Why Clean-Up isn't the Only Vital Aspect of Post-Fire Corrective Measures

6/3/2016 (Permalink)

Fire damage to your Gonzalez property can be overwhelming.

Post-Fire Corrective Measures are Vital

If you've suffered fire damage in your Gonzalez area home, there are some important things you should know about getting things back to normal. Because smoke produces particulates that adhere to the many surfaces found throughout your home, and these particulates can continue to be health threats, even after the fire has been put out, it's imperative that your home and the belongings found inside to be completely cleaned before your return. Using items that have been exposed to smoke during a fire can exacerbate health issues in many people. Cleaning eliminates this risk, but there are other dangers.

Fire is not the only aspect that damages a home when a fire breaks out. Smoke from burning materials can be hot enough to melt and warp plastics. Water and steam that is often created when water is applied to burning walls and floors can cause latex paints on cabinets, doors, and frames to bubble. This type of damage is often visible and unsightly, and another constant reminder of the fire itself. Fire, steam, smoke, and water can damage that remains hidden inside your home, and much of this can be dangerous. When structural aspects of a home, including support beams and weight-bearing walls, are damaged by the heat of the fire, coupled with the humidity introduced by the firefighters' hoses, the can lose a significant amount of strength. This can make your home's stability unpredictable. Because of this, experts like our team members at SERVPRO should be consulted. They can use their experience and insight to help you make the best decision on how to proceed after you've experienced fire damage.

From fixing warped window frames to replacing load-bearing basement walls, to staircases and railings, to floors and their underlays, we will work hard to not only get you back in your home safely but always also ensure that the job is done correctly and up to code. We are also highly skilled in the aesthetics of home décor restoration and can match replacements for designer trim around vanities, and decorative moldings and other trims, as well as cleaning of intricate frames and categorization of your artwork. We don't end our cataloging of your items there, though, but include other items, such as electronics and appliances. This helps reduce the possibility of rejections of claims with your insurance policy. We list items as salvageable, unsalvageable, or undetermined. Being a third party, insurance companies know we are unbiased and will accept our categorization, usually with no questions being asked. Receiving the money needed to purchase items that were damaged beyond repair further helps your family go back to normal living.

Electronics need special handling and should not be turned on after a fire has occurred, even if the item seems undamaged. Particulates in the smoke are small enough that they can easily enter into vents and fans, settle on interior components, and cause the item to fry when powered up. We will gather all of the electronics in the smoke and fire damaged area so you can have them inspected, and if need be, cleaned, by our certified electronics technician.

Home is where we like to curl up with our children and read a good book or watch a movie, create our best memories, and relax with a meal. Fire damage can ruin that, but we at SERVPRO are experts at undoing the damage caused by fire and other disasters that can strike at any time. To turn your fire damaged mess back into your home sweet home, call us at SERVPRO of West Pensacola at (850) 469-1160 any time of the night or day, seven days a week. We'll help you get your home, family, and life back on track.