A house fire is a traumatic event. Whether your kitchen was destroyed or the entire home was affected, the emotional damage to a family can be as harrowing as the physical damage. Once the situation has been assessed and the insurance adjusters have come through, you need to begin the process of restoration. This requires determining what can be salvaged, and what needs to be removed or thrown away. With the right partners in fire damage repair, however, you may be able to save more than you expected.
As a leading Venice fire restoration company, we understand that cleaning up after a fire may also include water removal, water damage repair, and structural restoration. We are ready to come onsite and to help you to determine what can be fixed, what is important to you, and what we need to rebuild. The big question is – can the home be fixed after a major fire?
After a fire, most homeowners are left with three types of damage: water damage, soot damage and smoke damage. All of these can be cleaned effectively if the situation is not too severe.
Water Damage
After virtually any fire, homeowners will first have to address the water damage which has occurred. Especially here in the Venice area, warm weather will stimulate mold growth very quickly if things are not dried out immediately. In fact, mold can begin to spread in as little as two days, which is a very short period of time in which to respond to a major tragedy. Once it begins, heat and humidity will combine with mold spores which will propagate very quickly.
Furniture: Wood furniture should not be placed out into the sun to dry, as wood can warp and bend when it dries quickly. Instead, you should put wet furniture in a well ventilated area, utilizing fans and dehumidifiers. This will allow furniture to dry more slowly and naturally, and the evaporation process is less likely to warp the frame. Once the wood is dry, you can clean off with mild detergent and water.
Soot Damage
If the upholstered surfaces of your furniture is covered in soot, handle with care. Never touch any soot deposits, instead get a strong vacuum to remove them. The process is precise – only use the nozzle with no attachments, and do not rub the vacuum on the surface. Move it around slightly above the soot and surface. Touching the soot is likely to allow it to permeate the upholstery and it will never be completely removed. Once you have removed as much of the soot as possible, clean with a mild detergent. The same is true for drapes, curtains and any linens. For washable clothing, soak overnight in a solution of dishwasher detergent and water, then launder as normal. Dry cleaners should also be able to successfully remove odors from clothing.
Even after soot removal, there will likely be a smoke odor that remains, and getting it out completely can be challenging. When your home contents are exposed to intense heat, their porous makeup can expand, allowing smoke to infuse into everything. As the surface cools, the pores close back up, tracking smoke – and its smell – inside. Non-porous items can be wiped down with a mild detergent.
Of course, there is often major fire damage repair which needs to be done, and for that you should hire a professional. Kingdom Restoration can manage your mold and water removal and help eradicate soot and smoke – but we are also licensed contractors who can help you rebuild. The trauma of a fire is difficult enough without worrying how you are going to get back into your home. Call Kingdom Restoration of Venice, and we’ll give you the peace of mind you need.
