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Water and fire damage combined can significantly increase restoration and reconstruction costs. Here’s what you should know.
Few things are scarier than seeing your property go up in flames.
Even after the fire department has responded—and everyone is safe and accounted for—-you’re still left to deal with a disastrous mess. The fire is out, but your building is damaged. Soot and smoke choke the walls. Windows are blown out. Possessions and personal property are destroyed.
But that’s not all. The fire department hosed down the property to tamper the blaze, causing significant water damage on top of everything else. Water damage and fire damage are different beasts, but both must be tamed immediately before damages become irreversible.In this guide, we’ll explain how to deal with water damage after a fire, what steps to take immediately, and how professional fire damage restoration and water damage restoration work together to restore your property safely.
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Water and Fire Damage: A Dynamic (And Expensive) Duo
Unfortunately, water and fire damage often go hand in hand, especially in large structural blazes that require the swift response of the fire department.
That’s because fire hoses are designed to extinguish a blaze with high power water pressure. While they’re incredibly effective for putting out fires, they can also be harsh and cause severe damage to a building. Compared to sprinkler systems, which immediately extinguish fires as they emerge, blasts from a fire hose are much tougher. Although sprinkler systems are less damaging, any water used to put out a fire can still cause harm to the property.
Water damage can occur in several ways after a fire. Water can seep into walls, floors, and ceilings, causing significant structural damage. It can also destroy furniture, carpets, and other items in the building, leaving them susceptible to mold and mildew growth. In addition, the water used to extinguish the fire can mix with soot and ash to form a sludgy residue that can be difficult to clean up and can cause further damage. Water can also cause further damage to electrical systems and appliances.
Moisture left behind after firefighting efforts creates an ideal environment for mold growth and additional structural deterioration. Prompt water extraction, structural drying, and restoration help minimize long-term damage. You can also learn more about how to mitigate water damage before the restoration process begins.
This is all on top of the degradation caused by the actual fire.
When you’re dealing with fire damage, this can include:
- Structural damage: This is the most common type of damage caused by fire. Fire can weaken and even collapse walls, floors, and roofs, making the building unsafe to inhabit.
- Smoke damage: Smoke from a fire can permeate walls, ceilings, and other surfaces, leaving behind a strong odor and staining. Smoke damage can also damage personal belongings, such as furniture, rugs, and clothing. Left unaddressed, smoke damage can also create health hazards. Learn more about professional smoke damage restoration and cleanup.
- Heat damage: High temperatures from a fire can destroy windows, doors, and other building materials. Heat can also warp and melt plastics, electronics, and other personal belongings.
- Chemical damage: Fires involving chemicals, such as bleach or other hazardous materials, can result in chemical destruction to a property, including discoloration and corrosion of surfaces.
What factors into water damage restoration costs?
The cost of water damage restoration varies depending on the severity of the damage, how quickly mitigation begins, and the extent of repairs required. Below are several factors that commonly influence restoration costs.
- Extent of damage: The extent of the water damage is a significant factor in determining the cost of restoration. More extensive damage requires more time, resources, and materials to repair, which can increase the cost.
- Structural damage: If the water caused structural damage to the building, it might require more extensive repairs, which can increase restoration costs..
- Timeframe: The longer the water damage goes unaddressed, the more costly the restoration process can be. Quick response time can minimize the damage and lower the overall cost of restoration.
- Equipment and materials: The type of equipment and materials needed to restore the property can impact the cost of restoration. High-end equipment and materials used by property reconstruction services may be more expensive, but can lead to highly effective and efficient repair.
- Location: The location of the property can also impact the cost of restoration. Labor and material costs can vary depending on the region, and local regulations and building codes may also affect the restoration process.
Why Is Water Damage So Common After a Fire?
Most structural fires require large amounts of water to extinguish the flames. While this protects lives and limits fire spread, it often leaves behind standing water, saturated building materials, and excess moisture that can quickly lead to mold growth and structural deterioration.
Professional water extraction, structural drying, and fire damage restoration work together to safely stabilize the property and reduce long-term repair costs.
Water Damage After Fire: What To Do
If your property has sustained both fire and water damage, taking immediate action can reduce additional structural deterioration and improve the restoration process. Once emergency responders have declared the property safe, follow these important steps.
Here are some steps to take if your property incurred water damage after a fire:
- 1. Contact a professional restoration contractor: Schedule professional restoration services as soon as possible. Cavalry Construction & Restoration provides emergency fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, structural drying, debris removal, smoke cleanup, and property reconstruction to help restore your building after a fire.
- 2. Document the damage: It’s important to document the water damage by taking photos or videos. This can help explain the damages you sustained to make the restoration necessary.
- 3. Remove standing water: Standing water should be removed as soon as possible to prevent further damage and mold growth. Cavalry will use pumps and vacuums to remove water from the property.
- 4. Dry out the property: Once the standing water is removed, the property should be dried out using dehumidifiers, air movers, and other equipment to prevent mold growth.
- 5. Remove damaged materials: Any damaged materials, such as drywall, carpeting, or insulation, should be removed and disposed of to prevent mold growth.
- 6. Address smoke and soot damage: We use professional smoke and soot damage remediation methods to prevent further damage and staining.
- 7. Restore the property: Once drying and cleanup are complete, our property reconstruction team restores damaged building materials and returns your property to its pre-loss condition.
Cavalry Is Here For Your Fire and Water Damage Repair Needs
Recovering from both fire and water damage can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to manage the process alone. Our experienced restoration professionals coordinate emergency mitigation, structural drying, reconstruction, and insurance restoration to help return your property to its pre-loss condition.
Our experienced, professional, and dedicated technicians will ensure your property is safe and returned to its pre-loss conditions as effectively and thoroughly as possible.
Cavalry proudly serves communities all over Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Houston areas. As a trusted leader in the restoration business since 1989, we know what it takes to restore and reconstruct damaged property, regardless of the situation. We specialize in the insurance mitigation and restoration of multi-family, commercial and residential, industrial, and religious facility losses due to fire, water, hail, tornado, hurricane, vehicle, or any other peril causing property damage.
If you have questions about fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, or preventing additional damage after a fire, read our guide on water damage restoration steps. Our team is available 24/7 to help. Call us anytime at 888-601-3473.
