Factors to consider when selecting a Certified Restoration Firm

The real damage and the associated costs begin the moment the fire trucks leave. You will need professional fire restoration services to return your commercial or residential property in Boca Raton to its pre-loss condition. It would be almost impossible to achieve desirable results if you undertook this restoration as a DIY (do-it-yourself) project.

Restoring a damaged property to its "former glory" is no easy task; smoke and odor needs to be adequately removed by qualified technicians. We therefore, recommend hiring a certified restoration firm, if you want to get long lasting and desirable results.

Here are several factors to consider when selecting a certified restoration firm:

• - Safety and Health certifications

• - Specialized up-to-date formal training of the technicians

• - Vast experience in fire damage restoration projects

• - Proof of proper licensing and insurance

Professional restoration technicians will tell you that when corrosion control, neutralization and cleaning are delayed, you may be increasing the extent of damage to property. This will in return, escalate the restoration costs, thus it is best to have restoration carried out swiftly. Homeowners usually increase the effects of smoke exposure to their homes by prolonging restoration. This timeline details the consequences of exposure to smoke and fire to a home:

- Within Minutes: plastics yellow due residue left by acid soot; small appliances located near the combustion area will discolor; any highly porous material will permanently discolor such as marble and alabaster.

- Within Hours: bathroom fiberglass fixtures and grout may yellow and stain as a result of acidic residue; Your counter tops may also yellow; uncoated metallic tops and equipments will tarnish; finishes of appliances such as refrigerators may also yellow and discoloration may take place on your furniture.

- Within Days: painted walls will yellow permanently owing to acidic residue; Clothing will be stained by soot; anything metallic will corrode, pit and rust; upholstery will be stained permanently; wooden furniture and vinyl flooring will require refinishing or replacement.

- Within Weeks: at this time the restoration costs would have escalated tremendously. Over exposure to acidic soot will have caused china glass and crystal, to severely etch and pit, and may require replacing; Synthetic fiber materials such as in carpets may discolor and yellow permanently; while silver plates will permanently corrode.

Air expands and rises during combustion and it carries along volatile vapors and soot residue which are dropped on surfaces all over the building. This is a continuous process which takes place until combustion ends. Thus, soot residue continues to build up one layer after another and by the time experts begin working on this, it may be very difficult to remove it; hence the need to clean up soot residue abruptly after a fire.

Apart from removing residue Boca Raton restoration professionals will also assist in eliminating any smoky odor left after the fire. This is the four-step process used by professional to remove odors:

i) They start by removing the odor's source. This includes any unsalvageable debris which generates the odor, and the recontamination of deodorized and cleaned areas.

ii) Surfaces and items that are salvageable are properly cleaned to physically remove the odor-causing residue.

iii) An odor counter-reacting agent is used to extinguish the remaining odor. If there was smoke, a deodorizing gas or fog is used to expel or combine with any odor-causing substances.

iv) Slightly scorched or inaccessible surfaces are sealed. This is to encapsulate odor, prevent any re contamination and also for aesthetic purposes.

It is vital for homeowners to understand how fire can damage their property. Knowledge regarding residue cleaning, odor removal and restoration after fire damage can help you minimize the costs of restoration.

If you want to return your home to its "former glory", consult a reputable fire damage restoration service provider.