It’s an unfortunate truth that you may someday have to worry about facing fire damage in your home. Although this is something many homeowners never want to have to think about, it’s always a good idea to understand the process of fire damage repair, whether you think you’re going to need to use that information or not. Below, we’ve put together a list of four quick tips you should keep in mind when you’re thinking about the process of fire damage restoration. This type of restoration is best handled by a professional cleanup crew. However, keeping these tips in mind can help you streamline the process and better communicate with your restoration team at the same time. Read through the information below and you’ll be more prepared to deal with fire damage restoration if it ever becomes necessary for your home.
1. Your belongings should be assessed by your damage restoration company before returning them to your home.
Most homeowners are in a hurry to get their homes back to normal and replace the items that have been removed by their damage restoration services. However, getting these items back in the home may not be the most important priority in some instances. It’s always important for you to have your restoration company assess the damage before you get your items back. This could mean anything from taking a closer look at upholstery and determining whether or not it can be cleaned to making sure your clothing and dishes don’t have any residual damage to worry about. The restoration company you choose should be able to take care of any and all of this. Any items that are involved in a fire will be cleaned, except in situations where cleaning cannot restore the item in question to its condition before the fire.
But why is this necessary? Simply put, the fire itself isn’t the only potential cause for concern in a fire damage situation. Water and smoke damage repair are also a huge part of the fire cleanup process. Water damage related to the fire could cause pathogens to build up in your upholstery. Smoke damage could cause contamination of your dishes, utensils, and any food in your home that was not burned in the fire. Soot can also settle onto items and cause very serious lung damage if it is breathed in. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult for homeowners to tell when smoke and water damage have made their household items unsafe. This is why your professional team should always take a look at everything from your home before the items are returned to you.
2. Expect smoke and water damage.
Going off of the information in our first tip, keep in mind that you should always expect more than just damage from the heat and flames of the fire. In the vast majority of situations, fires are put out by emergency responders who use water to douse the flames. This water, however, brings along its own set of problems and can cause flood-like damage to your home and property as well. Your damage restoration service team will be able to aid in any water extraction needed to clean up this type of damage while they are working on the fire damage too. Keep in mind, too, that water damage can lead to mold very quickly, so your restoration team will also work to remove any mold and mildew that may occur as a result.
Smoke damage is especially common on walls, but it can affect any surface and item in your home. Smoke damage will cause wallpaper and paint to peel, discolor, and otherwise become totally destroyed. And, once again, soot can also be a serious problem in areas where smoke damage has occurred, so it’s very important to leave this type of cleanup to the professionals.
3. Know that your home will be boarded up.
If the damage is severe enough to need fire damage restoration assistance, then chances are good it’s also severe enough that your home will need to be boarded up. Your restoration team will be able to take care of this, and the boarding up process is a little bit different in each situation. However, for the most part, you should expect your home’s windows to be boarded with plywood. Your roof may also be covered with a tarp, depending on the type of damage and the needs of the tech crew that will be working on your home.
Although it can be very disheartening to see your home boarded and tarped after a fire, keep in mind that there are many reasons why this is done. One of the most important purposes is to protect the restoration technicians while they work in your home, but it is equally important to prevent anyone from breaking into your home while it’s being worked on, too. Insurance companies also require this step of the process, so keep in mind that it’s going to have to happen as part of your restoration and cleanup.
4. Always trust your damage restoration team’s judgment.
It can be upsetting to hear that part of your home or some of your items are not salvageable, and it can be frustrating and difficult to find out that you won’t be able to enter your home again for a while as cleanup commences. However, keep in mind that your restoration team has your best interests at heart. The company you choose is going to do everything it can to get you back in your home safely as soon as possible. However, in some instances, this can take a long time, especially if there are many different issues and types of damage your restoration technicians need to clean up. It may be difficult, but remaining patient is one of the most important keys to getting through this challenging experience and getting back into your home safely, too.
If fire damage is an issue in your home or if you’re dealing with other types of disasters that may befall your property, Restoration Techs can help. We are available for 24/7 emergency services as well as estimates in and around the Naperville, Illinois area. Give us a call at 800-600-3594, or fill out the following form for more information.