A house fire does not end when the trucks leave. Smoke, soot and the water used to put the fire out keep damaging the home for days. Here is what we tell families in Freeport, Merrick, Baldwin and across Nassau County after a fire.
Do not go back inside until the fire department clears the building. Fire can weaken floors, ceilings and stairs, and smoldering material can reignite. Ask for the fire report or incident number, because your insurer will want it.
Report the fire right away and ask what your policy covers for temporary housing. Many homeowners policies include additional living expenses when the home is not livable, so keep receipts for hotels, meals and other costs. If you need shelter tonight, the American Red Cross responds to home fires on Long Island.
Broken windows, a vented roof and forced doors leave the house open to weather and theft. Boarding up openings and tarping the roof protects what is left, and it is usually something your insurer expects you to do.
Soot is oily and acidic. Wiping it with water or household cleaners usually smears it deeper into walls, ceilings and fabrics, and it can etch metal, glass and stone if it sits too long. Do not run the heat or air conditioning, because the system can spread soot through the whole house.
Firefighting uses a lot of water, and it soaks into floors, walls and the basement below. That water needs to be extracted and dried within 24 to 48 hours, the window the EPA gives for preventing mold, just like any other water damage.
Photograph every room before anything is removed, list damaged belongings, and keep anything your adjuster may want to see. A restoration contractor can give your insurer a detailed scope of the damage.
Fire restoration usually means removing charred and smoke-damaged materials, cleaning and sealing the structure to remove odor, then rebuilding walls, ceilings, wiring and finishes. Structural, electrical and plumbing work needs permits from your village, town or city.
Gotham Builders of New York is a family-owned contractor, in business since 1995, with our office at 108 W Merrick Rd in Freeport. We answer 24/7 at (516) 377-0400 and handle board-up, cleanup and the full rebuild under one roof.
Our service: Fire damage restoration in Freeport and Nassau County
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