Up in Smoke: Fire Damage in Homes

Nothing can be more traumatic and dangerous to any homeowner than a house fire. Aside from being deadly to the members of the households, conflagrations can destroy properties and possessions. Even when an inferno has been put out, the damage caused is often irreparable. There are ways, however, to restore parts of a home that have been ravaged by fire, assuming the building remains relatively intact and durable, and that the owner wishes to keep much of the original structure.

Fires leave buildings in a terrible mess by turning things to ash, melting objects, or even warping certain materials beyond recognition. Items that have been thoroughly damaged by a blaze should be replaced. The concrete parts of a burned house might have a good chance of resisting the blaze , but might be covered in a layer of soot as a result. These surfaces can be restored, and even reused if still serviceable.

Soot might appear harmless at first, but homeowners should clean off the black substance as soon as possible, especially if they are planning to continue living in the same home after it has been rebuilt. When inhaled, soot can enter the bloodstream, and can cause health complications such as coronary heart disease. Cleaning up soot is an extremely tedious job that requires proper equipment and industrial-grade cleaning agents—things homeowners might not have the ability to purchase, especially after surviving a fire. It would be best to hire a professional cleaning company to handle the job instead.