What are Common Problems After a Home Fire in St. James?

7/19/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage is a hard problem to solve and you sometimes need multiple things repaired. Contact SERVPRO for fire damage remediation in your home.

SERVPRO Techs Have Extensive Training and Comprehensive Knowledge to Clean Up Any Size or Type of Fire Loss in St. James Homes

When a fire happens in a home, there can be multiple levels of loss to address. Along with the charred elements within the property, other frequently seen issues include:

• Pungent smoke odors
• Water damage from the extinguishing efforts
• Stains and smoke residues to clean up
• Mold if the water did not get extracted and dried 

Can You Paint Over Sheetrock with Smoke and Fire Damage? 

When SERVPRO technicians assist St. James homeowners with the restoration from fire damage in their homes, the property gets a thorough inspection to determine the amount of loss within the structure. The most typical actions are:   

• Removal of charred sheetrock and building materials
• Extraction of water
• Inspection of home contents item by item for restoration potential
• Set up a cleaning station to handle restorable items

During the fire loss cleanup in your St. James home, the walls and ceilings get a careful going over. Different types of smoke residues need varying types of removal methods for the best outcome. Because soot is odorous, simply painting over it on a wall or ceiling ensures that the area of the home will continue to emit residual fire odors for the foreseeable future. SERVPRO technicians test the residues to determine if it is a dry or wet smoke type and choose the best cleaning method accordingly. When the particulate gets embedded too deep within the walls or ceilings, the techs use sealants to lock the odors within the materials, and then it is ready for priming and painting.

How Does SERVPRO Stop the Spread of Soot Throughout the Home? 

The techs are very careful during fire loss cleanup in your St. James home, particularly when only a portion of the structure got affected. They contain the area by partitioning it off with heavy plastic sheeting or the use of negative air chambers; the vents also get covered, so the ductwork within the home does not receive cross-contamination.

Air quality is paramount, and although the techs wear personal protective gear during the mitigation because soot is an irritant to both come into contact with or aspirate, they also run air scrubbers to capture airborne particulate and trap it within its labyrinth of HEPA filtration.

Once the techs complete the cleanup, they can inspect the ductwork in the home; this is particularly vital if the HVAC ran at any time post-fire. They have the specific equipment to remove even years of built-up dust and debris, which also helps the heat and air conditioner run more efficiently.

Can Mold Become an Issue Post-Fire? 

With their mold remediation certification #0060, SERVPRO techs know the early warning signs for a mold infestation. They work to extract any remaining moisture that migrated under a floor or behind baseboards to ensure nothing gets left behind. In cases where conditions are favorable for mold colony establishment and growth, the techs use protective methods such as confirming interior humidity levels are under 50% or cleaning surfaces with professional-grade antimicrobials.

What is the Best Way to Handle a Roof with Fire Damage? 

When SERVPRO techs arrive on-site, one of their initial actions is to determine if the residence needs any temporary repairs or security measures. In the case of a roof with charring or open areas, it needs protection from the elements to halt any further loss to the structure. The techs can place a heavy-duty tarp in place to protect the interior until the restoration services complete, and the final repairs can get made. The techs also can secure the property when they are not on-site through the use of boarding up doors, windows, and the placement of yellow tape to form a perimeter and keep unauthorized people out of the residence.

Once the home gets cleaned, dried, and deodorized, it gets prepped for any needed repairs. The techs hold a general contractor license #51995-H. This takes the heat off the homeowner for having to locate contractors, describe the actions taken during the restoration, and point out the repairs to be made. Because the crew handled the cleanup from start to finish, we are always aware of the rebuilding that needs to happen to restore the home.

Fire damage cannot wait, contact SERVPRO of Greater Smithtown at (631) 265-9200 as soon as the fire department says it is safe to enter your property. The certified technicians can handle the restoration and rebuilding as needed to return your home to its preloss condition, "Like it never even happened."