A Fire is not only dangerous, but it’s also destructive. In 2020, city local fire departments responded to an estimated 1.4 million fires in the United States. Out of these fires, there were 3,500 civilian deaths and more than 15,000 reported fire injuries.
The damage to these properties was estimated at $21.9 billion U.S. dollars. When a fire hits your own personal property, it not only impacts your home, it effects your peace of mind. It’s important to know that when dealing with fire damage in your home, choosing a reputable fire damage restoration company is a crucial step in getting things back to normal as soon as possible. Of course, that requires calling the right people for the job—but who is that?
There may be many contractors and companies involved in getting your home secure and the restoration process started, but the heavy lifting will be done by a licensed fire damage restoration team that specializes in fire damage repair, smoke damage, odor removal and content restoration.
The fire damage team you choose will work closely with you to figure out what can be saved, what damage can be repaired or replaced, and give you an estimate on time and cost for the entire restoration project.
If other professionals are required outside the scope of work from the fire damage contractors, it will be likely they can assist with that also.
Clarke Contractors Inc., a professional Fire Damage Restoration company near Cincinnati Oh
has some advice for getting your home back in shape after a fire.
1. Ask the Fire Damage Team a Lot of Questions
If you call a restoration crew to assist with fire damage recovery, you’ll want to make sure that you make best use of their experience. Ask what the process will be like, how long each part will take and who to call if you need an answer. You will get a chance to learn how fire damage repair happens and can also point you toward other people or help you may need along the way.
2. Don’t try to do it yourself
Even if you have a small fire, you shouldn’t attempt to restore fire or smoke damage on your own. The repairs could potentially be dangerous in addition to being difficult to work with. Breathing the fumes, ashes and other chemical residues left behind by the fire and the process of extinguishing it, is an unnecessary health risk. A fire can also weaken floor and support structures making your home a hazardous environment.
3. Make Good use of Your Insurance Company
Your home insurance carrier should also have experience with what you’re dealing with. Find out how they will work with the fire damage restoration company and understand who will be accountable for each aspect of the project. Review your policy and make notes for any questions you may have about it. Ask about timelines and expectations along with what your cost responsibility will be outside of policy coverage.
If there is a huge loss, ask your insurance company about rebuilding and loss of use coverage to pay for housing while yours is being restored. If the damage is minor, you may not need all of this, but it doesn’t hurt to be informed so that you know all of your options and can decide on the best course of action.
4. Try to Have Patience
Make sure that you take a proactive approach to getting your home restored, but also be patient and know that fire damage restoration can take time to repair properly. The good news is if you have the right team and people on your side, it will be a lot easier to deal with.
