Fire incidents can be devastating; their impact goes beyond the wreckage it leave on your personal property. It’s emotionally overwhelming, too!
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a fire department somewhere in the United States responds to a fire alarm every 23 seconds. This frequency easily translates to more property damage, racking up billions of dollars in damage costs.
Understanding the importance of fire damage restoration helps you budget and reduce the potential for bigger property damage in case such incidents happen. Talk to our experts at A1 Cleaning to learn about your options.
Importance of Fire Damage Restoration
Fire restoration is crucial to avoid further damage to your property. Conducting a thorough fire cleanup eliminates potential health hazards caused by smoke odors, mold growth, and damaged emergency power.
Timely fire damage restoration helps maintain your property’s market value. It identifies areas needing complete renovation and those left undamaged.
Fire Damage Classes
Fire classes are among the primary factors affecting fire damage repair costs. The NFPA introduces the following classifications:
- Class A: Fires in combustible materials like wood, rubber, and plastics.
- Class B: Liquids or gas like gasoline, alcohol, oil-based paints, solvents, and oils.
- Class C: Electrical fires caused by faulty wiring, fires on electrical appliances.
- Class D: Metallic elements like titanium, zirconium, potassium, and magnesium.
- Class K: Cooking-related fires or anything that involves grease fire and animal oil.
Fire Damage Restoration Process
Regardless of the fire and smoke damage level, fire damage restoration professionals follow key steps in delivering their services.
Here’s what the end-to-end damage restoration looks like.
Step 1: Fire Damage Assessment
Damage restoration begins with knowing what areas in the property were ravaged by the fire and those that only sustained minor burns. A damage contractor does an ocular inspection of the property and lists the specifics of the damage, including any furniture that must be thrown away.
This assessment aims to identify the appropriate fire restoration method fit for each area and create a customized plan to restore the property.
Step 2: Property Security and Debris Removal
This is when fire damage cleanup begins. Professionals install fences around the property, seal off holes and doors, remove debris, and secure undamaged areas to ensure they don’t get contaminated.
Step 3: Water Removal and Demolition
Water residue is a known contaminant associated with mold buildup and grounded electrical wiring. Fire damage restoration involves drying the property to ensure there are no leaks that can cause corrosion.
Should the company see extensive water damage, they will recommend conducting a separate water damage restoration procedure.
Step 4: Smoke Removal
Smoke damage, like stains on floors and ceilings, is among the initial issues addressed during the recovery process. Experts use deodorizing agents to remove lingering odors and antimicrobial chemicals to prevent bacterial growth.
Step 5: Construction and Structural Repairs
Extensive damage to properties can make its current structure too unstable for restoration. In this case, experts will suggest a total structural change, which can include rebuilding an entire room, fixing floors, changing the roof, etc.
Cost of Fire Damage Restoration
According to Forbes, the average cleanup and restoration cost in the U.S. is $12,900. This fluctuates depending on the size of your property, damage level, and location.
Any upgrades you want to install can also impact your price. For example, installing smoke detectors can cost you $10 per item. Fire extinguishers cost between $30 to $100.
Other factors like permits and inspection fees are also part of the cost. In most cases, companies will give you a quote based on the area size of the affected property. The average price per square foot is $4.25 to $6.
Hiring Fire Damage Restoration Services
There’s only so much you can do with your time and skills; in most cases, hiring a fire damage restoration company is the best way to go.
Before signing up with one, consider checking the following:
- Licenses: Minnesota doesn’t require permits for fire restoration, but you’d want to look for professionals who at least have a general contractor’s license, allowing them to conduct the post-cleanup restoration process.
- Service Packages: Compare packages across different companies along with inclusions. Ensure you’re paying for a service that covers all your property’s restoration needs.
- Customer Reviews: Check what previous clients say about the company. Asking for references and reading online reviews helps you assess their credibility.
- Insurance: Confirm if the company’s employees are insured. Fire restoration involves significant hazards, and essential workers are covered by their insurance in case of accidents at work.
- Customer Service: Go for companies that communicate well. The restoration process requires a lot of back and forth from you to them to ensure they cover your desired outcome. Ideally, they should get back to you within 24 hours.
Final Thoughts
Fire damage restoration requires specialized equipment and skill, and it can take months to complete, depending on the property damage’s severity.
Go with the hassle-free option of hiring highly trained professionals to do the heavy lifting. Give us a call to discuss a customized restoration plan for your property.