Fire Damage Remediation   by Frank Pooha

in Home    (submitted 2011-04-15)

When people think of fire damage remediation, they normally would not associate it with mold prevention. Of course, almost all fire damage begets a fairly high degree of water damage, as in when the fire department arrives with their trucks and hoses. The damage from putting out the fire, in some instances, dwarfs the damage done by the flames themselves.

Fire Damage Equals Water Damage

Restoring damage done by fire is difficult enough. Structures have to be cut back to unblemished wood and then built upon from there. In most cases, electrical wiring also has to be gutted and replaced. The water damage, though, is what usually causes insurance companies to have to pay claims for carpeting, furniture, artwork and things of that nature. And mold prevention as part of the fire damage remediation process is a crucial step that cannot be overlooked or minimized.

A Job for the Pros

Whether it involves wet-vacuuming, damp scrubbing or other government-approved methods, it is crucial to remove mold from the environment in order for residents to avoid potentially deadly problems with regard to respiratory health. Before restoration professionals can deal with mold (or potential mold), they have to be able to identify the areas in which it could crop up. It's not like swapping out dishwashers or nail-gunning some crown molding in place - hand this job off to the experts.

Fire remediation is a long process that starts with the boarding up of your burned-out property. Cleanup and restoration are not complete until the last hint of odor from smoke and fire retardants is gone and the last coat of paint is dry. If you are worried that you may not have adequate coverage to guarantee that all of these tasks will be carried out to the fullest extent, schedule a meeting with your insurance agent to review (or update) your homeowner's insurance policy accordingly.

About the Author

A fire can wreak havoc on lives, both emotionally and financially. Frank is a retired fire inspector who knows the real damage a fire can cause. If you need help with fire damage repair, he suggests you hire a professional.