Tips for Surviving Home Fire Damage Reconstruction

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage in a Whitemarsh, PA property

Home fires cause a lot of lasting damage, leading to extensive cleanup efforts. The tasks involved in this process take time and require a certain amount of expertise. This is because fires often cause weakness in the structure of the home. It's also because smoke damage includes many unseen types of harm. The most important reason to reach out to Whitemarsh, PA, restoration experts is to ensure the safety and health of your family.

Learn as Much as Possible

It's natural to feel overwhelmed by the cleanup and reconstruction processes. As you face the fire and smoke cleaning process, there are several things you should keep in mind:

• It takes a long time for professionals to put your house back into an inhabitable condition. Be patient with yourself and with workers during this time.
• Involve your insurance company as soon as possible. You'll get a quicker response from fire and smoke cleaning technicians, along with reliable information about how to proceed.
• Fire and smoke damage often leaves your home vulnerable to the elements and trespassers. Technicians can take steps right away to cover holes in the roof. Make sure windows and doors are boarded up, and think about security fencing. Discuss these options with the restoration team and your insurance company.

Sometimes, homeowners look for DIY methods for cleaning their homes, but technicians have access to tools, supplies, and special training for dealing with soot damage, weakened floors, and lingering smoke smells.
After the flames are gone, there may still be health and safety hazards throughout the home. These include toxic volatile organic compounds that are released when some types of furnishings and upholsteries burn. Technicians have the necessary personal protective equipment to avoid exposure to chemicals and toxins.

Don't Tackle Everything at Once
Your home may have suffered a lot of fire and smoke damage, but this doesn't mean that your life won't return to normal. As you leave the reconstruction work to professionals, you'll find that a one-day-at-a-time approach is the easiest way to work through cleanup and repairs.