House fires are one of the most destructive disasters that can happen to your home, and it does not matter how much time, money and effort we take to keep our homes safe, accidents still occur from time to time. Of course, the most important thing following a house fire is that your family is safe, but once this has been assured, the next thing you will need to consider is the damage that has been done to your home. (Image Credit: Skitterphoto/Pexels)
In this article, we will explain some of our top tips for remodeling a fire-damaged home.
Assess Your Home’s Structural Damage
After the fire is extinguished, damages will be documented and reported, and claims will be filed with your insurance company, with an emphasis on how much cleaning and fire restoration is needed. Following this process, it is time for you to hire a professional water damage restoration contractor and start rebuilding what you have lost in the fire. But before any renovations are made, you may want to read this first, as there are times when the cost of repairs is just not worth it, and you are better off selling. There are many cash home buyers who will purchase fire damaged properties quickly and easily, which then allow you to move on with your life. A structural engineer will be brought in to evaluate the overall situation of your home.
The intensity and duration of heat can cause damage to concrete, steel, or wood components and reduce the strength of the structure within your home. Licensed electrician in Point Lonsdale specializing in dealing with fire-damaged homes will also be brought in if needed and will be able to advise you as to the best course of action.
Secure Your Property
After getting the green light to go ahead with reconstruction, seal the area around your house with sealing tape and reduce the entryways. Lock the doors, cover-up broken windows, and have somebody in your house on the lookout for vandalism or robbery while everybody is busy doing their jobs upstairs. With this task, your restoration contractor and the insurance company can help, and some may even insist that this is done before anything else to minimize the chances of outsiders breaking in and causing even more damage.
Clean up Room by Room
Cleaning up is the most obvious task after a house fire, but it can be so overwhelming to the extent that you do not know where to start with. First, get yourself some masks and professional cleaning tools to make sure that you are protected. Start off by examining the exterior of your home. Clear the roof and gutters, then move down to the walls and windows and end with walkways and exterior stairwells. Make sure the area is clear of any ash, smoke stains, or soot by using soap, water, and cleaning cloths. Avoid using any harsh chemicals and rinse the area with water before you finish and let it dry.
Moving on to the inside, keep an eye out for any leaks or breakages that can potentially cause future problems. Walls and floors may have been structurally damaged, so make sure to test them out to avoid any accidents before cleaning. Keep your house and furniture nice and dry by turning on the heating system and clearing the rooms of any items that take up a lot of space. After that, vacuuming, removing smoke odor from fabrics, and dry-cleaning whatever is not possible for you to wash are just some of the tasks that need to be done. Whilst you may be tempted to save money doing this yourself, it is recommended to hire a professional cleaning service to ensure that everything is done correctly without costing you so much time and effort in the process.
Address Structural Repairs
After determining the extent to which the structure of your home is damaged, it is time for the experts to start working on recovering your home to its pre-fire state. If heavy repairs like demolition and reconstruction are needed, make sure that you hire professionals with experience, since the structural integrity of your home cannot be taken lightly. Whether it is rebuilding the attic, replacing damaged trusses and floor joists, or securing interior framework, all need to be taken care of by professionals.
Recovering from a house fire is obviously very difficult, but understanding the appropriate steps to take can help to mitigate the very worst issues. With the help of professionals, cleaning up after a fire and restoring your home does not have to be so overwhelming, and once everything is back to normal, take a cautious approach so that the same event does not happen again.
