How to Repair House with Fire Damage
Fire is one of the scariest things that can happen to your home. It is a powerful and destructive force that spreads rapidly, consuming everything in its path. Depending on the intensity of the fire and how long it takes to put it out, your house may suffer minor scorching, and smoke damage or the loss of all the contents in your home in case of a major one.
Repairing a fire-damaged house requires careful attention to detail. Make sure to enlist an expert builder, and an electrical contracting company to assist you with the repair. All the safety issues need to be taken into consideration to ensure that the reconstructed house structure is as good as ever. Here are seven critical steps to repair your house with fire damage:
Steps
Step 1: Hire an Expert Building Contractor to Examine Structural Damage
The first thing you need to do is to inspect the exterior section of your home and make notes about the damage. Ensure you hire an expert building contractor to examine the entire structure.
Repairing a fire-damaged house is not a task that can be undertaken by the average homeowner. However, this does not mean that you cannot get involved in the cosmetic repairs and clean up needed such as installing new cabinets and painting.
Step 2: Assessment
This is a very crucial step in repairing fire damage as it will enable the builder to come up with a concrete plan of action and give you an accurate estimate of how much the repairs will cost as well as how long the entire process will take.
Do not forget to ask your local fire Marshall to come on site and help review the situation. Your building contractor may need to bulldoze parts of the structure or tear off a garage addition that has suffered fire damage.
Step 3: Tarp and Sealing
Step 4: Room by Room Clean Up
Make sure that you are present during these repairs to see how much of the house is not damaged. It is advisable that you spend more on replacing the worst damaged part first as opposed to making any cosmetic improvements.
Step 5: The basement Foundation
Step 6: Attic Repairs
Once they are done repairing the interior framework of your house, they can start working on the roof area and the exterior walls.
If necessary, install new windows to protect your interior from rainwater damage. Also, put new electrical wiring and a new breaker box as needed for the house.
Step 7: Final Touches
Salvage as much kitchen fixtures, undamaged wood flooring, and cabinets so that you can reuse them. Once your house is fully repaired, embark on repainting it before working on the floor. Make sure to install crown molding and baseboard materials throughout the house.
Do not forget to ask the fire Marshall to help you create the right documentation for your needs. Some insurance companies tend to under-compensate homeowners for fire damage, leaving them in a stressful situation. Take the time to negotiate with the insurance company to secure a
better deal in case the damage repair costs exceed the monies allowed.
When repairing a fire-damaged house, your main aim is to replace anything that was damaged and ensuring that there is no lingering smoke smell after you are done with the repairs. It is crucial that you start repairing your fire-damaged house immediately to prevent further damage from spreading throughout your property.
The longer you leave your house unrepaired, the more the damage is going to increase. For instance, if the fire burns a hole through your roof, letting it stay too long without repairing it may lead to further damage in case of rain because water will come into your home ruining your property more. After your home has been restored after fire damage, you should take it upon yourself to find out how to prevent future fires.