Introduction
If you’ve been the victim of fire damage, you’ll need to take action quickly. Here’s how to restore your home and minimize additional damage:
Contact Your Insurance Company
- Call your insurance company and ask for an adjuster to assess the damage.
- Get a copy of your policy, along with any endorsements that may apply.
- Get an estimate of the cost to repair the damage.
Contact a Fire Damage Restoration Company
It is important to work with a Fire Damage Repair restoration company that has experience. You want a company that knows what they’re doing and can provide you with the best service at the most affordable price.
You can ask them for references from previous clients, or look for reviews online about their services. A reputable company should be happy to give you their list of happy customers so you can see what other people had say about them.
Remove All Water and Debris
Before you can begin to think about restoring your property following a fire, you’ll need to remove all of the water and debris. You can do this by using a wet vac on the affected areas. If there is any visible mold growth, it’s important to try and remove as much of the mold as possible before drying out the area.
You should also purchase a dehumidifier and set it up in the room with your wet vac so that both are pulling moisture from each other at once. This will help speed up the drying process and prevent future problems with mold growth on wood or drywall surfaces.
If there was significant smoke damage in your home or office, you’ll also want to hire an air quality professional (like an HVAC technician) who has experience cleaning smoke residue from walls, ceilings, furniture, carpeting, and any other items that were exposed during a fire outbreak.
Clean All Surfaces
Once you’ve removed any loose debris and vacuumed the area, you’ll want to clean all surfaces. Try not to use a wet/dry vacuum because it could spread the water further into your carpet. Instead, use a soft brush or hand towel to remove any remaining dust and debris from your carpeting or other furniture.
If there was significant water damage, use a wet/dry vacuum with a nozzle attachment to suction up excess moisture from the flooring as well as from crevices between walls and baseboards.
Repair or Replace Damaged Items
Once your home has been restored to its pre-fire condition, it’s time to consider the best way to replace damaged items. Here are some things to consider:
- Replace damaged items with new ones. This is most likely the easiest option and often makes sense in terms of dollar value and aesthetics.
- Replace damaged items with similar items that cost less but are just as functional (e.g., buying a cheaper pair of jeans).
- Replace damaged items with more expensive items that aren’t necessarily better quality but which you like better (e.g., replacing an old flat-screen TV with a new curved one).
- Choose an item that is both cheaper than the original and still serves its intended purpose well enough (e.g., purchasing a $10 lamp instead of the $100 designer lamp it used to sit next to).
Restore Electricity and Plumbing
The first step to restoring electricity and plumbing is to call in a professional. Whether it’s the local electrician, your gas company, or your plumber—you’ll want someone with experience and training on the job. The next step is to make sure that all systems are off. Make sure electricity has been turned off at the main breaker or fuse box. Also, make sure not only that water pressure has been shut off but also that water itself has stopped flowing through pipes in case there was any damage to them when a fire was present in the surrounding area (for example: if there were leaks). If you aren’t confident about turning off these utilities yourself, ask an expert friend or family member who knows what they’re doing for help before proceeding any further with cleanup efforts.
Finally, check that sewage lines aren’t damaged by looking for stains around drains or sinks as well as strange smells coming from them (if you’ve noticed this at all).
Conclusion
The restoration process can be daunting and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking the right steps and using the right products, you can restore your home or business to its former glory in no time at all.
