After a fire occurs in your home or business, you’ll have many things to do to get back to normal. The amount of damage will dictate how long it takes to make the repairs, so the sooner the process starts, the better. Knowing how the fire damage repair process works will help you know where to begin. A bonded, licensed, and insured fire damage restoration contractor, like Aloha Restoration, can help guide you through the process, but it’s good to know what to expect.
Conduct a Thorough Inspection
Before any kind of repairs can start, you need to complete a thorough inspection of the structure and the damage. Depending on the nature of the fire, this may include the Fire Marshall and/or police department. Once they finish their work, the contractor will inspect the roof, foundation, and interior to determine what they can salvage, what they need to repair, and what’s a complete loss.
Make Necessary Repairs
After the inspection, the contractor will consult with the homeowner on what they want fixed, what needs fixing, and any design choices. They will make all the agreed upon repairs in a timely manner. The insurance company will also have some input on this. Since they’ll write the check for the repairs, they’ll make their own assessment as to what it should cost.
Water Damage Restoration
Part of the repair process may include mitigating any water damage. If the fire department came to extinguish the fire, there’s going to be water damage in the house. The damage will concentrate in the area of the fire, without a doubt, but it can also spread to other areas of the house. The contractor will replace any damaged carpet, drywall, and wood.
Smoke Removal
Getting rid of the smoky smell after a fire can be difficult. During a fire, the smoke permeates every inch of a building and everything soaks up the smell. Think about the smell of clothing after standing near a camp fire. It doesn’t take long to smell like smoke. Removing, replacing, and repairing the structure will eliminate most of the smell, but it can still linger. Opening windows and using air purifiers will help, but so will living and working in the structure. It will dissipate over time.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
Cleaning the building with normal products will help get rid of any mold or fungus before it starts to grow. Giving the entire place a good once over from top to bottom with an anti-bacterial cleaner will help with any lingering smoke smell and smells from the water.
