Live streams of Los Angeles on fire caused shock globally, let alone Californians. The fire map shows extensive areas destroyed by the disaster. People are just beginning to recover from stress. For the affected California residents, the recovery path starts with understanding the key steps of fire damage restoration before hiring a contractor.
Why Timely Restoration Is Crucial?
Fire damage goes far beyond visible destruction. If not addressed quickly, the blend of smoke, soot, and water left after extinguishing the fire can result in:
- Accelerated structure weakening
- Accumulation of toxic residues
- Mold growth
- Health hazards from exposure to smoke and chemicals
Mold can start growing within 24-72 hours and cause more damage to your house and your family’s health. Hence, the faster you take action, the quicker and at a lower cost your home can be repaired.
First Steps after Fire Damage
As lost as you might feel while looking at the damaged property, you need to have a plan of action after the disaster. Here is the brief checklist to follow:
Secure Your Property
- Once the fire has been extinguished, try to document the damage: Take photos and record a video to capture the destroyed exterior, interior, and belongings.
- Photograph all affected parts and record a video
- Create a detailed inventory of damaged items
- Request a repair estimate from a restoration company
- Keep records of all communications with the insurance company
- If possible, protect the remaining structure: board up windows and secure doors to prevent unauthorized access to your house.
Initial Cleanup
Once the damage is documented, ventilate the house and try to clean up the place:
- Remove soot accumulations using HEPA vacuums
- Remove destroyed furniture, carpets, and porous materials to prevent mold growth
- Use professional cleaning solutions to wipe surfaces and flooring
Fire Damage Insurance Policies: What You Need to Know
Despite all the recent complications with insurance companies, in most cases, you still can get a refund from your policy provider. Reread your policy carefully and note the following aspects:
- fire damage coverage
- smoke and water damage coverage
- replacement cost vs. actual cash value
Groysman Construction: We help our customers claim the damage and guide them through the process of negotiations with the insurance company
Benefits of Hiring a Professional Restoration Company
When your house is damaged the best option is to hire a licensed restoration team. Why?
- Pros have the required expertise and deep technical knowledge for damage & safety assessment
- Pros have dedicated professional equipment for the services they provide
- Pros ensure compliance with safety and restoration standards
Fire Damage Restoration Services include:
- Water extraction and moisture control
- Smoke and odor elimination
- Structural repair and reconstruction
- Sanitization and deep cleaning
- Installation of proactive fire prevention systems like fire alarms, sprinklers, etc.
FAQ
At Groysman, we get all the required permits and navigate the claim filing process.
Home restoration after the fires starts with Groysman Construction! Call us:
