What Is Fire Damage Restoration?

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration is the process of restoring a home or commercial property after a fire has occurred. The steps involved in the fire damage restoration process include: an initial inspection of the fire and water damage, boarding up the structure to prevent further damage, removing all water and smoke or soot, cleaning and sanitizing all contents that can be salvaged, and restoring any floors or walls, etc. that were damaged during the fire.

If the fire department was called to extinguish the fire, there may be water damage that the property owner also needs to be aware of. A professional fire damage restoration company can address any concerns about water damage at the same time as the fire damage.

Restore Your Home Back to Normal

The goal of fire damage restoration is to restore the property so it’s “Like it never even happened.” While some homeowners take this opportunity to make upgrades to their property, the end goal in every fire damage restoration situation is to restore as much of the structure as possible while eliminating health hazards that may have accumulated during the fire.

How Fire Damage Restoration Helps 

The specific steps a fire damage restoration company will follow may vary by company and specifics of the extent of fire and water damage, however the fire damage restoration process typically involves these general steps:

• Inspection and damage assessment
• Removal of water and smoke
• Cleaning and sanitizing areas
• Restoration of all damaged areas

Saving money from replacement costs, restoring sentimental items, and removing safety hazards are all benefits of fire damage restoration. The process of fire damage restoration is detailed further below.

Removes Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces

Fire damage restoration professionals will make note of any and all damage to the home during the inspection process. The longer water and fire damage sit untouched in a home, the harder the home will be to restore, so it is important to call a restoration company as soon as possible after a fire occurs. Smoke may still exist inside a home when restoration professionals arrive, soot (a substance that results when matter does not burn all the way) may exist in the home as well.

Smoke and soot are removed from a home as quickly as possible in order to prevent further damage. Fire damage restoration professionals use specialized equipment and techniques in order to remove smoke and soot from all surfaces, including floors, walls, windows, and more.

Water Removal and Drying

Water damage can be just as problematic as fire and smoke damage. With this knowledge, fire damage restoration professionals will begin to remove as much standing water as soon as possible after a fire damage occurs. Using dehumidifiers, air movers, and other drying equipment is essential in order to remove as much moisture as possible. Drying the structure is essential in order to salvage walls, floors, ceilings, and more that may have required replacement without this restoration technique. Drying the structure also can prevent mold growth.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

Before cleaning and sanitizing, most of the effort put forth from the fire damage restoration company has been to prevent further damage. The next part of the restoration process is to clean and sanitize all damaged areas including floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, and other contents. Anything that can be salvaged and restored will be brought back to the original condition and appearance before the fire.

Air scrubbers and fogging equipment help to remove any odors that may be lingering in the home. Repairs and replacements that may be needed are likely to be recommended and completed at this point.

Work with the Fire Damage Restoration Professionals

Experiencing a fire at your property is one of the worst experiences that can happen, however a fire damage restoration company can make the restoration process less stressful. At SERVPRO of Highland Village, we offer 24/7 emergency service in order to serve you better. If you have questions about fire damage restoration, call us at (940) 241-3434 today.