Fire Damage Restoration in Nashville
There are not many things one can experience within their lifetime that is worse than enduring a property fire. That statement is particularly true if the fire has taken place at your home. Most people have very little understanding of how mentally and emotionally taxing the recovery process can be. It is important to immediately call an experienced and reputable restoration company after a fire. We have stood by our clients’ side hundreds of times as they have endured one of the most heartbreaking experiences of their lives. The last thing you are ready to do after such a traumatic experience is to determine the procedures for dealing with your insurance company. Additionally, it is unlikely that you are ready to determine a plan of action for restoring your property to its original condition. No one could ever properly prepare themselves for the post-fire restoration process unless they were already in the restoration industry. Independent Restoration Services takes our job very seriously. We are professionals. We feel it is important to note that our restoration team will work directly with your insurance agency. Our restoration company will not leave until we have meticulously documented and completed all aspects of the restoration process. Our job as a restoration company can be very physically demanding and heartbreaking as well. However, it can also be one of the most rewarding. There is nothing better than being able to turn a property back over to a homeowner in the same condition or better than before the fire. We consider it a privilege and great honor that you are considering our restoration company for your project. Independent Restoration Services will not disappoint.
The smoke, soot, and water your property has been exposed to can make restoring your property a complex process. Independent Restoration Services has the experience you need in a restoration company. We will take care of everything for you.
Fire Damage Safety Tips
We imagine you have already called our company at this point, but we wanted to provide you with some valuable tips to help keep you safe and minimize further damage to your property.
Here are some important rules to follow after a fire:
- Do not enter your property until the fire department has determined your home is safe to enter again. If at all possible do not re-enter your property until we have cleared it for re-entry as well. Independent Restoration Services response time is second to none so you will not have to wait very long for us to arrive on the scene.
- If you do not see fire or smoke that does not mean the fire will not start again. Embers can stay burning for hours or even days after a fire. These hot spots can allow a fire to flair back up which will cause more damage to your property.
- Always wear protective clothing and equipment when reentering your property including gloves. Materials with harmful chemicals have been burned during the fire. Entering without a proper respirator can have long lasting health implications. When you enter your home, you will stir up toxins in the ash that have settled. You should have full protective clothing or be prepared to throw your clothes away. Once they have made contact with the inside of the fire damaged home those toxic compounds can attach themselves to your clothing.
- Turn off your AC unit immediately from the thermostat. It is not recommended to turn off the circuit breaker. That is due to the fact that your property likely has standing water and you should not touch anything electrical while in water. If you do not shut off your AC/Heating unit, it will allow soot to be pulled into your ducts. That soot can clog your filter. A clogged filter can then cause your refrigerant line to freeze. Ultimately your evaporator coil can freeze as well. Therefore, shutting of your AC or heater can save you thousands in just repair costs. Not to mention that the chemical compound filled soot that is in your ducts can cause long term health problems.
- Do not leave any sensitive or important documents within the property. Any valuables that are easily located should also be removed. Unfortunately thieves will target properties that have been fire damaged. They may steal personal information or documents such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, or birth certificates. You may just assume that the documents burned in the fire. However, an identity thief is just waiting for the right time to access or create bank or credit card accounts.
- Photograph everything. If you do not want to photograph everything for documentation purposes, we can do this for you. We understand that taking pictures to meticulously document the damage can be a reminder of what you have lost. We can take care of this process for you. However, it is imperative that the pictures are taken so careful documentation can be provided to the insurance company. Pictures will make the claims process with the insurance company go much more smoothly.
- Document and save receipts for all expenses after the fire. Including but not limited to: gas, food, and lodging. If these are expenses that you would have not incurred had it not been for the fire, your insurance company may reimburse you for the cost.
Call Independent Restoration Services for all of your restoration needs Nashville.
We will restore your entire property.
The Seven Steps of Fire Damage Restoration
Step 1. First thing we need to do after a fire is to secure the property. That is also the first step if you have had water damage. However, fire damage requires a group effort from multiple different agencies. The fire department and sometimes other city employees must determine if and when the property is safe to enter once again. Once the fire dept and or various other city inspectors have declared the property safe to enter, we will walk with you through the property.
Step 2. Next we start the emergency cleaning process. This is not your standard house cleaning. This type of cleaning takes precedence over everything else. The goal is to locate soot and smoke damaged materials. If you have pictures, artwork or other like items this is when we remove those items. Our goal is to minimize the amount of damage to those particular types of items so they are more likely to be restored.
Step 3. Primary removal and cleaning is the next step. This process starts after the insurance adjuster has evaluated everything. The insurance adjuster will then give us approval to start cleaning and removing the areas right around where the fire originated. During this particular part of the process we use specialized equipment which will start to reduce the odor. Our HEPA vacuums, sponges and cleaning solutions ensure everything is removed and cleaned properly. Additionally, this process will help prevent contaminating other parts of the home. We use more advanced equipment to clean carpet, rugs, and other fabric materials.
Step 4. Removing contents and cleaning off-site. Sometimes it makes much more sense for us to take items like furniture off-site. When furniture is on-site it tends to slow down the restoration process. Additionally, we find we are more efficient and thorough at times when we are able to take furniture to our facility. We have a large facility where we can effectively clean the furniture and store it once it is clean. This ensures that the furniture is out of the way while we are cleaning the house and it can be cleaned off-site simultaneously to increase efficiency. All of our employees are very detail oriented individuals. We will carefully document what items we are taking off site and provide with a detailed log of those items for your consent. We want to make sure not a single item is lost because we know you have already lost enough in the fire. When your home is ready, we will move it all back in for you. We will make sure the job is 100% complete before we move on to our next project.
Step 5. Deodorization is the next step of the restoration process. This is one of the most critical steps. Those of you who have been through a fire will never forget the smell of a house fire. There are different products and methods of deodorizing. The method we choose is based upon the type of fire you have had. We will determine what type of cleaner will work the best based upon the primary type of fire damage to your property. Every fire is different so we tailor a deodorizing solution to your unique set of circumstances.
Step 6. Now it is time to start the repair process so you can get back to life. We will reach out to your insurance company and develop a plan to start the repair process. Our restoration company is on your side. Independent Restoration Services will work with your adjuster to make sure everything is done. Our restoration company will make sure that not a single element is overlooked during the restoration process.
This part of the project is complicated and requires a great amount of skill. This is where many companies fall short. They may have experience in the restoration aspect of things but lack the necessary experience in the insurance claims part of the business.
Step 7.Lets get you back into your home where you want to be. We will move everything back in for you. Independent Restoration Services will not stop working for you until the job is done. Although our job can be difficult, there is nothing else we would rather do because it is so incredibly rewarding. There is nothing better than seeing a homeowner be able to get back into their once fire damaged home.
Independent Restoration Services is an expert in both restoration and insurance claims.
Our project managers know how to make this part of the process go as smoothly as possible. You will not have to worry about a single thing during this part like most homeowners do. We will stay by your side through everything and deal directly with the insurance adjuster to ensure you get exactly what you should out of the insurance claim.
