How Does Fire Damage Restoration Work?

6/8/2020 (Permalink)

After the fire's out, what's next?

Does a professional restoration company like SERVPRO of The Southtowns really do more than just clean up?

The short answer: yes, there’s much more to restoration than just “cleaning up.” But how does fire damage restoration actually work? What’s the process like? Is it something the average person can do on their own?

We’ll walk you through the basics so you can decide that last question for yourself.

Step 1: Assess Damage

Before any cleanup work actually begins, the fire restoration company has to assess the extent of the damage. This includes assessing damage from the fire as well as damage stemming from smoke, soot and heat. A professional assessor will be able to determine not just how much damage is visible, but how deep the damage has penetrated into the structure of your property.

Step 2: Prevent Further Damage

Damage from a fire does not stop just because the fire has stopped. The next step a restoration professional will take will be to prevent further damage from happening. This step will include fixing any damage to the structure of your building, especially any new holes or leaks that might let moisture in. After all, the last thing you need after a fire is water damage or mold growth.

Step 3: Clean Up

After the damage is assessed and the risk of future damage is mitigated, it’s time to start the cleaning and restoration process. It takes professional tools, techniques and experience to really clean up after a serious fire. Smoke and soot can easily penetrate past the surface level, leading to lingering odor and damage if not cleaned correctly. That goes double for carpet and upholstery, which can hold the smell of smoke forever if not deeply cleaned. In many cases, a restoration professional can advise whether it’s worth cleaning certain pieces of furniture at all, or if it might be less expensive to just replace them.

If there’s extensive water damage (say, from fire department hoses), then a professional restoration company will also be able to help with that by restoring contents, drying the area and preventing the development of mold.

Step 4: Reconstruction

At SERVPRO of The Southtowns, we also offer reconstruction services to help you to truly get back to normal after a fire. No matter how much you’re able to restore after a fire, it’s often less expensive and more efficient to renovate, rebuild and start over. Since we’re familiar with both fire restoration and the reconstruction process, we’re able to advise you on the best way forward after your emergency.

And there you have it: the basic fire damage restoration process. You assess, prevent, clean and rebuild and before you know it, you’re back to normal. Still have questions? Call 716-646-6684 today – we’re here to help!