Where I live, we have several months out of the year that are packed with devastating storms. These storms have been known to damage entire communities and leave many people's lives turned upside-down. During the days and weeks following these storms, we pull together as a community to help each other rebuild and repair the homes we live in. We have worked alongside some of the best damage contractors in the country. This blog contains a ton of information about the things that we have learned from those contractors during these devastating times each and every year through the worst possible storms.
rebuilding after the storms have settled
Tips To Help You Clean Up Your Home From Fire Damage
Samu Palo
Experiencing a fire in your home, whether small or widespread, can cause you stress and leave lingering fear from the event for some time. In addition to the emotional trauma, you will need to deal with a great deal of physical damage to your home from smoke, soot, fire, and fire suppression methods. Here are some tips to help you deal with the clean-up after a home fire.
Handle the Repairs Immediately
When you delay having to clean up your home and restore it after fire damage, you can make the damage to your home even worse. You most likely have a homeowner's insurance which covers fire damage, so call your insurance agent to get the process started.
If you delay beginning the restoration and clean-up, mold and mildew can begin to grow upon the wet surfaces from the water used by the fire department to put out the fire. If you used a fire extinguisher in your home to put out the fire, the chemicals from the extinguisher will remain in your home and cause additional damage and become a threat to you and your family. It is important to clean them up sooner than later.
Leaving exposed areas on your home's structure, such as the roof, walls, and broken out windows, can lead to interior damage from the outside elements and loss from theft due to your home being unsecured. A fire restoration service can help you board up and cover these exposed areas of your home to protect them from further damage.
Tackle Fire Suppression Damage
You can begin some of the clean-up on your own after your home has been inspected and found to be safe structurally. Remove items that are not salvageable and dispose of them in a dumpster. Remove drywall that has been damaged by fire or from water, and any insulation as well. Some carpeting and its pad may need to be disposed of, especially when you cannot remove the excess moisture in a timely manner.
Pull up as much standing water on surfaces with your shop vac or a carpet cleaner. Focus on porous surfaces, such as carpeting and upholstery to dry them out as soon as possible and avoid mold and mildew growth.
Place fans throughout your home and in your home's windows, filtering the air through and out your home. This will also help diminish the soot and smoke odor in the air of your home's interior. Hire a fire damage restoration professional to clean the soot and smoke from your home's interior walls, ceilings, and floors, as it can linger within your home until it is removed.
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