Can your furniture, cabinets and other wood accents be saved after fire and smoke damage?
Known as one of the most devastating disasters for a property, fire damage often comes with smoke and water damage, too. The most common causes of fires — whether at your home or office — are electrical and kitchen-based issues. From burnt toast to cooking fires to faulty wiring, a small flame can become a big fire quickly.
After the fire is extinguished and your space is safe to reenter, you may want to call in an expert to help determine what furniture items are worth the time and effort to restore and what items are better to fully replace.
Cleaning Up After Fire & Smoke
First things first: Soot and other residual leftovers after a fire can cause health problems if not managed and cleaned properly. Specially trained experts with the right tools and training for fire and smoke clean-up make sure your home or office is safe to reenter. After that, you will be able to further evaluate damage to furniture, cabinets, wood accents and more.
Types of Furniture, Wood & Cabinet Damage that Can Be Repaired After a Fire
When it comes to fire-damaged furniture and heirlooms, sentimental value will play a big role in deciding to repair or replace the item. Whether it’s a one-of-a-kind antique or an expensive furniture piece you can’t bear to part with, rely on the evaluation of a Furniture Medic expert to identify your next steps and estimate the restoration costs.
For things like cabinetry, wood flooring or decorative millwork, it can be much more cost-effective to restore areas damaged by fire, water or smoke than opt for a total replacement. Trained Furniture Medic technicians can complete precision repairs, stripping, color matching, refinishing and even structural repair and stabilization.
When you opt for fire damage restoration from Furniture Medic, each piece will be thoroughly cleaned of soot, smoke and other debris. If the item can be moved, the restoration work will be completed off-site. But for items like cabinets, repairs will often take place on-site. If cabinet boxes need to be removed for restoration, Furniture Medic experts will carefully remove your cabinets while bracing your countertops.
So what’s not able to be saved after fire or smoke damage? If structural parts of furniture — like the interior wood frame of a couch — or cabinet joinery are destroyed or excessively charred by fire, it may be more cost-effective to replace the piece. And if damage to surfaces is too deep or extensive to be restored by stripping, sanding, precision repairs or refinishing, it could be time to start the search for a new option.
Filing Insurance Claims for Smoke & Fire Damage
By partnering with a restoration company like Furniture Medic, who works with the insurance company on your behalf, you can be sure the proper information is provided the first time. Your technician will assist with the following:
- Initial assessment, including photos
- Documentation for insurance claim purposes
- Estimation of work
And once your restoration project is completed, your Furniture Medic technician will help you submit any remaining paperwork to finalize your fire-damage claim to your insurance company.
Find a Fire & Smoke Restoration Expert In Your Area
If you’ve experienced water damage at your home or business, submit a claim assignment or contact us today.