Talk about post traumatic syndrome! Unfortunately for people who have been victims of a fire in their homes, the trauma doesn’t end when the flames go out. Not only does one has to deal with loss of property and possibly damage to oneself or loved ones, the aftermath of a fire doused out is sometimes just as traumatic. It is one case where “think before you act” definitely does not apply. Where fire damage is involved, act quickly and do your thinking along the way.
It is important to stress here that fire damage restoration is not a DIY project. It’s a job of the experts. The residual effects of a fire include smoke and ash. Both of them are damaging to health and property. Within an hour of a fire, appliances will start to tarnish. This is followed by almost every other surface in the house (cloth, carpet, tile, wood, metal, ceramic), and if left untreated the damage is permanent.
Call in the experts
Here’s another contradiction to the general norm: fire and water do work together. At least, fire and water damage restoration do. Part of your property that may have survived the fire could instead be damaged through water (from the fire trucks, sprinklers or from burst pipes due to intense heat). Fire damage restoration is not something to plan and wait for. If you or anyone you know has been the victim of a fire related accident, call in a restoration service immediately. If you are lucky enough to have insurance, call your insurance company immediately. Not only will they quickly assess damage, they also have reliable restoration services on their panel. If you don’t have insurance, you might have to quickly pick out a restoration service nearby – and the best way to do this might be through friends and family who may have had similar experiences or be able to vouch for the reliability of some companies.
Save what you can
While waiting for the restoration service to show up, there are some steps you can take to avoid further damage to your property. Open doors and windows to allow for air circulation. This will reduce the chances of smoke damage while you are sorting through the basics. Also, try to separate undamaged items from damaged ones and if dry, cover them with a plastic sheet to protect them during the restoration process. This is important even if you are forced to move elsewhere while your home is being repaired.
How fire damage restoration works?
The fire damage restoration process includes an initial inspection to assess damage and accordingly come up with a plan of action. This is followed by immediate actions such as boarding up severely damaged ceilings and walls as well as removing excess water from the affected areas (as required). The drying up process if required goes hand in hand with removing soot and ash stains from salvageable items. This will also include getting rid of smoke odors (this is a big one – who wants to be reminded of a fire every time they use their favorite throw?) from fabrics and other porous surfaces.
Some reconstruction and restoration is then required to get your home back to exactly the same shape as it was before. Of course, if you have an adventurous spirit, renovations at this point can be a great way to recover from the trauma.