Will Your Drywall Recover After a Fire?

Home emergencies are something that no homeowner wants to think about, yet everyone needs to have a plan in place in the event they do arise. Undoubtedly, you’ve created a family evacuation plan in case of a major hurricane, and you know how to make sure everyone stays safe and exits the building during a fire. While your health and safety are of utmost importance, you may not know what strategy to take when trying to recover your home after a disaster.

House fires can be overwhelming, leaving you to try and pick up the pieces once the last flames have been extinguished. While there may not be much for you to do to help get your home back in shape, you may be able to examine the condition of your walls to see what kind of repairs are required. The Orlando drywall repair experts at New Ceilings discuss a couple questions to ask when determining how to begin the recovery process:

• What is the extent of the physical damage? While there are certain kinds of drywall that are flame resistant, this material helps to contain fires and keep them from spreading; it doesn’t necessarily dampen the flame. That being said, many homeowners wonder whether they should ask the professionals to simply patch up and repair any holes or to replace the drywall completely. When examining your home once it’s safe to re-enter, your drywall repair professionals should be able to test which areas are still structurally sound and which will need complete replacement to keep you and your family safe for years to come.
• How much smoke damage occurred? Many homeowners don’t realize that smoke is just as much a cause of damage as fire itself. Though the smoke in the air seems to dissipate quickly after a fire has been extinguished, it leaves behind a film and strong odors once it’s cooled. Though this may seem like it would require nothing more than a deep scrub and a new coat of paint to remove smoke damage from walls, soot and smoke are difficult foes to beat. Smoke damage cleanup should ONLY be performed by the professionals, as there may be harmful chemicals embedded in the soot particles. Your fire department should be able to recommend a good smoke cleanup team.

Though a house fire can be difficult to recover from, all is not necessarily lost. Your trusted Orlando drywall repair team should be able to determine whether you require repair or complete replacement and help you rebuild your home quickly and efficiently. To learn more or to schedule your free consultation, call New Ceilings at (407) 378-6040 today.