Tips in Managing Fire Damage House Cleanup and Restoration
After a fire, homeowners are definitely anxious to clean up. The sooner it is done, the better but not without taking proper safety precautions. Although it's understandable that you want to save as much valuables as you can, taking it a step at a time will lessen the worries and overwhelming feeling that fire damage inside the house can bring to its owners.
As soon you get safety clearance from the fire marshal that is the only time that you must reenter the affected property. Salvaging the items is not an easy task for most of it may be drenched with water, covered with fire retardant, full of soot and smells like smoke. Cleaning doesn't get easier with all these materials to get rid of.
One of the first things to do is to keep your electric, water and gas supply lines turned off. You don't know yet the extent of the damage of the fire so it's better to stay safe.
Next, call your insurance provider. The financial help coming from your claims can help ease up the problem. Your insurance provider can also recommend a professional fire restorer to assist you. One advantage of hiring an insurance restoration specialist is that they know the procedures already and since they are affiliated with your provider, they can guide you every step of the way from the cleanup procedures to restoration.
Cleaning the fire damage in the house is a big challenge and even though it hasn't been affected by the actual fire, its exposure to heavy smoke is enough for professionals to step in. Soot, smoke odor, water and fire retardants are the things that must be cleaned up right after a fire disaster strikes.
While cleaning up, segregate the items that can still be restored, the ones that are heavily drenched, things that are of high value and those that are ready to be thrown away. Fabric materials usually get affected by soot and smoke odor. So deodorize clothing, linen, curtains, carpets and mattresses before washing them. You may need to wash them many times more to get rid of the odor. Some even need to use special equipment to break down smoke and soot particles.
Smoke can permeate walls while soot can be deeply entrenched inside the ventilation system. A thorough inspection is needed therefore to get rid of these particles. Your wall insulation and HVAC systems may need replacement to totally get rid of soot and smoke odor.
It is also important to have the structure of your home inspected for it may have been affected and may compromise the occupants' safety in the future.