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The restoration of a fire-damaged property is always a complex and challenging process on both a technical level for the restoration company and an emotional once for its victims.
House fires, in particular, can have emotional and psychological effects, not just because they happen suddenly but also because of the physical harm and damage they cause, the disruption to daily life and the financial impact.
This is why it’s important to have professional Covington fire damage restoration experts in on your side who can handle the project effectively and sensitively.
Devastating house fire in Covington, GA
At The Homestar Group, we recently completed a fire restoration job on a house in Covington, GA, that was almost completely destroyed.
The cause was a gas grill fire on the patio that quickly spread, engulfing the entire property and causing extensive damage.
When we were called in, the property was in a state of complete disrepair, with significant damage to its structure, interior and exterior.
The project took four to five months to complete and involved a wide range of activities, including structural repairs, cleaning, deodorizing, interior and exterior restoration, the replacement of fixtures and fittings, among many others.
Assessment and restoration plan
In order to be able to develop a restoration plan, the first step in the restoration process was to assess the extent and severity of the damage to determine what could be salvaged and what had to be disposed of.
Practically every part of this single-storey property was affected by the fire, particularly the areas closest to the patio, including the garage/utility room and the adjoining kitchen. Also affected were the living spaces and the bathroom.
As the home had wooden cladding, this, along with the decking, was particularly hard hit.
We worked closely with the property owners and their insurance providers to determine the scope of the restoration work, develop a timeline for completion and establish a budget.
Clearing the damage
Once we had drawn up our plan of action, the restoration process began with the removal of all debris from the property. This involved clearing away the remnants of the fire, including damaged materials and personal property, salvaging everything possible.
The team then set about repairing the structural damage caused by the fire to ensure safety. This included repairing the roof, drainage, walls and foundation of the property, as well as replacing damaged windows and doors.
Deep cleaning and sanitizing
Once the structural damage had been repaired, the team focused on cleaning the smoke and soot damage. This process depended enormously on the type of smoke that had affected the property.
Fires such as these, which engulf entire properties, produce several types of smoke as various materials catch alight. These include:
- Wet smoke, caused by burning plastic or rubber, which has a strong odor and leaves behind a thick and sticky residue, producing difficult-to-clean smoke webs.
- Dry smoke, typically caused by burning wood or paper, which leaves behind a smelly and powdery dry soot. This is relatively easy to clean unless it falls into cracks and crevices.
- Black smoke, from burning plastic (electronics) and fabrics (furniture, clothes, curtains etc), which clings to everything it comes into contact with, leaving a smudged residue.
- Protein smoke, from cooking fires, which is practically invisible and is very greasy. It’s extremely pungent and discolors paints and varnishes.
As each type of smoke has different characteristics, the cleanup required a different approach in each case.
Our experts know exactly how to tackle smoke damage and have the right equipment and chemical cleaning solutions to remove stubborn stains and odors effectively.
They also know how to spot signs of water damage. This is very common in fires because of the water used in the firefighting efforts. Drying this out as soon as possible, using high-powered vacuums, air scrubbers and dehumidifiers, was vital to avoid the growth of mold colonies.
As good as new, both in and out
With the property cleaned and the structural damage repaired, the team set about restoring the property's interior. This involved replacing damaged flooring, walls and ceilings, as well as repairing or replacing damaged fixtures and appliances.
Our team worked closely with the property owners to ensure that the replacement installations, especially the bathroom and the kitchen, met their needs and matched their styling preferences from before the fire.
The final step in the restoration process was to restore the property's exterior. This involved repairing and repainting the exterior walls, as well as fixing or replacing damaged landscaping features - in this case the deck and patio.
The Homestar Group, by your side every step of the way
Throughout the restoration process, the Homestar Group worked closely with the property owners and their insurance company to ensure that the project was completed on time and within budget.
The team also worked to minimize disruptions to the property owners' daily routines, ensuring that they were able to return to their home as soon as possible.
Overall, the restoration of the fire-damaged property in Covington, GA, was a complex and challenging project that required a great deal of skill and expertise.
The Homestar Group was able to restore the property to its original condition in just four to five months, thanks to their extensive experience and knowledge of fire damage restoration.
If you’ve experienced fire damage,
get in touch with us now at (678) 928-5377 for more information about our fire damage restoration service.
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