Tips Fire Damage Home Cleaning And Restoration

By Author: Leo Nov
Total Articles: 883
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Fire damage at home is at the least an overwhelming incident. Imagine the valuables lost, the cleaning and restoration that must be done right after the disaster and you can't help but feel anxious and defeated. But although it can be depressing, there are steps that a homeowner can do to make it bit manageable.

Call your insurance provider. The financial aspect of home restoration can be covered by your insurance. As soon as you can, call your insurance company to inform them about the incident. Document the incident by taking pictures and/or video of the affected area. Your provider can also suggest a cleanup and restoration company to help you in salvaging your valuables.

Perform immediate tasks. Don't re-enter a fire damage home when the fire marshal hasn't declared it safe for you to do so. Once you have secured a go-signal, you can do immediate measures to save as much valuables and prevent further damage. Water, soot, smoke odor and fire retardants need to be removed as soon as possible. Don't use power source from the inside the affected home. It is always a safe choice to keep the power supply turned off ...
... while doing the cleanup. Use a generator or outside electric source if you really need to use equipment and tools that need power.

Installing fans, opening windows or anything that adds up ventilation is important before starting any cleanup activity. This will make the air circulate freely and remove trapped toxins inside the house. Drying the affected area is an immediate concern since water damage can settle in as little as 48 hours. Mold buildup is only part of the problem. Soaked documents, carpets, curtains and other porous materials can get useless when not given proper restoration measures.

Segregate things according to value and extent of damage. Clothing, linen, mattresses, upholstered furniture and other items made of fabric usually absorbs soot and smoke odor so these must be deodorized and washed at once. It may take several washings to totally rid these items of the smell. If the items are too valuable, seek help from a company that specializes in fire damage home restoration.

Have a thorough home inspection and maintenance measures after the restoration. Fire damage can sometimes show up a few days or months after so it's important to have a long-term restoration plan. Like, your foundation may have weakened or walls may need replacement.
Leo Nov is an editorial staff member of RestorationSOS.com, a leading service provider for fire and water damage cleanups. To learn more about fire damage restoration services and smoke cleanup, visit RestorationSOS.com