When there is a fire in a house, the priority is to vacate the property to ensure no life loss. Then, the next step is to extinguish the fire as soon as possible. But, even after these steps, a fire can cause massive damage to the property and make it unfit for living. That’s when fire damage restoration management comes to the rescue.
What are fire restoration services?
Fire damage restoration is the process of rebuilding the property and cleaning up personal belongings that have sustained damages caused by fire or smoke. The ultimate goal of the fire damage restoration service is to use advanced equipment and methods to clear the property and make it liveable again.
They remove soot or smoke damage from the surfaces like walls, ceiling, furniture, etc., and remove the burnt odor from the house. They also assist the homeowner in making decisions regarding repairing and replacing the items that suffer damage.
What does the fire damage restoration service do?
The duties of fire restoration management are –
- Confirming the stability of the property – Right after a fire, the structure of the property becomes brittle and questionable. The restoration management has to check for signs that hint at heavy structural damage and deem the property safe to enter for the restoration processes.
- Removing hazards – Sometimes, asbestos fibers can get released into the premises due to some harm caused to the asbestos building materials used in the home. In such a situation, restoration management should warn the workers and others to contact the property as soon as possible. The property will need to be remediated before other processes.
- Removing burnt structural components – After a fire, the things that suffer the most damages are the ceilings, walls, and floor. The restoration management team inspects the framing materials of the property to chart out the damages and estimate the replacement and repair costs. Then they remove the charred items.
- Removing personal possessions– Any commodity which is too damaged to repair or partly damaged should be removed from the property. It is advisable to sort through the personal possessions and judge what is fit to keep and what is not and act accordingly. It will prevent the safe items from getting contaminated.
- Treating the odor – Once the estimates and removals are done, the restoration management team tries to remove the burnt smell from the house by treating the other items with deodorizers. It is essential to eliminate the odor before rebuilding the home’s structure completely, or else there can be chances of the odor leaking out.
- Drying the structural components – while extinguishing the fire, the house’s structure undergoes a lot of water washing. The management has to completely dry out the house either naturally or by using advanced tools to undergo the construction process. Commercial dehumidifiers come in very handy while drying out walls, floors, or even sub-flooring.
- Communication- It is indispensable for the restoration management to be in touch with the homeowner until the property is restored. They need to look after the needs and requirements of the customer and work efficiently to fulfill them.
- Help get a fire report – The restoration management companies often help the owners file and get a copy of the fire report for further investigation and insurance claims.
Tools used for restoration
Fire damage restoration jobs involve a lot of scrubbing and cleaning my hands. Every inch of the affected surface needs to undergo deep cleaning to revive it or eliminate the soot.
Much of the cleaning is done with strong chemicals and acids. While sponges and rags are the primary cleaning materials, some high-end equipment works efficiently. This equipment can include HEPA vacuums, air movers, dehumidifiers, deodorizers, etc. Moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras are used in case of water damage.
What to look for in a restoration management service?
- The company must be licensed and insured to take on such fragile projects.
- Should have experience working with the most complex of cases that require extra attention and coordination.
- Experienced working with water, fire, mold damage. Should be able to restore property which has undergone these damages.
- Equipped with the necessary commodities to help restore and repair.
- Experienced in restoring properties as some homes may need demolition or installation.
Benefits of hiring a fire restoration company
1. Professional help from the restoration company– It is highly advisable to hire a fire damage restoration company to assist while repairing the damaged property. They have the experience and knowledge on how to deal efficiently with post-fire issues.
2. Safety– before the professionals deem the property’s structure safe, it is inadvisable to enter it.
3. Security is impossible for a homeowner to single handedly manage property restoration duties, insurance claims, and other legal matters. The restoration management service assists them and takes some load off their shoulders.
4. Swift response– After a fire disaster, the property needs immediate securing and cleaning. The fire hazard emergency services swiftly respond to the calls of help and come to the rescue.
5. They restore more than fire damage– In case of a fire, the firefighters spray down the property heavily with water. This causes water damage because the walls, floors, and ceilings get soaked with water. Certain restoration companies assist with water damage repair.
6. Cost-effective – The fire damage restoration management works hand in hand with the owner to cut costs and work within a limited budget.
Conclusion
A fire restoration management service is mandatory after any fire, no matter how big or small. They are the maestros of restoration and rebuild the home back to how it was within a limited time frame. They are the real superheroes who swoop in when a home needs saving. They provide a shoulder to rely on when the homeowner is distressed and frantic about losing their home. In addition, the fire damage management services provide help regarding post-fire damage cleanup and repair and assist with various other tasks encircling the disaster, for example, claiming insurance, legal matters, relocation, etc.