The fire in the apartment leaves soot, soot, dirt and, most importantly, the persistent smell of Gary. The restoration of the apartment requires time and the right approach to return it to a suitable condition for life. In this article, we will consider how to start repairs after a fire, what means to use for cleaning and recovery, as well as give useful tips for choosing a contractor.
Content:
- Cleaning the apartment from the consequences of the fire
- Should I contact a cleaning company?
- Assessment of the state of the apartment
- Repair planning
- How to choose a contractor for repairing an apartment after a fire
Step one: cleaning the apartment from the consequences of the fire
This stage is extremely important, since soot and soot remaining after the fire can harm health if they are not completely removed. In addition, the smell of Gary can remain for many years if you can’t get rid of it right away.
The first thing to do is create good ventilation in the apartment. Open all windows and doors to ventilate the room. It is important to create a draft that will help to eliminate the initial smell of Gary. However, the draft in itself will not solve the problem, since the particles of soot are deeply eaten into the walls, ceilings and furniture.
To moisturize the air, you can use a steam generator or simply hang wet towels around the apartment. Wet air helps partially besiege dust and reduce the intensity of the smell. Water in containers placed on rooms will also help improve the quality of air.
After that, proceed to cleaning the surfaces. Conventional cleaning products will be powerless here – it will be necessary to use special compounds designed to remove soot and soot. On marketplaces, you can find chemical products with alkali, which effectively dissolve fatty particles of soot and remove them from surfaces.
Docker Mazbit Plus – A tool designed specifically for removing soot and soot from various surfaces. It copes with deeply stuck pollution and leaves no traces.
Smelloff – Neutralizer of smells that helps to eliminate even the persistent smell of Gary.
Bitumaz – It is used for processing walls and floors, helps to remove soot and traces of smoke.
When working with professional tools, it is important to strictly observe safety precautions. Always use gloves, mask and glasses to protect the skin and respiratory systems from aggressive chemicals.
Particular attention should be paid to furniture. Soft interior elements, such as sofas, carpets and curtains, most likely will have to be thrown away, since they deeply absorb the smell of Gary and it will be almost impossible to clean them. Solid surfaces, for example, tables or cabinets, can be cleaned with the help of the aforementioned tools.
Should I contact a cleaning company?
If the apartment has suffered a lot, you can contact professionals. Many cleaning companies have experience in cleaning after a fire, as well as special equipment and chemicals that are difficult to buy in ordinary stores.
Professionals have powerful vacuum cleaners and equipment that remove soot and soot from the deep layers of surfaces. In addition, the use of professional chemistry and means requires knowledge and skills. Cleaners know exactly how to cope with strong pollution and at the same time not to damage the surfaces and not harm the health of the residents.
However, not always a cleaning company can completely solve all problems. Depending on the scale of the fire, some elements may have to be completely replaced. The cleaning service will not be engaged in these tasks, so it is worthwhile to evaluate in advance what work will have to be done in the future.
Step two: Assessment of the state of the apartment
After cleaning, you need to carefully evaluate the condition of the apartment. The fire could damage not only the finish, but also the structures themselves – walls, ceilings and floors. Even if at first glance they look intact, the high temperature could weaken the supporting elements.
Pay special attention to the wiring. Fire or high temperature can damage insulation. This makes the use of electricity unsafe. Even if the wiring was not directly damaged, it is better to replace it completely to avoid a short circuit.
Plumbing and ventilation can also suffer from fire. Plastic pipes exposed to high temperatures are deformed and become brittle.
Step Three: Repair planning
Depending on the damage, cosmetic or major repairs may be required. If the fire affected only the top layers of the finish – for example, wallpaper, flooring and furniture – there will be enough cosmetic repairs. It will be necessary to remove old wallpapers, change laminate or linoleum, as well as re -treat walls with a primer and paint. Do not forget to replace the interior doors and windows that could suffer from fire or smoke.
In case of more serious damage, you will have to do overhaul. It includes a complete replacement of the floor screed, plaster and finishes on the walls and ceilings. The upper layer of walls and ceilings, soaked in soot, is better to remove so that the smell does not appear again some time after the completion of the repair.
How to choose a contractor for repairing an apartment after a fire
The first point that is worth paying attention to when choosing performers is the qualification of specialists.
When you choose a contractor, it is important to understand who will do difficult work. For example, a qualified electrician should make an electrical wiring after a fire. Therefore, specify whether there is an electrician in the brigade with an appropriate access level and an official permit for work.
If the brigade does not have a professional electrician with experience, it is better to immediately look for another performer. It is also worth considering that contractors with high qualifications can offer their ideas to restore the apartment, help choose more modern and safe materials, which is especially important after the fire.
The next aspect to take into account is the presence of licenses and permits for construction work. This is an important indicator that the company works legally and does its work in accordance with the standards. A license is a document confirming that experts have been trained and have the right to carry out construction work, and in the case of difficult tasks, such as installing electric or ventilation systems, special permits may be required. Reliable contractors usually provide all the necessary documentation without problems, and this gives you confidence that the repair will be performed correctly and safely.
However, documents are not all. The company’s reputation plays an equally important role. Today it is easy to find reviews on the Internet, study examples of work, see a portfolio. Feel free to ask the contractor to show the completed projects, especially if they are related to recovery after a fire. This will give you an idea of how experts work, what materials use and how efficiently they do their work. In addition, it is useful to talk with people who have already used the services of this company. Personal recommendations often help make the right choice, as they show the real experience of interacting with the contractor.
When you have decided on the candidates, it is important to discuss the details of the project. Here it is necessary to understand exactly what work is to be: whether the walls will be dismantled, whether a complete replacement of electrical wiring is needed or enough cosmetic repair. Often after the fire, major repairs are required with the complete replacement of coatings and the restoration of load -bearing structures. Reliable contractors will explain in detail to you which stages are included in their work, what will need to be replaced and at what time they can perform the entire amount of work. This is especially important, since tightening the deadlines can lead to additional costs, and it is better to agree on all the details in advance.
Do not forget to discuss the estimate. It should be transparent, with a detailed indication of all works and materials so that you understand what you pay for. Some unscrupulous contractors can artificially overestimate the cost or hide certain expenses. Therefore, it is important at the planning stage to get a complete estimate and make sure that it takes into account all possible costs. Reliable contractors provide an accurate and reasonable estimate, and if additional work occurs during the repair process, they are always consistent with the client.
And finally, the last important point is the conclusion of an official agreement. It should be prescribed all the conditions: the deadlines for the performance of work, their volume, cost and guarantee for the result. Without a contract, cooperation with contractors can lead to unpleasant consequences: in case of violations or poor -quality work, it will be difficult for you to require corrections. The official agreement protects you and gives the right to eliminate the shortcomings if they are found after the completion of the repair. The warranty provided by the contractor will also become an additional plus – reliable companies are always ready to be responsible for their work.
Conclusion
Apartment repair after a fire is a complex and multi -stage process that requires an attentive approach at each stage. You need to start with the cleaning of the room using special means to remove soot and soot, as well as to eliminate the persistent smell of Gary.
An important role is played by the assessment of the state of the apartment after cleaning – design, electrical wiring, plumbing and ventilation could be damaged by fire. Depending on the degree of destruction, repair can be either cosmetic and capital.
