Professional Fire Damage Services: I Survived a House Fire … Now What?

That is not a question ANY of us want to have to answer – ever. However, according to the National Fire Protection Association, there were about 370,000 house fires in the U.S. in 2013 – which means more than 1,000 fires a day. Those fires caused approximately $6.8 billion in property damage.

Fire Recovery Services

K-Tech Cleaning has helped dozens of families in Wausau pick up the pieces after a fire – and most of them never thought a fire would happen to them. And that is a totally normal feeling! Then, when a fire does happen, people can pretty quickly grasp the extent of the physical damage they can see – but have a harder time understanding what all goes into restoring a home, and removing smoke damage and odor.

Smoke Damage

The goal of any reputable restoration company is to return a fire-damaged property to its pre-loss condition. This means no evidence of a fire and no smell. When there is a fire, the smoke seeps into every porous surface from carpet and bedding to wall cavities and even woodwork like cabinets.

The good news is – many of your possessions damaged by fire may be cleanable – and it is possible to completely get the smoke odor out of the home, no matter the extent of the fire.

Types of Fires

There are different kinds of fires, and the type greatly impacts the amount of damage done to a property. While we won’t bore you with the details, a fire called a “protein fire” can leave extensive smoke residue throughout your home. Plus, the more water used to put out the fire, the more likely it is that all the surfaces that got wet or damp absorbed the odor as well. Smoke stains can set it within hours. The longer a property sits untouched after a fire, the more damage there will be to restore later.

Again, smoke damage can seep into everything. That is why restoration crews will thoroughly clean things like framing, drywall, tile counters, and wood floors. Floor coverings like carpet and linoleum may need to be replaced – again, that is depending on the damage.

Counteracting the Odor

Professional restoration companies have special chemicals and solutions they can use to counteract a strong smoke odor. Plus, there are unique innovations in restoration that can also help. Ozone or hydroxyl machines have the ability to truly get rid of the odors in the home.

In addition, technicians know what materials will need to be fully replaced and what can be restored.

The Contents

Most of the porous and hard contents in your home can probably be restored by a well-trained contents cleaning crew. The items will be carefully packed up and taken to K-Tech’s facility to be carefully cleaned. On top of special tools used to clean things like electronics, photos, and clothing, there are special machines that can remove smoke odors without damaging the items.

Any contents removed and cleaned will be brought back to your home, and placed in the rooms from which they were first packed up, once the restoration project is complete. However, if you have clothing or other sentimental items you would like returned sooner, most restoration companies are more than happy to accommodate.

Don’t Wait to Call

If you do have a fire in your home, do not wait to call K-Tech. The sooner the restoration process begins, the better.