Fire and Water Restoration

As homeowners, we all have certain fears about what could happen, events that could destroy our home and change our lives forever. For most of us, the thought of a sudden fire or flood sweeping through our home ranks pretty near the top of the list. Both occur with little or no warning, can ravage a home or business in a matter of minutes, and leave behind a path of destruction that is both overwhelming and traumatizing.

Oddly enough, if you talk to folks who have been unfortunate enough to be the victim of both events, they will usually tell you that, given the choice, they'd rather deal with a fire. If that sounds like an odd statement, stop to consider; fires, be they big or small, usually confine their damage to the area where they are. If you have a fire is in the upstairs bedroom, you don't really have to worry about aftereffects in your basement.

Not so with water. Water sweeps in and does its initial damage, and then not only continues to cause damage for as long as it is allowed to stand, but can actually cause issues in other areas of the home, areas you may not initially think to check out.

Fire and water damage restoration are similar in many ways. You should wait for the all clear from authorities before returning to your home, and when you do, check the structure for stability before entering. Both fire and water can wreak havoc on support structures, making them extremely unstable and prone to collapse.

Likewise, shut off all electricity and gas to the structure. Electricity and water mix about as well as gas and fire do.

Remove all loose items, furniture, and electrical appliances. In case of water damage, appliances will need to be checked out by a qualified electrician.

In both cases, homes should be aired out; open all windows and doors to facilitate drying or remove smoke odor.

Soot should be removed by using a brush vacuum nozzle. Water is removed by using submersible pumps or wet-dry vacs.

Be sure and check beyond the damage area when it comes to water. Look behind walls, even if the walls appear undamaged. Also check out basements and crawlspaces, anywhere water can accumulate and be left to stand. Unchecked water can rapidly give rise to molds and mildews, which release toxins into the air which can be hazardous if inhaled.

Fire and water damage restoration is a complex multi layered process. If done correctly, you can continue to enjoy your home for many years to come. Done incorrectly, you may find yourself dealing with doubled or even tripled repair costs, and a plethora of various headaches.

For immediate help, contact your local, IICRC certified fire and water damage restoration company. They are available 24/7 and offer a complete range of services designed to return your home to its former beauty.

Billy D. Ritchie
Director Of Content
Leadsbyfone, LLC

Fire and Water Damage