Three steps that need to be taken after a property has been damaged by fire
Specialist knowledge, skills, and equipment are needed to restore a home back to its original state after it has sustained fire damage. Here are some of the things that restoration professionals do to a property after a fire:
Remove smoke
The thick, black smoke produced by a fire can wreak havoc on a house, resulting in stains on carpeting, curtains, and furniture. These stains are usually so severe that they cannot be removed with standard household cleaning products.
In addition to being unsightly and malodorous, smoke residue can also be corrosive if it is left on certain types of surfaces for too long. As such, this residue needs to be removed as quickly as possible.
Fire restoration specialists often use several different cleaning techniques and types of equipment to get rid of smoke and soot stains. One very common technique is soda blasting; this is where an electrically-powered compressor is used to propel particles of sodium bicarbonate through a nozzle. The crystals then emerge from this nozzle onto the smoke-covered surface, and 'blast' away the film of smoke that lies on top of it, without abrading the surface itself.
Check for signs of structural issues
Most homes are built from brick or concrete. Whilst these materials can withstand a substantial amount of heat, they will begin to lose their structural integrity if exposed to high temperatures a long period of time.
As such, fire restoration specialists also usually perform a thorough evaluation of the fire-damaged areas of a property. This evaluation process may include a visual examination of the burned walls or floors, during which they will look for signs of crumbling or cracks. It may also involve the extraction of samples; these samples will then be tested to see if the building material is still structurally sound.
Remove contaminants from the air
A property in which a fire has broken out will still contain contaminated air, long after the smoke from the fire has dissipated. This is because fire damage to walls and floors often results in toxic substances that were lying dormant inside them being disturbed and becoming airborne. These substances may include mould, bacteria, viruses and asbestos.
As such, most fire restoration specialists will use a heavy-duty air purifier to remove dangerous particulates from inside a property. These purifiers extract microscopic debris and pathogens from the air and trap them inside a filter, which can then be removed and disposed of.