A house fire is one of the most traumatic events that can happen to a family. In addition to the emotional toll it takes, a fire also causes physical damage to your home and belongings. If you’ve recently had a fire in your home, you may be wondering how to go about repairing the fire and smoke damage. With the following tips, you can start the process of putting your life back together after a fire.
Assess the Damage
The first step in repairing fire and smoke damage is to assess the extent of the damage. Obviously, any items that were burned beyond repair will need to be thrown away. But even items that don’t appear to be damaged by the fire may need to be discarded because of the smoke residue and odors they have absorbed. Once you’ve gone through all your belongings and sorted them into piles for trash, cleaning, and storage, you can begin cleaning up your home.
Cleaning Smoke Damage
Cleaning smoke damage from your walls, ceiling, and floors is a multi-step process. First, you’ll need to wash all surfaces with a mild soap and warm water. This will remove any soot or dirt that has settled on these surfaces. Next, you’ll need to use a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) or white vinegar and water to remove any lingering smoke odor. Once that’s done, you’ll need to repaint or re-wallpaper any surfaces that were affected by the smoke.
Repairing Fire Damage
If your home sustained any structural damage in the fire, it’s important to have a professional, like ServiceMaster Restore, come in and take a look before starting any repair work. If there are any weakened beams or charred wood, these will need to be repaired or replaced before you attempt to patch up holes in the wall or ceiling. Once any major repair work has been done, you can then start patching holes in walls and ceilings and replacing damaged flooring. With some patience and elbow grease, you’ll soon have your home looking as good as new again.
Dealing with fire and smoke damage is a daunting task, but it’s important to take it one step at a time. Make sure to call in expert help if your damages are extensive. You don’t want to do a DIY project on something that requires professional care. With these tips, you can start repairing the physical damage to your home and get one step closer to putting this nightmare behind you.
