After this family called us we came to the house and told them how we would mitigate the damage. They signed us up and we immediately began to coordinate with the insurance. To begin we had to rip out all of the drywall that was burned in the fire as well as any plumbing, electrical, etc. The bathroom was totally destroyed as well so we removed everything down to the studs. We also had to rip out all of the carpet.

Next, we began removing the smoke smell. We remove it by first cleaning the air with an air scrubber. Then we clean all the walls so you can't see the  smoke or smell it. If you have ever seen a building after a fire, you will see what looks like spider webs in all of the corners. They are not actually spider webs but molecules of soot that bind together and form webs. We removed all of these during the cleaning. Finally, we use a special primer on the walls that seal the remaining smell to the walls.

We continued on to the attic where we removed the insulation. Then, we started painting everything with a sealant. After that we put in new insulation. We had a professional HVAC cleaner come and clean the furnaces (there were two) and all of the ducting. 

When we were done with the attic, and the smoke smell was gone, we gave this whole house a deep clean. We also had to remove all of the appliances, including the fridge and oven. Where the fire had burned we had to replace all electrical wires and switches.

The key to a good fire job is to do a great cleaning and mitigation so that the fire smell does not return. We made sure that no stone was left unturned and that the house was thoroughly cleaned and sealed. Finally we could start putting this house back together. First we put in a whole new bathroom including tile, cabinets, countertops, sinks, tub and faucets. New windows were needed as well. Then new drywall and mud to the regulations set by the California Building Standards Commission.  After that, we applied primer to the drywall and started painting. 

When the paint was dry, we started putting in the new carpet. First we put down a carpet pad, then we installed the carpet itself. Finally, the family was able to move back in. This was a huge job. Often fire jobs take a year or more to be completed. Our Fire Restoration team in San Diego was able to do this in just a few months.

If you have any concerns about possible fire hazards or remaining damage, don't hesitate to call us. The longer you wait, the worse it could get. Mattresses can be a fire hazard, as they catch fire and burn very quickly, so never keep a mattress by a flame or open fire. 

We have a team waiting at your beck and call, ready to help you. If you would like to learn more about how Fast Affordable Restoration can help your San Diego County location, request a free estimate or give our team a call. We are an IICRC Certified Firm qualified to handle water damage, fire restoration, and smoke removal. So reach out today and let us take care of that fire damage!