The Fire Restoration Process

4/4/2023 (Permalink)

Fire damage in San Francisco, Ca

4 Steps in Getting Your Home Back to Normal

After a fire in your Burlingame, Millbrae CA, home, you may feel overwhelmed by the fire restoration process. Knowing what to expect beforehand can make the situation less stressful for you and your family. Every fire and home is different, and the restoration process varies accordingly. Here are four general steps that occupants take in getting their homes back to normal after a fire:

1. Inspection

Surveying the damage after a fire is critical to know the next steps that you need to take. However, this can be dangerous if you are not careful. Do not re-enter your home until the fire department has said it is safe to do so. Do not turn on any appliances or lights that were near the fire.

2. Preventing Further Damage

Preventing further damage is key to the fire restoration process. This includes boarding up or tarping over any openings in the structure to prevent wildlife, criminals, etc. from getting inside. Additionally, it is important to remove any water left over from the fire extinguishing efforts because mold growth begins quickly. After the water has been removed, smoke damage should be addressed. Smoke and soot are corrosive. The longer they are allowed to sit, the more damage they cause.

3. Cleaning

After taking precautions to prevent further damage, clean-up efforts can begin. Damage cleaning takes many forms and may occur on-site or at another location. In addition to cleaning the surfaces of your home and the items within it, it may be necessary to address any lingering smoke odor. From air scrubbers to ozone machines, there are a variety of methods to remove smoke particles from the air in your home.

4. Repair and Restoration

After the smoke (and soot and water) clears, it is time to repair the damage caused by the fire. You may have to repair drywall, replace carpeting and windows, or even fully reconstruct parts of your home to get it back to normal.
Regardless of the extent of damage done, an experienced restoration service can help you with every step of the fire restoration process.