How To Estimate Fire Damage

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

Make a good Fire Damage Estimate by Following These Steps.

When a fire breaks out in your commercial building in Ogden, UT one of your first calls will be to your insurance provider. You will also want to contact certified fire restoration experts so that you can get an estimate for the cost of cleanup.

The more thorough and accurate an assessment they can make, the easier it is for your insurance company to process. Here are some items you can expect to find on the list.

Security Measures

The first step after the assessment is making sure your property is secure. Fire may bust windows and leave gaping holes in the roof as well as the exterior walls of your building. Technicians use board-up services to prevent several potential problems:

• Trespassing
• Vandalism
• Theft
• Animal Intrusion

Another security measure that some restoration teams offer is 24-hour security. This may be necessary if the board-up process is delayed by weather or another factor to ensure that your building is safe overnight.

Moving Services

Before the work on your building can begin, the technicians must remove all the items left inside. Office furniture, electronic equipment, furniture, textiles and documents must be relocated to assess whether they are salvageable. You want to make sure that the transfer process is included in the estimate so that you don't end up paying it out of pocket after your claim is filed.

Extraction and Removal

After a fire, there are two main problems that the cleanup team has to tackle. First, they must extract the standing water that is left over from the process of dousing the flames. They tear out all the saturated materials, such as drywall, flooring and ceiling tiles. Prompt removal of these items helps prevent secondary damage such as mold growth.

Then, of course, the parts of the structure that have fire damage must be removed. Burned joists and charred beams need to be taken out carefully so that the team can assess where temporary reinforcements need to be placed. This helps them save as much of the building as possible.

Soot and Smoke Cleanup

Another vital aspect of the commercial fire restoration process is getting rid of smoke, soot and the odor they leave behind. Mitigation experts use special chemicals and equipment to make sure they get into every crack and crevice to remove the grime left behind by the fire. This process is typically applied to even the parts of the building that weren't burned because smoke can easily travel beyond the affected area and leave damage in its wake.

Restoration Estimate

After all surfaces are cleaned and dried, the reconstruction of your building can begin. Hiring a team that handles both remediation and restoration means that all the itemized costs can be contained in one report. This makes the claims process more efficient for both you and the insurance company.

Before you file a claim with your provider after a fire, make sure you have a comprehensive estimate of every task it will take to restore your building to its former glory. Including the whole process helps you get the money you need to get back to business more quickly.