How A Smoke Damage Restoration Service Can Return Your Home To Its Former State
Fires are incredibly stressful events. Unfortunately for homeowners, the angst that these events cause does not simply go away once the flames have been put out. The damage can be extensive and it often affects areas of the home that were not directly touched by fire. In fact, much of the damage that fires cause is the result of smoke, soot, ash and water. Working with a smoke damage restoration company is therefore essential for ensuring that residential properties are returned to their former condition.
When firefighters exit fire damaged properties, they have the ability to clear them for entry. This means that the building is sufficiently sound for entering and that people are unlikely to sustain harm from collapsing structures or falling building materials. Once this clearance is given, it is vital to consult with a reputable restoration service right away. Timely attention to damaged areas can limit the cost of repairs. It will also help to limit the magnitude of overall damage and allow homeowners to salvage more of their belongings.
Even though a fire marshal might give homeowners clearance to enter their properties, this does not mean that it is entirely safe for them to do so. The building might be structurally sound but chemical contaminants are likely present in the standing pools of water that were created throughout the home while the fire was being fought. Moreover, standing pools of water also pose a tremendous electrical hazard. Thus, it is always best to have restoration services tour the house on your behalf in order to ensure that entering is safe and that there are not any immediate hazards that must first be eliminated.
Many consumers are under the mistaken impression that smoke is only detrimental to human health when it is airborne and present in thick, dark plumes. In reality, however, smoke odors can be just as bad for people as the actual smoke itself. These can cause serious lung irritation, especially in those individuals with existing respiratory issues. As long as these smells remain, people should not spend an excessive amount of time indoors without the building properly ventilated and without the necessary equipment. People should know that smoke is the leading cause of death in fires and smoke odors account for a number of the fatalities that occur.
Restoration companies will begin their clean-up efforts by eliminating standing bodies of water and existing electrical hazards. This will increase the level of safety in the abode, however, it is also necessary to air the building out. This often accomplished by opening up windows and using air movers to encourage faster drying of all remaining moisture and to increase overall airflow. At this time, any items that have been damaged beyond repair will be carried out of the home. Given that these items will retain smoke odors indefinitely, taking them out of the building will make it easier to create a fresh-smelling and safe environment. These professionals will often remove damaged carpet and carpet padding, cloth furnishings and other items that cannot be easily cleaned and restored to their former condition.
The next step in these efforts is to deal with soot and ash. These lightweight particles might not seem dangerous given the way that they take to the air and gracefully settle down on various surfaces throughout the home. These, however, are also a respiratory irritant and they are rich with chemical contaminants that can irritate the eyes, skin and airways. Moreover, they are extremely acidic. Leaving them on the surface of salvageable items for too long will ultimately render these item unusable. Soot and ash can cause permanent discoloration and other aesthetic issues that are very difficult to repair.
Various solutions and equipment options are used by these professionals to remove soot and ash from the indoor environment. The ultimate goal is to improve indoor air quality so that household residents can breathe freely. These efforts will also significantly limit the likelihood of permanent damages to household items due to extended exposure to soot. These efforts are performed in such a way that soot is not disturbed and encouraged to take to the air, where it will discolor and damage other items throughout the residence. There are few tools that homeowners have access to that will allow them to perform soot removal as effectively as an actual restoration company.
Mold remediation is also a part of these efforts. Any time that the home is exposed to moisture, it is important to take a concerted effort to limit the likelihood of mold development. In addition to extracting water, a remediation service will also dry out all affected surfaces, reduce the amount of moisture that is in the air and apply special deodorizing and disinfecting solutions. Deodorizing products will prove two-fold benefits. These will eliminate wet, moldy smells and they will also eradicate harmful smoke odors. Best of all, these applications are not intrusive and this means that properties do not wind up smelling like chemical sprays either. Most consumers report that their homes smell just like new once the entire cleanup efforts have been completed. Moreover, the disinfectants that are supplied will prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
Another aspect of this process is restoring the functionality of the home heating and cooling system. Once smoke odors enter these units, they are often rendered unusable. Your provider can assist with the removal and installation of a new unit, or you may need to have this performed by your regular HVAC installation company. This, however, is another aspect of the home that your restoration provider can check out on your behalf, in order to ensure that there are no potential health hazards in the living pace that are not properly addressed.
A comprehensive restoration service can even address areas of the actual building structure that have been damaged by smoke and fire. They can replace damaged drywall, baseboards, sub-flooring and other aspects of the home. Given their ability to handle a vast array of essential repairs, these professionals will simplify the overall recovery efforts that must take place after these events. This help homeowners quickly regain a sense of normalcy and it also gives them a much greater opportunity to focus on handling important home insurance issues.
Fires are incredibly stressful events. Unfortunately for homeowners, the angst that these events cause does not simply go away once the flames have been put out. The damage can be extensive and it often affects areas of the home that were not directly touched by fire. In fact, much of the damage that fires cause is the result of smoke, soot, ash and water. Working with a smoke damage restoration company is therefore essential for ensuring that residential properties are returned to their former condition.
When firefighters exit fire damaged properties, they have the ability to clear them for entry. This means that the building is sufficiently sound for entering and that people are unlikely to sustain harm from collapsing structures or falling building materials. Once this clearance is given, it is vital to consult with a reputable restoration service right away. Timely attention to damaged areas can limit the cost of repairs. It will also help to limit the magnitude of overall damage and allow homeowners to salvage more of their belongings.
Even though a fire marshal might give homeowners clearance to enter their properties, this does not mean that it is entirely safe for them to do so. The building might be structurally sound but chemical contaminants are likely present in the standing pools of water that were created throughout the home while the fire was being fought. Moreover, standing pools of water also pose a tremendous electrical hazard. Thus, it is always best to have restoration services tour the house on your behalf in order to ensure that entering is safe and that there are not any immediate hazards that must first be eliminated.
Many consumers are under the mistaken impression that smoke is only detrimental to human health when it is airborne and present in thick, dark plumes. In reality, however, smoke odors can be just as bad for people as the actual smoke itself. These can cause serious lung irritation, especially in those individuals with existing respiratory issues. As long as these smells remain, people should not spend an excessive amount of time indoors without the building properly ventilated and without the necessary equipment. People should know that smoke is the leading cause of death in fires and smoke odors account for a number of the fatalities that occur.
Restoration companies will begin their clean-up efforts by eliminating standing bodies of water and existing electrical hazards. This will increase the level of safety in the abode, however, it is also necessary to air the building out. This often accomplished by opening up windows and using air movers to encourage faster drying of all remaining moisture and to increase overall airflow. At this time, any items that have been damaged beyond repair will be carried out of the home. Given that these items will retain smoke odors indefinitely, taking them out of the building will make it easier to create a fresh-smelling and safe environment. These professionals will often remove damaged carpet and carpet padding, cloth furnishings and other items that cannot be easily cleaned and restored to their former condition.
The next step in these efforts is to deal with soot and ash. These lightweight particles might not seem dangerous given the way that they take to the air and gracefully settle down on various surfaces throughout the home. These, however, are also a respiratory irritant and they are rich with chemical contaminants that can irritate the eyes, skin and airways. Moreover, they are extremely acidic. Leaving them on the surface of salvageable items for too long will ultimately render these item unusable. Soot and ash can cause permanent discoloration and other aesthetic issues that are very difficult to repair.
Various solutions and equipment options are used by these professionals to remove soot and ash from the indoor environment. The ultimate goal is to improve indoor air quality so that household residents can breathe freely. These efforts will also significantly limit the likelihood of permanent damages to household items due to extended exposure to soot. These efforts are performed in such a way that soot is not disturbed and encouraged to take to the air, where it will discolor and damage other items throughout the residence. There are few tools that homeowners have access to that will allow them to perform soot removal as effectively as an actual restoration company.
Mold remediation is also a part of these efforts. Any time that the home is exposed to moisture, it is important to take a concerted effort to limit the likelihood of mold development. In addition to extracting water, a remediation service will also dry out all affected surfaces, reduce the amount of moisture that is in the air and apply special deodorizing and disinfecting solutions. Deodorizing products will prove two-fold benefits. These will eliminate wet, moldy smells and they will also eradicate harmful smoke odors. Best of all, these applications are not intrusive and this means that properties do not wind up smelling like chemical sprays either. Most consumers report that their homes smell just like new once the entire cleanup efforts have been completed. Moreover, the disinfectants that are supplied will prevent the growth of mold and mildew.
Another aspect of this process is restoring the functionality of the home heating and cooling system. Once smoke odors enter these units, they are often rendered unusable. Your provider can assist with the removal and installation of a new unit, or you may need to have this performed by your regular HVAC installation company. This, however, is another aspect of the home that your restoration provider can check out on your behalf, in order to ensure that there are no potential health hazards in the living pace that are not properly addressed.
A comprehensive restoration service can even address areas of the actual building structure that have been damaged by smoke and fire. They can replace damaged drywall, baseboards, sub-flooring and other aspects of the home. Given their ability to handle a vast array of essential repairs, these professionals will simplify the overall recovery efforts that must take place after these events. This help homeowners quickly regain a sense of normalcy and it also gives them a much greater opportunity to focus on handling important home insurance issues.