There’s been a horrible disaster at your business property, a fire! In order to minimize business interruption and additional recovery costs, the restoration process must begin as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to count on the professionals to assess the damage and get to work quickly so that business can resume as normal.
You have a responsibility to your employees to ensure the restoration process is done professionally and safely. Reputable restoration companies have specialized fire restoration knowledge that is needed to restore your property to its pre-disaster condition. No matter the size of the fire, working quickly is key to avoiding further losses to property and equipment due to smoke and even water damage.
What Exactly is Involved in the Fire Damage Restoration Process?
Well, firstly it’s not just fire damage your business property may have suffered, but smoke and water too – from the firefighting efforts leaving your property soaked. Each fire damage event is different, and the professionals will need to decide on an individual solution for your property.
Here are the typical steps in the commercial fire damage restoration process:
1. Assessment
Call your area’s top reputable restoration company to come and assess the damage to your property. They will go through the property thoroughly to determine the extent of the fire, smoke, soot, and water damage.
Hiring professionals will allow for a complete and comprehensive assessment of the damage, which is not only an essential step in determining the plan for restoration and cleanup but is important for insurance purposes too. They will also record and document all damage for your insurer.
2. Safety Work
The priority should be to prevent further damage to your property. With a lot of your windows, walls, and roofs potentially damaged, the restoration company will look at what needs boarding up or if your roof needs a tarp placed on top of it. This protects your property from not only further damage but also the restoration technicians while they’re working.
3. Water Removal
The process of removing the majority of the water resulting from the firefighting efforts is top of the list. Having a professional team to look into the possibility of leaks or places where mold can develop is very important.
The team will bring in dehumidifiers and air movers to remove water and complete the drying process.
4. Smoke and Soot Removal
The staining and odors left behind from smoke and soot usually go beyond the surface. With specialized equipment and techniques, the next step for the restoration company is to remove smoke and soot from the ceilings, walls, and all other surfaces.
Often it is best to throw out any upholstered furniture or furnishings if they aren’t too expensive to replace, as it may cost more to try and restore these.
5. Cleanup
Next, all restorable items and structures that were damaged will be cleaned. There are a variety of cleaning techniques that can be used to clean up these items, along with equipment such as industrial air scrubbers and foggers that will help remove smoke odors.
6. Restoration and Repair
Last but not least, getting your property to its pre-fire condition may include repairs to drywall, painting, installing new flooring, etc. Fire often creates bubbling and blistering to paint, which must be scraped and repainted. Wood surfaces should get stripped, sanded, and refinished to remove all odors.
If significant repairs are needed, you can expect the reconstruction or renovation of various areas or rooms or even repairs to the roof and building’s structure.
Experienced contractors will know how to get the most value out of the restoration process, even if that means rebuilding a large portion of your property.
Experts Only
Do your research when hiring people to perform fire damage cleanup, and consult your insurance company for recommendations. Always check into the history of any restoration company. Don’t be pressured into signing repair contracts due to the urgency of the situation, as you don’t want to use an inexperienced company to do your fire restoration work.
Fire Damage Restoration Consultation
As you can see, the fire damage restoration process is more than just cleaning and repairing places that fire has touched. You have to take into account how fire transforms the foundation of the property as well as the contents within.
Find a company that provides you with all the tools and options that you need to get your property back to its original state. At BMS CAT, we take care of the entire restoration process beyond what can be seen at a glance.
Contact us today for a free consultation and learn why homeowners and big businesses trust us to help them recover in their times of need.