If you have recently experienced fire damage, we understand how you feel, as fire accidents can be traumatic experiences. But after it’s over, you can start the restoration process immediately, right?
Well, before you start the repairs, it is best to know the crucial aspects of the restoration process. And in this article, we will tell you some important facts about fire and smoke damage restoration to help you prepare for it.
Some Important Facts About Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration
⤕ There Is a Safety Risk
After the fire has subsided, you shouldn’t immediately enter your property. The structural integrity of your property may be weak, and it can collapse on you. Also, there is a risk of unprotected wires and standing water in your home.
Thus, you should avoid entering your home before fire-fighting professionals give you a green signal to do so.
⤕ The Damage Is Fast
If you think that it is okay to postpone hiring professional fire and smoke damage restoration services, you should rethink your decision, as damage can affect your property quickly. Here are some immediate effects of fire and smoke damage.
- The soot residue after fire damage can settle quickly on walls and floors and cause permanent discoloration.
- It takes just a few hours after a fire for the smoke and soot to destroy the finishing on your furniture, rusting metals, and damaging your clothes beyond repair.
- Your walls and floors can sustain damage like peeled paint, warped floors, and drywalls.
The cost of damage restoration will increase with every minute you delay.
⤕ Professionals Can Help
As we discussed earlier, you should try contacting a professional restoration company once you ensure that you and your family aren’t in any immediate danger.
Professionals will react quickly and can help you minimize the damage from the fire by saving most of your valuables and restoring damaged furniture and clothes.
Also, a trustworthy restoration service can help you negotiate insurance claims with your insurance company in a way beneficial to you.
⤕ Hazardous Fabrics
After a fire in your home, your clothes or any fabric exposed to the fire cannot be cleaned by normal methods as they may contain carcinogens.
Professional damage restoration services can assist you with cleaning these fabrics and other items like carpets & rugs.
Moreover, professionals can also remove the strong smoke odor from clothes and carpets during cleaning.
⤕ There can be water damage too.
When there is fire damage, most of the time, there will be water damage as well. It is due to the water used to suppress the fire.
The excess water can damage your belongings and cause water damage to your property. This water damage may also result in mold growth which can severely affect your health.
Professional restoration services can help you with water damage restoration as most professionals offer both fire & smoke damage and water damage restoration services.
What are the Dos and Don’ts of Fire Damage Restoration?
Dos
✔️ Ensure your and your family’s safety.
✔️ Call your insurance company and carefully document all the damage you have sustained.
✔️ Throw away any food and drinks left exposed to the fire. You can no longer consume these items as smoke has contaminated them.
✔️ Try to limit your activity, as you may increase the damage by accidentally moving the soot deeper into the carpet, and you may get sick from inhaling the toxic fumes.
✔️ Contact professional fire & smoke damage restoration services.
Don’ts
❌ Enter your home without getting the green signal from firefighting professionals.
❌ You should avoid trying to fix fire damage yourself, as that can result in injury or health issues like asthma or cancer in the worst cases.
❌ Do not turn on the gas or power supply in your home.
❌ Don’t switch on any electrical equipment before getting it cleaned and checked by professionals.
How much does fire damage restoration cost?
The cost of fire damage restoration depends primarily on the extent of the damage. The average cost of fire damage restoration is $15,000-20,000, but it can vary due to many factors, like the following.
- Size of the home, the price is more for larger areas.
- Type of damage, water damage, and soot removal can cost more.
- Cost also depends on the type of fire, like electric fire, gas fire, oil fire, combustible fire, and combustible metal fire.