What Should I Expect to Replace After Fire Damage in My Northampton House?

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

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SERVPRO Helps Scope Fire Damaged Materials Determining What to Salvage or Throw Away 

Fire leaves a blend of evident and obscure damages on different materials within a property. The varied nature of damages can lead to confusion on whether to dispose of items that survive the fire immediately or look for ways to save them. Our SERVPRO technicians understand that some items' immediate disposal is necessary because fire affects materials in many ways, apart from the physical changes observed.

How does fire damage things?

When looking through a fire damage site in Northampton homes, the evident signs of loss include soot, ash, and charred material remains, which are caused by flames and heat action in a fire. However, combustion involves other processes, including releasing harmful chemicals like hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, and tar. Some of these harmful substances find a way into some of the materials within the sections the fire affects.

What items typically require immediate disposal?

• Insulation
• Perishable and non-perishable food
• Cosmetics and medicine

Although the physical damage on the items may not appear significant enough to warrant removal, underlying reasons make it the correct option. For example, food items, exposed to heat or the chemicals produced during combustion, are no longer safe for consumption. For insulation, exposure to fire leads to different problems, including damaging its insulating properties. Another issue with insulation is the accumulation of soot and odor, yet it is not possible to clean it. Our SERVPRO technicians remove the top three to four inches of insulation in case the problem only involves residue deposits.  

What else needs removing?

Fire affects all materials and contents within the loss site. Meticulous scoping is necessary before deciding to throw away or save anything. Our SERVPRO technicians consider three main factors:

• The chances of successful restoration
• The cost of restoration
• The sentimental or other value of the item

SERVPRO of Hampshire County helps in addressing various challenges sparked by fire damage, including making tough decisions on the fate of valuables. Call us at (413) 324-1300. We're faster To Any Size Disaster.

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