It is difficult to experience a fire in your home. Even if you are able to get out of the house safely, you’ll have no doubt experienced many emotions. Fear, stress, and even a little anger are all common feelings. As you wait for the smoke to clear, it’s important to know what to do next.
Fire damage restoration is an important and necessary process. The good news is there are many ways to reduce the damage caused by a fire and begin the restoration process right away.
If you’ve experienced a fire, it’s important to know what to do next. Fire damage restoration can help you get your home back to normal as quickly as possible and prevent further damage.
How Do I Restore My Home After a Fire?
After a fire, the best way to start the restoration process is with a quick inspection of the home. It’s often helpful to have a professional fire damage restoration company like Friendly Hills Restoration do this for you.
Inspecting the property can help you understand what repairs need to be made and where to start cleaning. It is imperative to start working quickly as smoke, soot, and other residues can cause long-term damage to your property.
Once you receive an OK from the fire department or insurance provider, use these tips from Friendly Hills Restoration on how to start your fire damage restoration:
Turn Off Electricity
Turn off electricity in your home before inspecting it for damage. If you aren’t sure where the main circuit breaker is located, ask your insurance provider or local electrician for help.
Turn off all small appliances that may be running. Do not turn them back on until they have been cleaned (more on that later).
Water Damage
Look for water damage on walls and ceilings. Inspect any broken pipes or water drains around your property. Water may leak into your home through openings such as doors and windows. This should also be inspected thoroughly before attempting repairs.
Smoke Damage
Smoke gets into everything after a fire and can cause long-term damage if not taken care of right away. This includes carpets, floors, furniture, walls, ceilings, insulation and more.
Getting rid of smoke odor can also be a challenge. Smoke leaves behind soot that can stain walls and other surfaces in your home if not removed properly.
It is important to clean all smoke residue from surfaces as soon as possible once you have power restored to the home after the fire has been put out. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to clean surfaces without damaging them from the soot and smoke particles left behind.
How Long Does Fire Damage Restoration Take?
Fire damage restoration can take several days or weeks depending on the extent of the damage in your home and how quickly you work to restore it. However, by working with a qualified fire damage restoration company like Friendly Hills Restoration, you can get your home back in working order much more quickly while preventing further damage from occurring in between cleanup efforts.
What Happens During Fire Damage Restoration?
During the restoration process, a professional cleaner will remove all non-essential items from your property in order to prevent any further damage from occurring while they clean it up. Once these items are removed, they will wash away dirt and debris left behind by smoke and fire residue using water and other cleaning tools such as brushes and vacuums designed for this type of job.
They’ll also use air purifiers that help remove harmful gases such as CO2 and H2S from the area where they are working before it becomes hazardous to those doing the cleaning as well as those living in or near the damaged property.
Can you live in a house after a fire?
It is recommended to have a professional fire damage restoration company inspect your home after a fire before you decide what to do next.
The last thing you want to do is further damage the home or get in the way of the restoration process. If you decide to stay in your home while it is being repaired, you may want to consider bringing in temporary furniture or staying with friends or family while they finish the job.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Fire Damage?
The most common cause of fires in homes is improper use of heating and cooking appliances. Fireplace chimneys are often improperly maintained and there are many items in a home that can easily catch fire if not used properly.
Other causes of fire damage include unattended cooking, unattended candles, overloaded electrical outlets, and smoking materials left burning.