Rebuilding After Fire Damage From Drywall to Flooring

Fire impact can spread beyond the area where the fire burned, as smoke, soot, water from fire suppression, and heat can travel through your walls, floors, insulation, electrical systems, and plumbing. In Colorado Springs, homeowners often need to assess every part of their property before rebuilding begins. CMS Restoration can assist homeowners with assessing fire damage, identifying which materials pose a risk and need replacement, documenting the loss, and rebuilding the fire-damaged areas of the home.

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

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What Do You Need to Do After a House Fire?

The first thing you can do after a fire is wait until your fire department gives the house clearance to enter the structure. Once this step is complete, call your insurance company and begin the claims process. Make sure you have photos and videos of the damage to your home before moving your items, unless your insurance adjuster gives you different instructions. You also want to ensure that you secure your building as soon as possible. A boarded-up window, broken door, damaged roof, or unsecured interior can create additional risks to your building, such as exposure to the elements and animals. When a fire has impacted your home, CMS Restoration can help board up any open windows or doors, place covers over areas such as a destroyed roof, and begin mitigating the situation to prevent the damage from worsening.

Resource: coloradosprings.gov

Why Fire Damage Goes Beyond Surface Repair

While a wall or floor may seem intact in the aftermath of a fire, smoke, soot, and water can still penetrate areas beyond the surface of these building materials. Smoke can seep into porous materials, while soot can contaminate framing, wall coverings, and insulation. Water from firefighting efforts can become trapped behind wall coverings or sub-flooring. It’s crucial that a detailed fire restoration inspection be conducted to identify and properly clean, treat, and rebuild every aspect of the property. In addition to identifying surface fire damage, the assessment will also look for smoke contamination, moisture, and structural concerns in the building. The results and findings can also serve as documentation for the insurance claim, including photos, written documentation, and repair estimates.

Does Smoke-Damaged Drywall Have to Be Replaced?

Smoke-damaged drywall typically requires removal and replacement. Drywall is highly porous and will absorb smoke, soot, and water used to fight the fire. Attempting to clean only the surface may not be effective at removing smoke damage from the drywall itself. If fire, soot, or firefighting water has affected the drywall, technicians may need to remove it back to the studs. After technicians remove the damaged drywall, the restoration team will evaluate, clean, and treat the wood framing to remove odor. Once the drywall replacement area has been completely cleaned, treated, and odor-free, the drywall is ready to be rebuilt.

How Will Insulation Be Treated After the Fire?

Depending on the severity of smoke, soot, or water damage, insulation often will need to be removed and replaced. Insulation can absorb and trap smoke, damage, and odor. Smoke odors may still permeate your home, and air quality will likely remain compromised. You will also have open walls for restoration technicians to check on framing, wiring, plumbing, and water pockets. This is before they have to put up drywall and insulation again.

What Type of Drywall is Used During Fire Damage Rebuilding?

Type X drywall is recommended in areas where extra fire protection is desirable. Type X drywall is made of glass fibers and is heavier than standard drywall. Consider it for garages, mechanical rooms, kitchens, and other rooms with higher fire risk. Local codes, room type, and the extent of rebuilding are factors in material choices. CMS Restoration will assist homeowners in determining which materials are required for safe, code-compliant repairs.

Can Flooring Be Saved After a Fire?

This depends on the flooring type, the level of heat exposure, the amount of smoke contamination, and the presence of water damage. Carpet and padding are usually removed because they can absorb soot, odor, and contaminated water. Hardwood, tile, vinyl, laminate, and stone flooring need to be assessed for salvageability. Some hard surfaces can be cleaned up if the damage is minimal. In other instances, flooring can warp, discolor, separate, or carry a smell after fire and water damage.

Hardwood Flooring and Smoke Damage

Hardwood flooring can be restored if the wood hasn’t been irreparably damaged. Soot can stain and alter the floor’s finish, so remove it as soon as possible. Scrubbing soot into the floor can push soot deeper into the wood grain, so the right approach to cleaning is critical. Floor surfaces can often be sanded and refinished even if the topcoat is damaged, if the boards themselves remain in good condition. Severe charring, warping, or an intense smell usually indicates that new flooring will be necessary.

Fire-Resistant Flooring Options

When rebuilding, some homeowners might opt for flooring materials that withstand higher temperatures. Tiles, stones, and concrete are among the go-to materials because they won’t catch fire and are durable. Vinyl and laminate floors may have fire-resistant labels, but the ratings vary by product. Always make sure you understand the material’s rating before choosing it for flooring in a fire-rebuilt area.

Inspections of Electrical and Plumbing Systems Before Rebuilding Walls

Fire restoration should always include careful consideration of the electrical and plumbing systems before drywall is installed. Wire insulation, electrical boxes, switches, outlets, and light fixtures may have been degraded by the heat. Firefighting water also increases the risk of rust, shorts, and hidden problems within a building’s wiring. Plumbing can also be compromised by fires. PVC pipe may soften or distort. Copper pipes and fittings can deteriorate in high temperatures. Some indicators of underlying issues include flickering lights, tripped circuit breakers, discolored water, and tiny water leaks behind walls. Certified professionals will evaluate these systems in preparation for the property’s rebuilding and reoccupation.

Will You Be Safe in Your Home While Restoration Occurs?

You may find that staying home during restoration is unsafe, particularly given the fire damage ranging from moderate to serious. Smoke particles, soot, damaged utilities, structural instability, and potentially hazardous materials can all pose health and safety concerns. If a fire remained relatively small and confined to a single room, the homeowners might be able to stay in another part of the house. This largely depends on how the fire was situated, how widespread the smoke contamination is, and whether the utilities are still considered safe to use. CMS Restoration can help determine whether it’s a good idea to temporarily relocate while your fire damage restoration is underway.

How Does Insurance Play a Part in Restoration for Fire Damage?

Typically, fire damage is covered under most homeowners’ insurance policies. Home insurance usually covers sudden or accidental fire damage, such as when a lightning strike starts a fire in the home’s electrical system or wiring. Most insurance policies will cover a percentage of the home structure, your personal items, and living expenses while you’re out of your home. Homeowners should track everything and document the entire fire damage restoration process. Some records to consider keeping include:

• The fire department’s fire report
• Photos and videos of the fire damage
• An inventory of damaged household items and personal belongings
• Fire damage restoration estimates
• Mitigation reports (if you hired a restoration company)
• Correspondence from your insurance adjuster

CMS Restoration partners with both the homeowner and their insurance company to provide the documentation required for both the claim and home repair processes.

Finding a Fire Restoration Company in Colorado Springs

A skilled fire restoration company is familiar with fire damage mitigation, smoke residue cleanup, removal of smoke and odor, home repairs, and the documentation needed for insurance policies. It’s also easier to work with a single fire damage restoration company that can assist with all repairs. When choosing a fire damage restoration company, homeowners can ask questions about insurance, certifications, response time, inspections, and experience working with fire and smoke damage restoration. Homeowners can expect to hear from the fire damage contractor regularly throughout the process, and communication is key, as fire restoration can involve many stages and take a long time to complete.

Building with Fire Safety in Mind

Rebuilding after fire damage can allow homeowners to make safety-conscious changes to ensure that another fire isn’t as dangerous or as costly to repair. For example, using fire-resistant drywall, selecting safer flooring, upgrading electrical components, installing smoke detectors, and clearing the surrounding land (defensible space) to reduce a home’s fire hazard can all help lower your future fire risk. Colorado Springs homeowners will find help with fire prevention through many channels, especially those residing near wildlands. Homeowners can find safety assistance from the Colorado Springs Fire Department and other local resources.

Rebuilding After Fire Restoration

Rebuilding after fire damage requires careful inspection, safe material removal, proper cleaning, and code-compliant repairs. Drywall, insulation, flooring, electrical systems, and plumbing all need to be assessed before the home is restored.

Final Thoughts

If your Colorado Springs home has been affected by fire or smoke damage, CMS Restoration technicians can inspect the property, document the damage, and guide the restoration process from cleanup to rebuilding. Contact CMS Restoration to schedule a fire damage assessment and get a clear plan for restoring your home safely.