The destructive nature of fire is no secret. It can wreak havoc on any property no matter how much you try to prevent it. While home and commercial properties are usually insured against fire damage, they rely on fire damage restoration companies to bring their buildings back to operation in a short time.
If your home or building ever suffers from fire damage, you might wonder whom you should call for restoration work and why? The answer is a professional fire damage restoration firm. That’s because fast and effective action is essential to minimize damage to your property.
Why Rapid Action Is Essential to Minimize Damage?
Smoke and soot are always present at the building where the fire occurred along with residual water. If you don’t act fast, your building can suffer from significant damage.
Soot can Damage Surfaces
Soot is a direct result of burned material. Depending on what the fire burned, soot could be acidic and it can cause damage to nearly any surface it comes in contact with. Textured and porous surfaces are particularly vulnerable to soot staining. Soot damage is troublesome because the soot remains in the air, discoloring plastic, unburned wood, textiles, and carpeting. This goes on even after the fire has been extinguished. The longer the materials stay exposed to soot, the harder it will be to reverse the discoloration effects. You may have to replace the damaged items.
Mold Infestation
Since moisture remains in the air even after the fire has been extinguished, it can interact with mold spores causing mildew. In darker, damper spaces, mold thrives due to the moisture and produces mildew. Mildew will usually stain absorbent and porous surfaces including clothes, marble, wood, carpeting, and others. Full fire damage restoration includes removal of mold infestation and mildew vegetation. Moreover, moisture that can cause the mold to return is also removed using commercial grade dehumidifiers and air movers.
Air Quality will Degrade
A pungent odor will permeate the air in the home or commercial facility after the fire has been extinguished. This is caused by different individual odors being combined into one. For instance, mildew continues putrefying the air until it’s completely removed from all the surfaces which were affected by it. Quickly getting commercial grade dehumidifies, air movers, and air scrubbers into the affected area can reduce the effort it would take to remove the odors otherwise.
Restoration Work
Even minor restoration work should be left to an Institution of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration or IIRC-certified company. These companies are trained to carry out fire damage restoration work safely and effectively. You might be wondering how professional fire damage restoration works. So, we have discussed some important steps involved in the restoration process.
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Inspection and Assessment
Fire damage restoration experts will come to your commercial property or home to determine the extent of the damage. This includes inspection of the property for soot damage, smoke damage, and presence of moisture in the air. Assessment of fire damage to your property is essential for determining how restoration work should commence.
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Sealing Breaches and Tarping the Roof
Experts will seal comprised windows, walls, and doors to ensure that no one tries to enter your premises. If the roof of your property is damaged, they will tarp it to protect your building from water damage.
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Water Removal (If Necessary)
Before any restoration work, the fire damage restoration professionals will address water damage (if necessary). They will remove all the standing water and use commercial grade air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the affected building.
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Soot and Debris Removal
The distinct odor that fire leaves behind is in part attributed to debris and soot. So, debris will be promptly removed to reduce the odor’s intensity. It will help the restoration crew in bringing the building to its original condition.
If there are any burned materials present on the ground, they will all be removed by fire damage restoration professionals. Otherwise, the soot that’s covering them could cause significant damage to the property.
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Deodorization and Sanitation
The next step in the restoration process is the deodorization of affected furniture and materials and sanitization of all areas affected by water. Odors will be removed using commercial grade equipment to ensure better air quality at your commercial building or home. Smoke odors will be completely eliminated; otherwise, they will keep on reminding you of the sad incident.
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Repair and Reconstruction Work
The fire damage restoration professionals will take care of all the repair work. They will repair the structure and restore your property’s interior to its former condition.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you now understand the importance of fast and effective fire damage restoration and how professional fire damage restoration process works.
If your home or commercial property suffers from fire damage, call Square One. The experts from our professional restoration company will bring your building back to its original condition.