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Fire Damage Restoration in Houston
We specialize in fire and water damage restoration, the cornerstone of our business. HOUSTON RESTORATION has extensive training and equipment to get your property back to pre-fire condition.
Fires can be especially devastating to your home or business. After the fire trucks leave, your property will likely suffer from not only fire and smoke damage, but also widespread water damage and flooding from firefighting efforts. HOUSTON RESTORATION PROS have specialized fire and water damage restoration training and experience to quickly clean up and restore your home to pre-fire condition. We also can remove the pervasive smoke odor and deep-clean soot from upholstery and carpet.
HOUSTON RESTORATION PROS are dedicated to responding immediately when you need help with a fire or water damage event. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces cost.
What is Fire Restoration?
Fire damage restoration is the process of returning a fire and smoke damaged property to pre-loss condition. Fire cleanup and restoration jobs can take weeks or months due to the destructive nature of the disaster.
Fire restoration may involve things like of property board up, demolition and reconstruction on top of tasks such as debris, odor and soot removal, contents cleaning and working to remove any disturbed hazards such as lead and asbestos.
Fire Restoration Process
First, the property is doused with water while the fire department works to contain and extinguish the blaze. And sometimes, its pipes burst or melt during the fire, which leaks water into the structure. While you may have tremendous damage caused by the fire. With that, the first task upon securing the property is water mitigation to remove remaining water before it can cause more damage.
After first confirming the property is safe to enter, the first thing a fire damage contractor must do is perform an assessment of the damage sustained in the fire and ensuing water intrusion. This typically involves assessing how far the flames and smoke have penetrated into the structure and how extensive any clean up is likely to be. This step also involves assessment of the contents inside of the property to determine what should be discarded and what can be packed out and restored. At the end of a thorough assessment, the restoration company will have a better idea of the scope of the work, how long it will take and can begin formulating a cost estimate.
After the assessment has been performed, the next step is securing the property. This includes installing fencing around the property, removing debris around the perimeter, and boarding up openings in the structure, as well as tarping or sealing off parts of the roof to protect what’s left of the property from the weather. If certain areas of the property were not impacted by the fire, then it’s important for restoration professionals to ensure that this area is sealed off from the area that was impacted to minimize any cross contamination.
Prevention of Mold or Corrosion
The goal during this stage is to prevent further damage due to mold or corrosion by removing water and drying out the property. Personal property will be removed from the interior of the structure. Damaged drywall, flooring and other materials will be removed down to the studs as necessary. Water extraction crews will work with commercial equipment to dry out the structure. Roof tarps will be maintained during this stage to prevent further intrusion of water.
Clean up of Fire Damage Restoration
This is the most intensive part of a fire damage restoration job: clean up. This step typically involves a lot of manual labor to properly clean smoke and soot from interior and exterior surfaces. In many cases, every inch of the affected area will need to be cleaned. Following proper clean up, deodorizing agents are used to fully remove any lingering smoke odors. If water damage restoration has also been performed, it may be necessary to sanitize or apply antimicrobial chemicals to halt any subsequent mold growth.
Rebuild Fire Damaged Areas
The final step in returning the property to pre-loss condition is performing any necessary fire damage repairs or to rebuild fire-damaged areas. In the case of a fire, parts of the structure may be completely unsalvageable during the initial assessment, and therefore have to be removed and replaced. This may include: rebuilding and replacing the roof, replacing electrical, replacing and painting drywall, replacing flooring materials, replacing interior counters, fixtures, etc. to bring the property back to pre-loss condition.
What Does Fire Damage Restoration Involve?
Fire damage restoration jobs involve a lot of hand cleaning, as every inch of affected surface needs to be properly cleaned. While much of this is done with cleaning chemicals and sponges or rags, there is some equipment that can help get the job done too. This equipment may include deodorizers, air cleaners, HEPA vacuums, fans, air movers and dehumidifiers. Carpet extractors, moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras may also be utilized if water damage is involved in the loss.
Asbestos Issues with Fire Damage
While it is common for fire and water damage to occur simultaneously, there are a number of otherwise hidden hazards that may come to light in the event of a fire damage situation. For example, asbestos-containing building materials, when disturbed, could break and release hazardous asbestos fibers into the indoor environment. If asbestos is detected on the property, it too will need to be remediated before the property can be restored to pre-loss condition. Other hazards that restoration contractors may encounter include mold growth from water damage or lead exposure from lead-based paints.
Selecting a restoration contractor to clean up and restore your property after a disaster is a big decision. These projects are complex and require knowledge of multiple aspects of construction, including: damage mitigation, electrical, plumbing, roofing, remodeling, ground-up construction, insurance assistance, and complex project management. Houston Restoration Pros handles all of these services and is a great Water Damage and Fire Damage contractor servicing the Houston, TX community.
Initial Fire Damage Response
The first 24 to 48 hours after fire damage are known as the “golden hours” of recovery. An effective emergency response that quickly stabilizes the facility ensures the recovery of as much property as possible. The acidic soot and smoke damage that is often produced in fires accelerates the deterioration and corrosion of building components and vital assets. To compound the problem, fires are most frequently extinguished with dry chemicals or water. Plus, the toxic smoke odor left behind must be neutralized and deodorized.
24/7 Response from Houston Restoration Pros
A fire damage restoration company, like Houston Restoration Pros, is here to respond — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — to fire damage emergencies.
Ready to respond same day to a property disaster to assess damage, secure the property, and begin water mitigation services. Fire damage repair companies will also work hand-in-hand your insurance company to help with the claims process.
Houston Restoration Pros, for instance, helps you every step of the way with cleanup, water mitigation, mold remediation, smoke and fire damage restoration services, roofing, interior and exterior construction.
Fire Damage Restoration Process
The fire damage restoration method begins with damage mitigation, followed by smoke damage recovery and water restoration as rapidly as feasible. Apart from evident extensive damage, the contents of the property must be appraised for reclamation using a variety of criteria, including the following:
Smoke and Soot from Fire Damage
Smoke and soot can cause damage even after the fire has been extinguished. You and the professionals working in your home should be cautious of soot staining, mold and mildew, rust and corrosion and the air quality in the home.
When soot in the air sticks to surfaces, it discolors them. Depending on the composition of the surface and the amount of time after the staining occurred, the soot staining may still be entirely removed. In some instances, it will result in a permanent discoloration. Metals, plastics, grouting, flooring, linens, and wood areas are all considered to be delicate elements.
Fire Damage Creates Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew become a problem after a wildfire because of the fire extinguishing process. Mold and mildew can form quickly, so you should look for any signs of water damage even if you don’t see mold or mildew present yet. If water damage is suspected, the proper restoration and mold and mildew removal processes should begin as soon as possible to minimize further damage.
Rust and Corrosion
Rust and corrosion is a risk for any metals that become oxidized. Water interacting with metal can cause the metal to corrode or rust. This is true for any metal, but it’s especially important to be aware of for small electronics that contain metal. If the components and conductors in the electronics corrode, the item is often irreparable, and the risk of electrical shock is increased.
Air quality is a major concern after a fire and should be one of the areas a professional should focus on if you detect any lingering odors. Cleaning up smoke damage begins by using air scrubber and air mover to clean the air. Smoke-damage cleaning products should be used on any surfaces that have absorbed the smoke. If there is any smoke-damaged furniture that might be saved or you hope to save, professionals should begin the smoke-damage restoration process on them immediately to increase the chance for a complete restoration.
Before any water damage or fire damage restoration processes can begin, all debris and soot must be removed from the home. The soot can cause more damage the longer it remains on a surface, while the debris is only going to get in the way the restoration process.
Houston Restoration Group Works Directly with Your Insurance Company
