Fire Damage St. Charles, IL - When the flames are gone, soot and smoke can continue to cause fire damage

11/12/2015 (Permalink)

You may be tempted to get the restoration process started by cleaning things yourself. This is not recommended because it may only make it worse.

Smart Steps Toward St Charles Fire Damage Restoration

Fire damage to your St.Charles/Geneva/Batavia home or office is devastating, but you should not wait to take steps towards restoring your property. Thanks to your fire alarm system, everyone got out of the building, but now you have to deal with your burned and heat-damaged possessions. When the flames are gone, soot and smoke can continue to cause fire damage. This is why it is important to start restoration as soon as you can. 

The First Step

You should make notes about what items are ruined or damaged and take photographs too. You’ll be contacting your insurance company and a restoration contractor, so you want to be sure about your circumstances. Misunderstandings are common, but if you have photos and notes, you’ll be in a better position to know the extent of the St Charles fire damage and what needs to be restored or replaced. This should be done within hours after the fire is extinguished.

Once you have a clear picture of the damage, call your insurance company. Hopefully, you can do this the next day. It is important to call them as soon as possible, so they will send an insurance adjustor to your home or office quickly. 

Call a Reputable Fire Damage Restoration Contractor

When searching for a local cleaning and restoration contractor, make sure they are Institution of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified. These professionals have been trained in the latest restoration technology and have health and safety certification. They will have experience in a wide range of fire damage St.Charles restoration projects. You should also ask for proof or the proper licenses and insurance. 

You may be able to locate a restoration contractor who also does reconstruction. SERVPRO of St.Charles/Geneva/Batavia, can be your one stop company. This will save you a lot of time and money. They will first board up your home or office so vandals or thieves cannot enter. They will also work directly with your insurance company to create a restoration plan that will return your property to its pre-fire condition. They’ll inform your adjustor about the items that can be cleaned and restored and the ones that need to be replaced. Your restoration contractor should also be able to safely store some of your possessions during recovery. 

Fire damage includes much more than burning. There can also be extensive St Charles water damage when the fire department puts out the fire as well as smoke damage that can go into every part of the house including places that were untouched by the fire. 

Let the Professionals Handle It

You may be tempted to get the restoration process started by cleaning things yourself. This is not recommended because it may only make it worse. Some things to avoid are:

• Wiping walls, ceiling tiles or any absorbent material
• Reusing carpet and upholstery that have smoke damage
• Using any food item including canned goods that were exposed to heat and smoke
• Turning on your computer, TV, or electrical appliances before they have been professionally cleaned

The restoration process after a fire can be stressful, but if you have a certified professional handling your insurance company and the construction, there is a good chance you’ll have a full recovery.