Fire Restoration Facts & Procedures

Professional Contacts

• If you have insurance on your home, contact your agent or other insurance professional immediately. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, or CMHC, most major companies have 24-hour hotlines, so you can establish contact right away. Ask your insurance company to recommend fire restoration professionals. Don't choose one on your own, since the company you pick might not be covered under your plan. Determine what damage your policy covers and what you'll need to pay for on your own. Contact your mortgage company as well, since a fire can lower the value of your home.

Clean Air

• After a fire, many tiny smoke particles remain in the air. These can be dangerous to your lungs, particularly if you or a family member has respiratory problems. Workers may use air filters or other devices to remove particulate from the air. Some companies use ozone cleaning techniques to deodorize the air and remove smoke particles, but the CMHC recommends against this technique for health reasons. While ozone generators can remove bad smells and particulate matter from the air, they also produce ozone, a substance that can cause breathing problems and irritate the respiratory tract.

Damage Mitigation

• Smoke, standing water, corrosive gases and other substances can keep damaging your home even after the fire is out. Once you've chosen a restoration company, workers will attempt to reduce secondary damage to your home and possessions and clean all surfaces carefully. Within a few hours, smoke and other substances can etch or discolor fiberglass, plumbing fixtures and upholstery. Paint, vinyl floors, plated metals and clothing may be stained, pitted and discolored within a few days. Weeks of exposure can etch china, discolor carpets and damage glass.

Structural Components

• Damaged structural components remain weak and could collapse in the future. They can also seal gases and moisture into the house. It's dangerous to deal with these yourself -- always rely on a professional. All charred structural components must be replaced. It may also be necessary to replace all insulation in the home, since this can trap moisture and smoke scents. Flooring and subflooring may also be affected and require replacement. According to Clean Care Seminars, all framing materials must be dried to within 4 percent of their normal moisture content before surface restoration can begin.

Mold Prevention and Removal

• Fire-damaged homes often grow mold, due to the water used during firefighting efforts. The CMHC recommends reducing the humidity inside the house to 65 percent or less as soon as possible. This allows upholstery, insulation and other materials to dry properly, preventing mold from growing. If mold does appear, you'll need to clean all hard surfaces and replace all porous ones, including drywall.

General Cleaning

• Once the chance of secondary damage has been lowered and the house is safe, workers can move on to cleaning affected surfaces. They may need to manually scrub and vacuum walls, appliances and furniture. Specialized cleaning techniques can remove smoke smell and residue from upholstery and other items. Not all objects can be cleaned. Talk to your contractor about what can be saved and what must be replaced before you sign off on the job.