and paint, so these professionals will likely scrub and steam them.
What to Look for in a Restoration Company
Reputable restoration companies have the experience and expertise to handle even the most severe property damage. They also empathize with their clients, which makes a massive difference during such stressful times.
When choosing a restoration company, look for one that is IICRC-certified and bonded. This guarantees that the company adheres to the highest standards of ethics and professional conduct.
Choose a company that is available 24/7 to service you when disaster strikes. It should also have the equipment to respond quickly to emergencies, especially in water damage cases.
Look for a company that treats you with respect by including you in the entire process and answering your questions honestly and thoroughly. They should also be willing to work with your insurance to ensure that you get the most out of your claim.
Salvage Your Belongings
Whether sentimental or financial, salvaging your belongings can be a massive relief after experiencing a fire. However, knowing what can and cannot be saved is essential.
The first step is to notify your insurance provider and understand your coverage. Then, you can begin assessing and sorting your belongings, prioritizing those with high-value or essential documentation.
Before you start sifting through items, it’s a good idea to categorize them so that restoration techniques can be applied appropriately. For example, items heavily damaged by smoke and water from firefighting efforts may not be worth saving. Discarding these items unnecessarily adds to landfill waste and contributes to environmental pollution. By donating these items or working with restoration professionals to salvage them, you’re contributing to a greener future.
Smoke Damage Restoration
After a comprehensive damage assessment, it’s time to begin cleaning. This includes salvaging priority items like important documents and sentimental objects and securing the property from further damage. This can involve boarding missing windows and doors and putting tarps on damaged roofs. It also consists of contacting a specialized textile restoration company for a quote to clean permeable fabrics like curtains, rugs, and clothing that smoke odors have saturated. Ventilation equipment is used to help improve air quality and remove lingering odors.
Separating salvageable from scorched items is crucial, as this can minimize color loss. It also ensures that the cleaning process doesn’t damage fabric fibers.
Structural Restoration
The structural damage done by a fire can be more subtle than the apparent smoke and water damage. That’s why you need a restoration company that can help with these issues, too. They can comb through your building and spot unseen damage, ensuring everything has been restored to its pre-loss condition.
This process may involve boarding up your property, removing and replacing components, and repairing the damage caused by fire, smoke, and water. This will help prevent further deterioration and improve your building’s safety.
A good restoration service will work with you and your insurance provider to file a claim and start the work immediately. If you have any questions about what to look for in a restoration company regarding fire, feel free to ask us!
