Post Fire Repairs and Restoration Chicago, Illinois Locals Rely On
After a fire, many things need to be repaired since the building was inevitably damaged by the flames. Sometimes, another structure is needed to protect the property from further destruction, such as a fence. At other times, it’s just a matter of making repairs so that everything goes back to normal.
Our network of fire damage professionals take care of all your post-fire repair needs, including plumbing, flooring, ceiling, and drywall repair.
Call us today to get a quote.
Roof Repair
One of the most important things to do after a fire is to have a roofing contractor take a look at your roof and see what needs to be repaired. If the damage is too extensive or there’s just not enough of a roof left to keep any more water from entering, then it might be time for a whole new roof. Roofs are no small investment as they can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars depending on the size and type of building. Here are some roof repairs your home might need after a fire:
Multiple Roof Leaks After a Fire
A fire can cause your roof to start leaking from several different places as the intense heat will damage the shingles and asphalt layers, allowing water to seep through.
In cases of multiple leaks, it’s better to call us right away before more damage is done to the interior of your building.
Shingles That Burned Through
The high temperatures from a fire can easily burn through the asphalt layers of a roof, causing water to leak right through to the other side.
In cases where only one layer burns away, you might just have to replace that one strip or section of shingles.
However, if more than half of your roof was destroyed by the fire, then it might be time to get a whole new roof with all-new shingles.
Fire Damage to Asphalt Shingles
If your asphalt shingles are only blackened on the outside by smoke and flame damage rather than burning through, then they can usually be saved.
Asphalt shingles are waterproof and fireproof, which means that the main damage done to them is discoloration.
All asphalt shingles will need to be cleaned after a fire, but most of them will turn out good as new with some scrubbing and cleaning measures.
Fire Damage to Wood Shingles
Wood shingles are not fireproof, so they will burn through if the fire is intense enough.
This type of material needs to be completely replaced after a fire because it’s not waterproof.
Plumbing Repairs
Fire damage restoration Chicago also involves plumbing repairs as well.
Water damage from firefighting efforts can seriously affect your plumbing, which means you need to get it repaired right away.
- Clogged Drains: If there’s a lot of standing water in your home, then your toilets and drains might be getting backed up by debris.
- Water Leaks: If the high temperatures from a fire have damaged a lot of your home, then you might have leaks along the walls and ceilings.
- Toilet Repairs: Fire can cause the valves in your toilets to stop working properly. Your toilet might fill up with water or not flush at all anymore.
- Faucet Repair: The high temperatures from a fire can melt the connections in your faucets, so they feel loose when you try to turn them on or off.
- Mold and Mildew: Flooding from firefighting efforts can cause mold and mildew to grow in moist, hidden areas of your home like under the sink, along the baseboards, and behind furniture.
Electrical Repairs
Electrical repairs are also needed after a fire since the heat can easily damage their wiring.
If your home was water damaged by the firefighting efforts, you might be dealing with electrical shorts and faulty outlets as well. Here are some types of electrical repairs your home might need after a fire:
Outlet Repair
Fire can damage outlets and make them feel loose or wobbly.
Outdoor Electrical Repairs
The high temperatures from a fire can damage the more exterior wiring of an electrician’s home. This might cause the power to go out regularly or keep your outdoor lights from turning on.
Electrical Repairs
A fire can cause some electrical wiring to stop working properly, such as the power going on and off at random.
Drywall Repair
After a fire, the drywall also has to be repaired because it will have been weakened by the flames.
If there are spots where small holes have burned through to the studs, then you’ll need drywall patches.
You might also need a whole sheet of drywall replaced if one of your walls was badly charred or destroyed altogether in the fire. The process for this involves removing the old drywall, putting up a new baseboard, and attaching the new sheet of drywall to it.
Walls and Ceiling Repair
Fires also damage walls and ceilings, so you’ll need to get them repaired after the flames are extinguished.
Fire damage can cause water damage that leads to mildew or mold, which starts growing in the dark, damp areas of your home like under beds, inside closets, and along baseboards.
Mold spores also circulate throughout homes via heating and air conditioning units and cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems.
You should also check that your exterior walls haven’t been warped or blackened by the fire because this can indicate structural damage to your home as well.
Water damage from firefighting efforts can affect these areas as well, so you’ll need to check for drywall patches and dents in the walls after the fire has been put out.
Chicago fire damage restoration also involves checking for mold and mildew in hidden areas like under cabinets, inside storage spaces, and along floorboards.
Extreme heat can warp or crumble walls that are made of drywall, while ceiling tiles might droop if they get too hot during the fire.
These areas can become weak and flimsy if they’ve been exposed to extreme temperatures, so you might need to get them repaired or replaced by a professional.
Damage restoration should also include checking behind furniture and under heavy appliances like washing machines and dryers for any signs of damage. These areas can become prone to mold and mildew.
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We want to hear from you about your Fire Damage needs. No Fire Damage job in Chicago is too big or too small for our experienced team!
Flooring Repairs
Another aspect of repairing your building after a fire is fixing the flooring.
If the floor was singed or destroyed due to water damage from firefighting efforts, then you’ll need to get new flooring after it’s dried out.
However, there are some options for keeping the original flooring in place while covering up any burn marks or debris that might be left behind.
Floor Sanding for Fire Damage
Floor sanding is a great choice because it lets you keep your original floor while making it look presentable again.
During floor sanding, the old finish is completely removed so that you can start cleaning with a new base coat.
Then, your home’s floor is hand-sanded with fine-grained paper to remove any remaining burn marks or water damage leftover from the firefighting efforts. The end result is a nice shiny floor that is completely restored.
Repairing Fire Damaged Floors
Another option for restoring your home’s flooring after a fire is putting down new floorboards and carpeting.
Floorboards can be removed one by one, repaired, and then put back into place to cover up any burn marks or black smudges on your floor.
Floorboards can also be replaced entirely if they were destroyed by the fire, but this often makes the job more expensive.
Carpeting is another good option for covering up any burn marks on your subflooring due to smoke damage or water damage from firefighting efforts.
The carpet padding underneath is what usually gets damaged, so you can just rip out and replace the padding before stapling down a new carpet.
Fire Safety Tips
After fire damage restoration in Chicago is done, you must know about fire safety tips to prevent any future fires.
- Make sure you don’t overload electrical outlets with too many appliances plugged in at once.
- Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children because they’re the two main culprits in starting fatal fires.
- It’s also important to make sure candles are set securely on tables or other flat surfaces instead of leaning against pillows or spaces where they can easily fall over.
- It’s also a good idea to install smoke detectors in your home because they can alert you if there is any fire when you’re not around. It’s important to check the batteries every six months and replace them accordingly.
- You should also know about emergency escape routes in case of a fire, so everyone knows what to do if they need to get out of the house.
- You can prevent your home from catching fire by staying alert and watching for any possible dangers. It’s up to you to keep your family members, friends, neighbors, and anyone else in your home safe from fires that start too quickly without warning.
By following these tips, you can prevent fire damage and keep your home as safe as possible.
If you have any more questions, get in touch with us today.