A fire in your home or business is one of the most traumatic experiences most of us will likely ever encounter. While it may be tempting to sit back and wait for the insurance company to handle all the details for you once the flames have been extinguished, it is critical that home and business owners immediately call professional fire and smoke damage restoration professionals who have received proper training and certification from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) if they hope to get their home or business back to normal.
While the fire may be out, the after effects can continue to wreak havoc. Ash and smoke can have a corrosive effect, leading to discoloration, not to mention an unpleasant odor that lingers. IICRC-certified professionals, like those at Octagon Cleaning & Restoration, can clean and restore your home or business, along with any possessions that were impacted by the fire, but only if you act right away. The longer you wait, the greater the chance that lingering ash will have a detrimental effect and begin to discolor surfaces. For example, anything made of plastic that was in close proximity to the fire will begin to discolor with minutes, while fiberglass and finishes on appliances will begin to yellow within a few hours after the fire. If you allow a few days to pass, then clothing, upholstered furniture and walls will start to become permanently discolored.
All surfaces within the building should be thoroughly cleaned and deodorized by IICRC-certified professionals. Some finished materials may be damaged beyond repair and must be removed. Soot must be addressed as soon as possible to minimize secondary damages such as surface corrosion. For example, tub and shower units can be permanently discolored if they are not cleaned as soon as possible.
Qualified fire and smoke mitigation experts can aid in cleaning or removing fire-damaged areas of the building, deodorization and neutralization of odors from smoke, and also handle communication with the insurance adjuster assigned to your claim to alleviate that additional mental strain.
Fire damage is devastating whether it is confined to a small area, or affects your entire home or business. As soon as the fire is out and everyone is safe, it is imperative to begin the process of restoration as quickly as possible.
If you’ve experienced a fire, Octagon Cleaning & Restoration can help. We adhere to IICRC guidelines for fire and smoke damage repair, follow emergency clean-up procedures, and can provide other services that may be required, such as board up, duct cleaning, dry cleaning or pack out. Give our team of smoke and fire restoration professionals a call at (207) 893-0002 in Maine and (603) 239-2100 in New Hampshire and Eastern Massachusetts.