6 Factors That Impact The Fire Damage Repair Process

Any house fire is a terrible and frightening experience that often leaves substantial fire damage and a detailed clean-up process. It is an overwhelming experience with lots of moving parts. After a fire, you have a lot on your plate, but you mostly want to get things back to normal. One of the first questions you might ask is “how long does it take to repair fire damage?”

Because every fire creates different levels of damage, that is a challenging question to answer. However, there are several factors that impact the fire damage repair process. They include:

1. Severity of fire damage
2. Safety measures
3. Removal of damaged areas
4. Moisture removal
5. Sanitation
6. Repairing the damage

Find out more about the top six factors that impact the fire damage repair process, so you can get back in your home quickly and safely. 

1. Severity of Fire Damage

The first step in the fire damage repair process is to assess the extent of the damage. When restoration professionals talk about fire damage, they are not only referring to actual items burned by the fire. They are also referring to the hazardous soot, ash, and smoke damage left behind after a fire is extinguished.

Another important point to mention is that water damage often occurs when there is fire damage because firefighters put out the fire with water. An inspector will come to your house to assess the extent of fire damage as well as any other types of destruction that may be present. This will help guide you and the restoration professionals on how to best move forward with repairing your home.

2. Safety Measures

After the inspector submits the report and you plan the cleanup process with a chosen restoration company, they will block off any damaged areas from the rest of your home. This is to keep you and your family safe as well as to prevent any of the hazardous smoke, soot, and ash from traveling to other areas.

Additionally, your house may need to be boarded up to protect others from entering it during the restoration process. These safety measures are meant to keep everyone safe and your home secure. Not having them in place will lengthen the restoration process, which will likely cost you more money. So, keep safety first.

3. Removal of Damaged Areas

Removing the damaged areas of your home is highly important. You can’t just cover up fire damage. Fire damage leaves behind an odor as well as charred, burnt, and visibly damaged items.

When you have the affected areas removed, you don’t have to worry about the damage worsening or the health hazards. It will also make it easier for your repair team to properly clean the area and rebuild or replace damaged walls, pipes, and wooden items.

4. Moisture Removal

In addition to removing anything damaged by the fire, your cleanup crew will also remove anything damaged by moisture, such as carpeting, flooring, drywall, baseboards, and ceilings. 

5. Sanitation

According to the Spruce, once the hazardous soot and smoke are removed, the sanitation process can begin. During cleaning and sanitation, the experts will do a deep, thorough cleaning of any areas that were part of the destruction. 

They may:

• Scrub floors, ceilings, and walls with special detergents
• Use specialized equipment to sanitize
• Deodorize the area with unique deodorizing products
• Utilize air scrubbing technology
• Neutralize lingering odors
• Get rid of items beyond repair

6. Repairing The Damage

The final step in the fire damage restoration process is repairing the actual damage. Think of this part as a facelift for your home. Any destroyed walls, floors, ceilings, windows, and more will be fixed and updated at this time. Your repair crew will list everything that needs to be replaced or fixed. Common items include:

• Taking out and replacing drywall
• Changing windows and doors
• Putting in new flooring and carpeting
• Renovating or replacing the roof
• Repairing damaged plumbing

Because fire damage can cause many issues, you may need to have additional professionals assist in the restoration process. Some of these professionals may include roofers, plumbers, painters, and/or flooring installers.

How Long Does Restoration Take?

Depending on the severity of the damage, you could be unable to live in your home for a few days to a few months... or even longer. Soot, smoke, and ash are corrosive materials and can cause further damage the longer they are left, so prompt assessment and clean-up are essential to prevent a lengthy and costly restoration.

The restoration timeframe also depends on when your contractors are available. While you may be able to get a fire damage expert to do the cleanup quickly, it may take more time to get roofers, plumbers, or other contractors to your home. To mitigate this, it’s best to contact everyone you might need as quickly as possible. Often, fire restoration professionals partner with subcontractors, which will save you time and hassle.

The best solution is prevention. In order to keep everyone safe, consider learning more about the most common causes of house fires. The Spruce says that most house fires start in the kitchen. Be sure to clean your cookware carefully and have a fire extinguisher nearby. Also, if you experience a kitchen fire, expect to spend some time getting rid of the lingering burnt odor. 

Conclusion

While fire damage restoration is a detailed process, doing it properly will keep you and your family safe. Understanding these six factors that impact the process will help you address the damage in your home head-on and with the right professionals at your side.

Sources

• https://www.thespruce.com/cleanup-after-fire-4160200
• https://www.thespruce.com/causes-of-house-fires-1835107