Fire and flood damage can be devastating. Unfortunately, many people cannot avoid these disasters because they lack the knowledge as well as safety measures that could have lessened chances of fire and flood happening.
It’s even harder to notice if the fire or the flooding starts in an inconspicuous area such as the basement. Suppose you have followed every tips in ensuring your home is safe from either flood or fire, but what happens if somehow, the often least visited area of your home, catches fire or, due to a broken water pipe, floods? What if it happens in the middle of the night? Have you prepared yourself in the event any of those disasters strike? Do you know the steps in fixing a house damaged by fire and flood?
Don’t despair. In this article, we will briefly examine the urgent things you have to do, as well as what you can expect from a fire and flood aftermath. We will also mention the professional to call to assist you in the clean-up process and why you should be hiring one to handle the restoration works for you. You may want to take note of who are the experts in fire & flood restoration Portsmouth as well as cities outside the UK go to in such emergencies.
Local Building Codes & Laws
The first thing that you need to understand is that you cannot simply ignore a fire and flood situation, no matter how minor. In order to recover damages, you must follow strict local building codes and laws. For example, a home built in 2021 may require retrofitting to meet current codes. A simple non-professional cleaning could render a home uninhabitable for a long period of time. In such a case, a landlord has to take certain steps to mitigate damage caused by destructive acts.
The Amount Of Damage
You have to determine the amount of money lost as a result of the damage to the house. In many cases, this can be determined with an inventory list. Most importantly, you have to get information on the value of your belongings. It is advisable to document all items of value that have been damaged or lost. In addition, if you have a tenant in your property, you have to compensate the tenant for the cost of replacing his or her belongings. This will include the cost of renting another house or repairing any personal possessions that have been damaged.
Electrical Wires & Water Pipes
Next, check if there are any electrical wires damaged. Usually, damaged electrical wires signal a fire or flooding in the basement. Moreover, it is advisable to shut off water supply to the affected area. This will prevent further water damage in the basement. Furthermore, if you can, block off the damaged pipes using plywood, cement or blocks.
Contact An Expert
Finally, call an expert who can best handle the situation. A fire and flood restoration expert like Leak Detection, Fire and Flood Restoration Co. will rush to your home to deal with any clean-up and restoration. Among others, they will be well-equipped to put off fire or to drain the flooded area in your home. They’d be able to safely remove the debris so that your home can be liveable again.
With this bit of knowledge shared and by following the steps shared in this article, there’s a higher chance for you to be able to transition into your new situation and proceed with the next chapter of your life, if the fire or flooding results in the destruction of your home. Just remember to deal with any telling sign of these two disasters as fast as possible. This way, you can avoid further damage to the house and lessen the chances of further damage to the people living in the house. Good luck!
