Fire Restoration is a process that includes inspecting the damage, cleaning and disinfecting the home, addressing water damage to prevent mold growth, and repairing structural components. Fire restoration professionals are trained to safely perform these tasks and ensure that your property is safe and ready for renovation.

Smoke residue can discolor porous materials like wood floors and countertops. In addition, soot can permeate drywall and cause damage that isn’t immediately visible.

Fire restoration companies operate around the clock and respond to emergency calls immediately. Their teams can quickly and efficiently mitigate damage caused by the fire, secure the property and begin the assessment process. They will assess the fire damage and provide a detailed plan with an estimate for the repairs. The fire and smoke damages to the building and its contents require specialized equipment and processes that they are trained in.

The first step in the fire restoration process is securing the property to prevent further damage or contamination. This is often done by boarding up missing windows, securing walls and putting tarps on damaged roofs. This will help to prevent secondary damage such as water damage from the water used to extinguish the fire. This is especially important because water damage can degrade building materials and cause harmful mold growth.

Another aspect of this phase is assessing the damage and recording it. This is a crucial step because it allows the company to see the scope of the work that needs to be done and provides a clear idea of the cost and time frame for the project. It also ensures that the company is meeting all necessary codes and regulations.

Once the inspection is complete, it’s time to start cleaning and sanitizing the restorable areas of the property. The company will use powerful chemicals to remove soot from walls, floors and other surfaces. They will also remove any residual smoke odors that remain, using advanced deodorization methods like thermal fogging and ozone treatment.

In addition to this, the company may remove any items that are too severely damaged to restore, including furniture, personal belongings and more. They will try their best to clean these items and save them whenever possible, but sometimes the damage is too severe. If this is the case, they will be removed and replaced with new items. After everything is cleaned and sanitized, the company will clean up any remaining water and residue from extinguishing the fire. They will then dry the area with air movers and dehumidifiers to minimize moisture buildup that can lead to additional problems like mold growth and structural instability.

Cleaning

Depending on the type of fire that caused it, varying levels of soot and smoke residue will be present in a home or business. This stubborn residue can cause discoloration, corrosion, and lingering unpleasant odors. Professional fire restoration technicians use specialized equipment to completely remove soot and smoke residue from various materials, including walls, ceilings, floors, and possessions. They also take steps to prevent further damage and odours by airing items and cleaning carpets.

To ensure that all contaminants are removed from a property, the fire restoration team will begin by isolating the work area. This will protect unaffected areas from the toxins used in the clean-up process, while ensuring that the work is done efficiently. It also helps avoid additional issues that could arise later on, such as mold growth or sagging structural damage from water used to extinguish the fire.

After separating out items by their level of damage and material type, they will proceed to clean the affected areas. This can involve a variety of methods, from wet and dry cleaning to abrasive surface cleaning. The team will also apply deodorizers to help remove any lingering odours from the property.

Some items may require special care during the cleaning process, such as antiques and artwork. These items can be damaged by improper cleaning, so it’s important to leave this task to the professionals.

Before the clean-up begins, it’s important to open windows and doors as much as possible to ventilate the space. This will also help limit the amount of dust that settles in the home, reducing allergies and odours. It’s also a good idea to leave all electrical items unplugged until an electrician can inspect them.

After all visible signs of smoke damage have been addressed, the clean-up team will move on to removing any standing water from water used to put out the fire. This will prevent further damage to the property and ensure that items can be dried and cleaned quickly. The team will also use industrial grade fans and dehumidifiers to speed up the drying process.

Disinfection

As the name implies, disinfection is a process used to kill bacteria and other microorganisms on inert surfaces. This is done by dissolving or destroying their proteins. Disinfection is one of the most important steps in fire restoration because it eliminates dangerous organisms that can be spread through air, water or other means after a property suffers fire damage.

Disinfection is performed using a combination of techniques, and the method chosen depends on the type of material in question. For example, fabric and textiles require different methods of disinfection than metal hardware or woodwork. The process also involves a thorough cleaning, which is usually accomplished with industrial-grade equipment. After the cleaning process, professionals apply deodorizers to remove any lingering smoke or soot odors.

The next step in fire restoration is assessing the damage. Professionals evaluate the severity of damage, looking at things like heat intensity and duration, as well as what type of materials were involved in the fire. This helps them determine the best restoration methods for each affected area.

During this phase, firefighters will also look at the structure of the building to see what needs to be repaired. This may include boarding up windows, securing walls and putting tarps on damaged roofs. It is essential that these measures are taken to ensure the safety of residents and protect the building from further damage.

After boarding up windows and securing walls, the team will move on to cleaning and disinfecting all areas of the home or building. This is a labor-intensive process, as there is often a lot of soot to remove from various surfaces. The team will use specialized equipment to clean surfaces, including scrubbing, sanding and refinishing. They will also clean away any stains caused by the smoke odor, and they will sanitize all items to ensure that they are free of bacteria and other contaminants.

This is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, but it is necessary to keep the home or building safe. After the fire restoration team is finished, they will make sure that all remaining water infiltration has been stopped, and that all surfaces have been dried thoroughly with specialized heaters and fans. Once this is complete, the team will sanitize everything in the area to protect against the growth of mold.

Repairs

Once the team has determined the extent of damage and what work needs to be done, it will create a plan to get things back on track. This will include an estimate of the cost and a timeline for when the job will be completed. This provides transparency and clarity for both the property owner and the restoration company.

If it is safe to do so, the team will board up any broken windows and secure walls. This will help protect the structure from further damage and potential contaminants, such as mold. It will also keep out rain, which can further degrade and damage materials. Finally, it will provide a layer of protection from vandalism and scavengers.

A professional fire restoration service will use specialized equipment to remove smoke and soot from affected surfaces. They will first identify the type of soot present, as different types require different cleaning methods. Wet soot, for instance, is sticky and may require scrubbing, while powdery dry smoke residue can simply be vacuumed away.

The team will then clean and sanitize restorable items and structures. This includes drywall, carpeting, and any other structural components that have been affected by the fire. This step can take a while, but it is essential to ensure that all harmful byproducts of the fire have been removed and that the space is safe for use again.

Once the sanitizing process is complete, the professionals will begin making repairs. This can involve anything from replacing drywall to installing new carpeting. The goal is to return the property to its pre-fire condition as much as possible.

If any items or structures are unsalvageable, the fire restoration company will make note of them. This will be helpful when it comes time to file an insurance claim. In addition, it will help the property owner to budget for any necessary replacements.