Fire damage restoration: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What fire damage restoration is

Fire damage restoration cleans and repairs a property after a fire. The crew removes soot and debris, deodorizes the structure, boards up openings, restores or replaces damaged materials and coordinates the structural repairs. The work follows the fire's cause review and the building's safety assessment, and it is done by licensed trades where the repairs need them.

Signs you need it

  • A fire has damaged a room, a kitchen, a garage or a whole floor, and the structure may be unsafe to enter
  • Soot or smoke residue is on walls, ceilings, cabinets or contents, even in rooms that did not burn
  • Windows or doors were broken or opened during the fire, and the openings must be closed to keep weather and people out
  • Water used to put out the fire has soaked into the floors, the walls and the subfloor
  • The fire marshal or the building official has cleared the structure for entry, and you need the cleanup and repair started

What the pro does

  • The crew confirms the building has been cleared for entry, and they assess the structural damage with the engineer or the building official
  • They board up openings and secure the structure, and protect the parts that did not burn from further weather damage
  • They remove the fire debris, the damaged contents and the materials that cannot be cleaned, with the records kept
  • They clean the soot and residue from the surfaces that will be kept, using the methods suited to each material
  • They deodorize the structure and the contents, including the ductwork and the HVAC equipment when it has been exposed
  • They rebuild the damaged structure, the walls, the ceilings and the finishes, with the permits and inspections required

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Area of fire damage and the number of rooms affected, including smoke and water damage that spread beyond the burned area
  • Structural damage that requires the engineer's assessment, shoring or framing repair
  • Amount of soot and debris, and the cleaning methods each surface needs
  • Contents to be cleaned, restored or replaced, and the inventory and documentation required
  • Deodorizing methods and the HVAC and duct cleaning included
  • Boarding up and temporary weather protection
  • Repairs and rebuilding after the cleanup, including permits and inspections

What a written quote should spell out

  • Area affected by fire, smoke and water, with each room listed
  • Structural assessment and the engineer's role, with any shoring or framing repair scoped
  • Debris removal, the materials to be discarded and the materials to be cleaned
  • Boarding up, temporary protection and security of the site
  • Deodorizing and HVAC cleaning included, with the methods used
  • Repairs and rebuilding listed separately, with permits and inspections named

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Has the building been cleared for entry, and who confirmed the structural condition?
  • What is the scope of the structural repair, and who designs it?
  • How will you clean the soot from the surfaces, and what will you replace?
  • What documentation do you provide for the insurer, including the photos and the inventory?
  • Will you handle the rebuild, or will another contractor do it?
  • How do you deal with smoke odor in the contents and the HVAC system?
  • Are you licensed and insured for fire and water restoration in this state?

Red flags

  • They start work before the building is cleared for entry or the structure has been assessed
  • They promise to clean and save everything without testing the materials or explaining the methods
  • They do not board up the openings or protect the site from weather
  • They ask you to sign over your insurance claim or payments before you have read the documents

What you can do yourself

Do not enter a fire-damaged building until the fire department or the building official has cleared it. Do not run electrical equipment in a damaged area, and do not turn on the furnace or the air handler until a licensed HVAC technician confirms it is safe. Photograph the damage for your insurer, make a written inventory of damaged contents, and keep receipts for emergency costs. Call a licensed restoration contractor for the cleanup and the repairs.

Licenses and permits

Fire damage restoration is commonly done by licensed or registered contractors, and structural repairs, electrical and gas work are often limited to licensed trades and often need permits. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department for the rules on restoration work and rebuilding after a fire.

Fire damage restoration questions

Can I stay in the house while the restoration is happening?

Often not. Soot, debris and the open structure can be unsafe, and the work may need the home to be vacated. Ask the crew for the living conditions during each phase and what is safe to keep in place.

Will my contents be cleaned or replaced?

It depends on the material, the soot and the smoke. Some items can be cleaned and deodorized, and others cannot be saved. Ask the crew to test a sample and to list each item with its decision in writing.

Why does the smoke smell stay after the cleaning?

Smoke residue can sit in the structure, the insulation, the ductwork and the contents. Ask the crew whether the HVAC system was cleaned and whether the deodorizing covers the wall cavities, not only the surfaces.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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