No business owner wants to think about their property catching fire, but unfortunately, this is a situation that can become all too true for some. Whether you’re facing a recent fire in your building or you’re just trying to learn about what you need to do if this problem ever arises, we’ve got information below to help you out. Read up on what to expect from fire damage repair and you’ll be well on your way to handling any fires as smoothly as possible and getting back to your business with very little downtime.

Problem #1: Invisible Damage

There are many situations in which it’s easy to see the damage your property has suffered due to fire. Of course, you can look at your store or business and see scorch marks on the wall or damage done to the floors and ceilings. If your property sells merchandise, there’s a good chance you’ll notice damage to this as well. Depending on the extent of the fire damage, there may be extremely visible and noticeable issues all around, but did you know there are a few types of invisible damage and issues you’ll need to consider when handling cleanup after a fire, too?

One of the biggest causes of invisible damage after a fire is mold. While you may not realize mold is a part of fire restoration, it is actually one of the more serious concerns in a situation like this. When a fire breaks out on your property, it will be doused with water. Unfortunately, that water, in turn, contributes to water damage and the growth of mold and mildew very quickly following the fire.

It doesn’t take long for mold spores to start forming in the walls, floors, ceilings, and other surfaces of your property. Mold may not be visible from the outside looking in, but a professional restoration team will be able to take stock of any mold and mildew issues going on in the building as they work to repair the damage following the fire.

It’s also important to remember the risk of invisible smoke damage after a fire, too. Yes, you will be able to see some smoke damage, but you probably won’t be able to spot it all just by looking. Much of the damage caused by smoke tends to settle in the drywall and less noticeable parts of the property. This is yet another reason why you need to make sure a professional checks out the structure and clears it for re-entry before you get back to work.

You can solve this problem by hiring a company to do a thorough check for any signs of invisible damage following a fire in your commercial property.

Problem #2: Acting Too Slowly

When it comes to damage restoration services following a fire, it’s impossible to act too quickly. And when you’re dealing with a business or another type of commercial property, there’s even more that you’ll have to work through and deal with than there would be for a residential property. There are many reasons why you may need to get started as soon as possible with the cleanup and repairs after a fire:

  • Water damage. As mentioned above, water damage is a huge factor after a fire, and it quickly leads to mold growth and rot. The sooner you can get a restoration crew in to start cleaning up, the less likely it will be for mold to grow or become widespread throughout the property.
  • Smoke damage. Just like water, the sooner you get to smoke damage repair, the better. This type of damage can be very difficult to restore when it isn’t taken care of quickly, so it’s important to call in a restoration service crew to handle this issue and get your property back to a safe and smoke-free environment as soon as possible.
  • Although it’s not as pressing as the up-front issues related to damage repair, you will also need to act quickly for insurances purposes. Different types of businesses and commercial properties have different insurance requirements, so it’s important to start handling the paperwork related to these damages as soon as you can manage to do so.

This problem can be solved by contacting a 24/7 restoration service company to help you get started on cleanup right away.

Problem #3: Extended Damage

If your property was damaged by a fire that didn’t affect the whole building, you may be tempted to think the unaffected part of the building is safe for you to continue using. However, this may not necessarily be true, and it’s important to have professionals check it out before you go back into this part of the property. In fact, it’s very common for extended damage to reach other rooms, floors, and areas of a building that has been damaged partially by a fire.

For example, if the fire was put out with water, then there’s a very good chance the water damage will seep through the walls, floors, or ceilings and spread to other parts of the building, causing the potential for mold to grow in these areas as well. Smoke damage can especially travel throughout a property and may be noticeable—either by you or by professionals—very far away from the source of the fire. There’s also a chance residual heat from the fire will cause melting and other types of damage throughout the property.

This problem is best handled by professionals who are able to thoroughly inspect the whole property before giving you the go-ahead to go back inside any portion of the building. Remember to always follow the instructions given by your restoration team and do not go back inside the building until it’s safe to do so.

 

 

For assistance with fire restoration in the Naperville, IL area, get in touch with Restoration Techs. You can reach out to us any time for 24/7 emergency services as well as for estimates on work. Whether you’re dealing with issues related to fire, water, mold, or smoke damage in your commercial property, you can contact us today at 800-600-3594, or fill out the form below, for more information.