Out of all the disasters that can strike your home, fire damage may be the most shocking.  After all, a fire can rip through your home in a matter of minutes – destroying prized possessions and leaving behind a trail of damage and devastation.

When a fire strikes, most homeowners want to jump right in and start salvaging things themselves.  However, without the right training, you could wind up doing more harm than good.  That's why fire damage restoration is something that's best left to the experts. 

If you want to do what's best for you home, you need to call a fire damage restoration company right away.  Remember, not every house fire is a total loss.  As soon as the fire is out, it's time to move into the recovery stage.   Getting professional fire damage restoration experts into your home sooner gives you a better chance of salvaging things.  The longer you wait, the more you will have to throw away.  Don't let the fire victimize you more than it already has.

What Does a Fire Damage Restoration Company Do?

Once the flames are out, a fire damage restoration company can come in and start to restore some order.  A team of well-trained professionals can get to work to make your house safe – and salvage things that you may have thought were ruined.  Fire damage restoration experts have professional tools and training that enable them to save things like electronics, furniture, clothes, paintings, and even documents – things that you would have never guessed could actually survive a fire!

The first thing a fire damage restoration company will do is get rid of the damage that was left behind by the water used to put out the fire.  You may have never thought about it, but water damage is a serious byproduct of a fire.  Water damage restoration is the first step towards making your home livable again. 

Once the area is dry, fire damage restoration experts will assess the rest of the damage.  They will start by looking at the foundation of your home to make sure it is structurally sound.  If your home's structure isn't fixed properly – and quickly – it can lead to other serious problems down the road.  You've been through enough; you don't need more problems later!

Fire damage restoration experts will also get to work deodorizing and cleaning things – whether it's your walls, linens, ceilings, or furniture.

For items that cannot be salvaged, fire damage restoration experts can remove them safely.  Things that were perfectly innocent before the fire broke out may now actually be a threat to your health. 

For example, the chemical composition of a fire can react strongly to synthetic materials, like mattresses and toys.  The result?  Items that may no longer be safe for you to be around.  If the chemical reaction is strong enough, these synthetic materials can be dangerous for you to even breathe.  Fire damage restoration experts know how to dispose of these items – without putting anyone in danger.

A fire damage restoration company is also well-versed in getting rid of smoke damage. 

Coping With Smoke Damage

Smoke damage restoration may be the most frustrating part of a fire's aftermath, because it is so tedious.  Plus, smoke stains on your walls serve as a constant reminder of the disaster you have suffered.

To get rid of smoke stains and smells, you need professionals who know about different types of smoke.  The wrong smoke damage restoration processes can actually make the damage much worse.  For example, using a water-based cleaner can cause the smoke stains to bleed even further into your walls.  If you are not well-versed in smoke damage restoration, it is best to leave the clean up to professionals.

Fire damage restoration experts can look at the damage around your home, and see what kind of smoke is to blame:

-          Wet smoke comes from fires that are not as hot, that smolder for awhile.  These fires leave behind soot that is sticky, smeary, and smelly.

-          Dry smoke comes from very hot, quick-burning fires.  These fires leave behind soot that is powdery.

Smoke damage can permanently discolor your paint and varnishes if it's not taken care of quickly.  Smoke damage restoration experts have professional-grade tools that can get rid of stains on your carpets, walls, floors, and furniture.

Plus, smoke damage restoration specialists know how to get rid of the smoke smell in your home.  They have special deodorizers.  And, they also know how to properly clean your air ducts.  If you have smoke and soot lingering in your air ducts, you will never get rid of the smell, because it will simply keep recycling through your air conditioner system.

Smoke damage restoration has to be done carefully and quickly, since smoke can cause serious health problems if you are exposed to it for too long.  Several studies show that fire smoke can have a carcinogenic effect on both people and pets.  Plus, breathing in smoke and soot can cause respiratory problems, like bronchitis or asthma.  Smoke can even work its way into your refrigerator or freezer, and contaminate your food!