What Is Fire Damage Restoration?

2/27/2021 (Permalink)

We are your fire cleanup experts

When any kind of natural disaster strikes it can leave behind a path of destruction and devastation.

That’s never more true than after a fire.

Fires have many different elements that can all cause their own particular kind of damage, from the unbearable heat of the flames to the acrid smell of smoke and even the water used by firefighters. 

Unfortunately, putting the fire out isn’t the end of the problem;

it can just be the beginning as you still have to deal with what’s left behind.

The aftermath of a fire can be just as difficult to handle as the fire itself and you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by it all.

The professionals of SERVPRO understand that feeling all too well, which is why we offer complete fire damage restoration services so that you don’t have to go through the whole process on your own.

When you consider the beautiful, natural landscape of the Aspen area, with: 

• breathtaking mountain peaks,
• challenging hiking trails and
• some of the best fishing anywhere in the state

It can be hard to imagine fire being a part of that life.

It’s an environment that draws thousands of tourists every year and has become a thriving area for businesses like the Roaring Fork Club, LLC, which offers prime restaurants and lodging as well as angling and golfing on its private 18 hole Jack Nicklaus signature course.

While nature may have plenty to offer it can also present many challenges, including the looming threat of wildfires.

As part of this community, we at SERVPRO understand how destructive fire can be and that’s why we make it our business to help you rebuild and restore your property when fire strikes.

We know how important it is to get back on your feet so our policy is to stick with every job until it looks back to normal.

With the latest techniques, professional training and state-of-the-art equipment...

We can tackle any job, no matter how big or small

We’re prepared to guide you through each step of the restoration process so you can breathe easier and know your property is being taken care of properly.

You’ll make all of the important decisions about what to save and what to discard and we won’t sign off on the job until we’re sure you’re satisfied.

Understanding The Restoration Process

The process of fire damage restoration is really a two-pronged approach.

First, there’s the damage from flames, smoke and soot and there’s the additional damage caused by the water used to put out the fire.

Each of these types of damage can have their own unique challenges and they all need to be thoroughly addressed in order to ensure that your property is fully restored to its pre-fire state.

Addressing the damage caused by smoke and soot residue begins with understanding the different types of smoke and their behavior patterns, which can affect surfaces in your home differently:

• Wet Smoke is caused by burning plastics and synthetics, which usually have low heat and will smolder for a long period of time and leave behind a pungent odor and sticky, smeary residue.
• Dry Smoke comes from burning wood and paper. These materials are fast burning at high temperatures and leave behind dry, powdery and non-smeary residue.
• Protein – when substances that contain protein burn the smoke is virtually invisible and has an extremely pungent odor and the flames will result in discolored paints and varnishes.
• Fuel Oil Soot – this is darker and more pervasive than normal soot and generally results from furnace puff backs.

The type of soot that is present will determine the precise type of restoration that is required.

Besides these general types of soot, there may be other residue left in a property from tear gas, fingerprint powder or fire extinguisher chemicals.

SERVPRO takes all of this into consideration when making our initial assessment of your property so that we can write up a detailed plan for restoration.

That restoration process actually begins with your initial call

Since we understand how important it is to start restoration quickly, we’re ready to answer your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and we’ll send someone out to make that initial assessment within four hours of receiving your call.

Once on site, we’ll not only determine the exact type of damage, we’ll also determine the extent of damage by thoroughly examining not only the area that was directly affected but any adjoining areas that may also have sustained damage.

We’ll pre-test any damaged surfaces to determine whether they can be restored and make expert recommendations, but the final decision will always be up to you.

After we’ve carefully explained what we’re going to do, we’ll begin the painstaking process by employing our professional training and using state-of-the-art equipment such as industrial vacuums with HEPA filters, foggers and air scrubbers, to ensure that all soot, smoke and water is removed and every surface is thoroughly dehumidified and sanitized.

Because we understand the added damage that water can do, we’ll take particular care to address any water related damage and to inspect air ducts to prevent the growth and spread of mold.

We have expert training in mold remediation as well as fire damage restoration, which is what makes SERVPRO specifically qualified to handle any type of job. 

We’ll also take every precaution with delicate items such as electronics, artwork and precious metals, all of which can require specialized cleaning techniques.

If we feel that something is beyond our expertise, such as the restoration of fine art, we’ll recommend a professional service to handle that aspect of the restoration process for you.

We’ll Work Hard To Make You Whole Again

A fire can leave you feeling as if your home or business has been torn apart.

At SERVPRO, our goal is to do everything we can to make you whole again, as quickly and smoothly as possible.

We also understand how expensive the restoration process can be so we’ll also make every effort to help keep those costs down.

One of the best ways you can mitigate your expenses is by relying on professionals

While the do it yourself approach may be tempting, it can actually end up costing you more in the long run.

By taking a “restore first” approach, SERVPRO can ensure that you’ll get back into your property quickly.

We’ll also do whatever it takes to put everything is back to its pre-fire state, even if that means replacing drywall, painting, installing new carpeting or rebuilding damaged rooms. 

Restoring Your Peace of Mind

As part of the local community, SERVPRO knows just how devastating fire damage can be and that’s why we go out of our way to make sure that you’re well taken care of when you need it most.

It’s the same way we’d want to be treated ourselves and it can make all the difference in the world.

That’s because our business is about more than just restoring your property, it’s also about restoring your peace of mind.

Replacing everything you’ve lost in a fire can seem truly overwhelming, but we’re here to ensure that you don’t have to go through this alone.

We’ll even help you to develop a thorough inventory of all your damaged items and anything that can’t be repaired so that you’ll have an easier time filing a claim with your insurance company.

Though we work hard to restore as much as we can we know that everything won’t be salvageable and this way you’ll be able to get the compensation you need.

Fire damage restoration can be a challenging prospect, but the most important thing to remember when fire strikes is that you should reach out for help.

The professionals at SERVPRO are ready to answer your call and get the restoration process underway as quickly as possible with the training and equipment required to do the job right. 

We’ll guide you through each step and we won’t be satisfied with the results until we know that you are.

The aftermath of a fire may be heartbreaking but SERVPRO can help you to start healing again.

A Few of Our Restoration Certifications

• AMRT - Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
• ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician
• CCT - Carpet Cleaning Technician

We are here to help answer any questions (970) 241-8181

About the Authors

Chafika & James Landers

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

We are a women-led business. My husband James and I have been in the real estate business for 35+ years in both residential and commercial.

That's why we understand the challenges that can happen 1st hand and how we can help you get things back to normal.

We are affiliated with: ASBO, EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certification.

Certifications: AMRT - Applied Microbial Remediation Technician, ASD -Applied Structural Drying Technician, CCT -Carpet Cleaning Technician, ECTP -Employee Certification Training Program, FSRT -Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician, HST - Health and safety Technician, OCT -Odor Control Technician, RRRP -Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation, WRT -Water Damage Restoration Technician, IICRC Certified Firm

SERVPRO of Summit, Lake, Park & Eagle Counties
P: (970) 949-3235