A Comprehensive Guide To Understanding Fire Damage

12/15/2023 (Permalink)

fire damage

Nothing is as devastating to a home as a fire. Even a small kitchen or electrical fire can result in widespread devastation, but a fire damage company in Weymouth will restore your home to its pre-blaze condition. 

If the aftermath of a fire has you scrambling to figure out where to start the recovery process, our guide will help you take the first steps and know what to expect going forward.

Why Do You Need Professional Fire Damage Restoration? 

Once the fire department puts out the flames, a fire restoration company comes in to appraise the damage and develop a recovery plan. Specialists use a meticulous, step-by-step checklist to gauge every potential form of fire damage, including the effects of:

• Water
• Chemicals
• Smoke
• Soot
• Odors

In addition to causing structural damage, a fire contaminates everything in its path with toxins. A fire damage restoration company can identify and mitigate all the issues that can pop up, ensuring your family can live in the home without risk of injury or illness. 

A Checklist for Dealing With Fire Damage

After a disaster, our fire damage company completes a comprehensive checklist of tasks to repair and clean your property. The process may take several weeks or months, depending on how much work needs to be done.

Step 1: Assessment and Securing the Property

The process begins with a comprehensive assessment of the structural, smoke, and soot damage. Our restoration specialists will determine what they can salvage from the scene, if anything, and the best approach to handling smoke damage cleanup, soot elimination, and reconstruction. A fire can significantly impact the structural stability of any building, and we look for hidden damage that might not be immediately apparent but still requires attention.

Once we document the situation for insurance purposes, we’ll secure the property to create a safe environment for cleanup and prevent further damage. This could include putting tarps over exposed areas, removing debris, boarding up windows, or installing structural supports. 

Step 2: Preventing Further Damage 

Firefighters use water and chemicals to extinguish the flames, which can cause secondary damage like mold, rot, rust, and health risks.  

After safely removing any damaged materials that are beyond repair, water damage remediation is usually the first step. This process includes removing excess water and using industrial fans and dehumidifiers to dry out walls, floors, and other affected areas. If the fire department used suppressants to put out the flames, chemical damage restoration to seal the residue and prevent further contamination may also be necessary. 

Step 3: Soot and Smoke Damage Cleanup 

Porous surfaces, like upholstery and carpets, are especially vulnerable to soot damage. Soot is made up of carbon particles from partially burned materials, and it's a known carcinogen. To eliminate these pollutants and the health risks they cause, we deep clean affected surfaces with specialized equipment, powerful cleaning agents, and air filters. 

Addressing smoke damage is complex, as the odor can cling to surfaces and infiltrate tiny spaces that are easy to overlook. We'll clean and deodorize salvageable personal items, including clothing and furniture, to return them to pre-fire condition. However, electronics and appliances may require replacement because smoke can destroy sensitive mechanical components.

We use several methods to eliminate unpleasant and lingering smoke odors, including thermal fogging or ozone treatments to break down the particles and remove the smell.

Step 4: Rebuilding 

Rebuilding begins once the cleanup is complete. For some homeowners, this means reconstructing entire rooms or sections of the home and roof, while for others, it entails relatively minor projects like replacing drywall, countertops, and flooring, repainting walls, and making electrical or plumbing repairs or replacements. Structural repairs are the final step in returning your property to the same or similar condition it was in before the incident.  

Turn To SERVPRO of Weymouth, Hingham, and Quincy for Help After a Disaster 

Looking at the charred remains of your home, smelling the smoke, and dealing with the aftermath of losing treasured belongings to the flames is an emotional and often overwhelming experience. You need a compassionate and experienced team on your side that has the professional expertise and tools to help you get back on your feet. 

SERVPRO of Weymouth, Hingham, and Quincy is the Massachusetts fire damage company to call when the unthinkable happens to your South Shore home. When you call us at (781) 337-0344, the local specialists will be there fast to answer questions and get started with recovery and restoration. Thanks to our IICRC certification and top Better Business Bureau rating, you can relax knowing our disaster cleanup professionals have everything under control.