Guidelines To Fire And Smoke Damage Restoration
Restoration after fire and smoke damage requires skills and expertise. It is best left to professionals who offer fire and smoke damage restoration services. These professionals are trained in a way that they can take care of the problem you face after a fire. Trying to restore the damage on your own can actually lead to further damage unless you are aware of what exactly it will require. The details about fire damage restoration here will help you understand different aspects of the problem.
In the case of a fire incident at your home or a firm, you should first inform the insurer. If you are renting the place, it is prudent alert your proprietor so that damage assessment could be done jointly. The proprietor will possibly focus on the building and building-related damages. Your focus could be on the damage done to the things you owned. The insurance inspector would often be able to recommend a reputable fire damage restoration company.
Such companies advise you on how to prevent any further damage as they restore the already damaged items in your home. These service providers help clean up and remove the residual odor. Get an estimate for their services. The estimate may look high at first glance, but it will help if you go through the estimates with them and try to understand the activities they will undertake. Do remember, however, that you will be paying for their specialized knowledge. As part of the fire damage restoration, they will let you know what items you can refurbish and what are beyond economical repair.
In the case of a fire and smoke damage, here are some tips to consider before rushing in to clean your home.
· Take your time in repairing your home. Have in mind that a job that is carefully and thoroughly done is always better than one that is hastily done.
· Dry everything thoroughly. Especially carpets, furniture and bedding. This will help prevent mold and mildew.
· Contact your insurance company. Your agent will be able to recommend a professional fire and smoke damage restorer. Often they will help with hints to prevent further damage.
· Hire a professional to come in and deodorize the house. It is also important that heavy drapery be sent out to be cleaned. Soot is oily and stinky. You really cannot get certain bigger items fresh on your own.
· Place cling wrap under the legs on all furniture involved in the fire. It is also important when dealing with items not directly involved in the fire that are still clean to cover them with plastic to prevent damage.
· Get the air circulating throughout your home. Open all windows, doors and have fans running at all times. If you are in the heat of summer, it will be best to have the air conditioner running along with a dehumidifier. If fire and smoke damage happen to your home in the winter, run the furnace, which will remove the moisture. Keep fans going and make sure to change the filters every day to prevent soot build-up.
· Once it is safe to enter into your house, go through it and evaluate the extent of the damage caused with the help of an expert. Before cleaning the walls that have accumulated smoke and soot, it is best to determine the full extent of the damage caused. If the walls are extensively damaged, then you should contact professional restorers and wait, otherwise, you are risking your life and your property to further damage. If you’re local to Denver, you can contact restoration professionals such as http://denverrestorationmasters.com for expert smoke and fire damage advice.
The very first thing to do when you attempt restoration would be to open the place for ventilation as much as possible. You should seek permission from the fire marshal before doing that. You could get that permission if the fire marshal considers the building safe. If there is water damage, you will want to remove the residual moisture. In warm weather, it will probably be necessary to run a humidifier to remove the moisture.
In cold weather, the heating system should take care of it. The heating system filters may need cleaning often to remove the residual soot. Cleaning and drying up of furniture and you want to take up the other items. Cleaning of all metallic objects will be possible at this stage. All furnishings like drapes, upholstery, carpets will need to be deodorized as part of fire restoration activities. Cleaners who specialize are the best bet in this. Smoke odor, soot removal and cleaning of undamaged household items are necessary parts of the fire damage restoration process. If you find problems persist after your own efforts, you should get the professionals called in.