Effective Steps to Johns Creek Fire Damage Recovery

6/19/2015 (Permalink)

It is important to leave the restoration process to the experts.

Effective Steps to Fire Damage Recovery

While a Johns Creek fire in your home or office can be devastating, it is important not to delay in restoring your property. A fire alarm system can make sure that everyone evacuates the area safely, but burned and heat-damaged possessions pose a different sort of challenge. Even with the flames extinguished, other agents like soot and smoke can continue causing damage, making it imperative to start the restoration process as soon as possible.

Take Inventory
As soon as the Johns Creek fire has been extinguished and it is safe to enter the building, you should take inventory of the damage. Put together a detailed list of items that have been destroyed or damaged in the fire. If possible, you should include photographs of the damage. This will allow you to clearly explain the situation when you contact your insurance company and the restoration contractor. It is easy for things to be misunderstood, so having a written list of the damage with photographic evidence puts you in a better position to know and communicate what has been damaged and to what extent. You should try to put this inventory together within a few hours once the fire has been put out.

Once you have finished documenting and have a good understanding of the damage, it is time to call your insurance company. Preferably, this should be done within one day of the event. The sooner you contact your insurance company, the sooner they will be able to send an insurance adjuster to assess the damage to your home or office.

Hire a Reputable Fire Damage Restoration Contractor
First step is to contact SERVPRO which is certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). This assures that SERVPRO possess necessary health and safety certifications and have been trained in the latest restoration technologies. It also indicates that SERVPRO has the experience with a wide range of fire damage restoration projects. 

Working together with your insurance company to create a restoration plan, SERVPRO can return your property to its pre-fire condition. By communicating directly with your insurance adjuster regarding which items can be cleaned and restored and which need replacement, SERVPRO can save you a lot of time and energy.

Johns Creek fire damage is not the only problem caused by fire. Putting out the fire also causes extensive water damage, while smoke can travel to every part of the building, damaging areas that are untouched by fire.

Let the Professionals Handle It
It is important to leave the restoration process to the experts. While you may want to start by cleaning things on your own, this can often make things worse. You should especially avoid:

• Wiping walls, ceiling tiles or any other absorbent surface
• Reusing carpet and upholstery that have been damaged by the smoke
• Eating or cooking with anything exposed to heat and smoke, including canned goods
• Turning on any electronics such as your computer, TV, or an electrical appliance before it has been examined and professionally cleaned

Restoring your home or office after a fire can be stressful, but SERVPRO handling your insurance company and reconstruction makes it much easier to have a full recovery.

What To Do After A Fire

• Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
• Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
• Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
• If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.
• Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
• Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
• Change HVAC filter.
• Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.

What NOT To Do After A Fire

• Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting us.
• Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
• Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water.
• Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
• Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.