|
News & Info
|
 |
 |
Seller Signup...
Quality Service, Seller or Tradesperson? Sign Up Now!
|
|
Home & Garden Articles
What You Should Do After a Fire in Your Home
Fri 13 Feb 2009 - 15:04
What You Should Do After a Fire in Your Home
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Susan_Griffin]Susan Griffin
FIRE! When you hear those words a sense of panic comes quickly over you. Of course the Fire Department will put the fire out, but then what do you do? The first thing that needs to be done is have the unit boarded up and utilities secured. A restoration company can perform this service and will send out workers to take care of this problem. Reliable restoration companies are available 24 hours a day - 7 days a week.
When your home has sustained damage from fire and smoke, it is critical that any restoration work be conducted quickly and efficiently. Professional restoration companies work closely with your insurance company, ensuring that the process of getting your property back in order is done completely and to your satisfaction
Appliances/Electronics: Do not utilize any TV, stereo or electronic appliance until it has been cleaned and checked. Empty refrigerators and freezers completely if electricity is off, and prop their doors open with a rolled towel.
Carpets: Brush or vacuum loose smoke particles from carpets. Avoid walking or tracking on carpet if possible. Do not use "do-it-yourself" home carpet cleaners.
Ceilings/Walls: Do not wipe or attempt to wash ceilings or other absorbent surfaces.
Doors: Close doors in affected areas to localize smoke odors as much as possible.
Food Items: For safety reasons, do not consume food items exposed to smoke or canned goods which have been exposed to excessive heat.
Furnace: Change the furnace filter if the blower is operating. Use masking tape to secure double lays of cheesecloth over air registers.
Furniture: If possible, avoid using upholstered furniture.
Pets: Move all pets to a clean environment.
Plants: Wash plants with mild soap and water, cleaning both sides of the leaves (water softener helps).
Windows: If possible, open windows to ventilate.
Smoke Residue Contamination
Within Minutes: Plastic and paper items discolor.
Within Hours: Grout stains; furniture, appliances, and countertops begin to yellow; metals begin corroding.
Within Days: Wallpaper and paint discolor permanently; carpet, upholstery and drapery fibers become permanently stained; vinyl and wood flooring discolors; glass, china and crystal etch or pit.
Ongoing Water Damage: The way to put out a fire is to use water. Now you have a new problem - furniture warps, cracks, splits, and stains carpets; metal components (nails, screws, corner bead) begin to rust; dyes transfer from clothing, shoes, and rugs; electronics corrode, malfunction; plywood delaminates, particle board buckles; mold can start to grow in as little as 48 hours.
Reputable restoration companies provide full service to include removing furnishings and belongings and storing them until the job is complete.
Restoration contractors are specialized in the repair process for fires as procedures need to be followed to insure a full restoration including demolition, cleaning of exposed framing, sealing of the framing, and deodorization of the building.
For any insured loss there are three types of adjusters. A "Company Adjuster" works directly for the insurance company. An "Independent Adjuster" is contracted by an insurance company to represent them. The third type of adjuster is the "Public Adjuster". Typically a public adjuster will contact a homeowner immediately following any loss and contract with them to act on their behalf. Their selling point is that they represent the homeowner to maximize the dollar amount of their loss. Unfortunately, because this adds a third person to the mix it will not only slow down the repairs but their fee is a substantial percent of the loss. This could leave a serious shortfall in the funds required to complete the job.
Susan Griffin is the Marketing Director for Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling. For more information, visit our website http://www.pdr-sd.com or call 858-560-0444.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Susan_Griffin http://EzineArticles.com/?What-You-Should-Do-After-a-Fire-in-Your-Home&id=1965920
Looking for information on General Home Improvement, Find a supplier at HomeWise.ie
back to "Restoration" search results
back to all home & garden articles
|
|