Was your home or business damaged in a fire? If so, then you might be considering whether you will want or need to reconstruct your building. This isn’t always an easy choice, and you can feel lost and overwhelmed, but the restoration professionals at are ready to help you, every step of the way.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to reconstruction after fire damage.
Is Reconstruction the Right Choice?
Before deciding whether to start reconstruction, you should speak with a restoration specialist. They can evaluate the current state of your building to help you determine whether restoration or reconstruction makes the most sense. It’s not always obvious which is the better choice, and a restoration specialist can help you look at various factors, including:
- Safety
- Cost
- Speed
- Required upgrades
- Legal restrictions and alternatives
First, if your old building can’t be made safe, of course you will choose reconstruction. The second most important factor for many people is cost. In general, if it’s an option, restoration is cheaper, and your insurance might only cover that cost. However, there are some cases where it is cheaper to tear the building down and start fresh.
With a badly damaged structure, restoration might be possible, but it could be time-consuming. With reconstruction, it might be possible to get your home or business back again much more quickly.
A new building will have to meet the latest building codes. However, with restoration, it’s often required to make a restored building meet the code as well. Sometimes this can be harder with an old structure.
It’s also important to know whether there are legal restrictions about rebuilding after fire damage. In areas where wildfires are becoming common, there is an effort to discourage rebuilding homes and businesses that will simply burn again. Reconstruction might not be illegal, but you should make sure the new structure will be insurable once it’s complete. In addition, you should be aware when there are alternatives, such as FEMA money for buying a new home or commercial property outside the fire-damaged area.
In the end, too, you have to ask yourself whether you would rather rebuild or restore the current structure.
Board-Up and Salvage Contents
Whatever your decision, it’s often necessary to board up the damaged structure. This could be related to municipal codes that require the security or that make you liable if anyone enters the damaged building and gets hurt.
Before the building is closed off, you should try to salvage any contents that can be saved, especially those with monetary or personal value. A restoration expert can let you know what can be restored and what is best to let go. With fire damage, smoke can penetrate items far from the area that burned, but much of it can be deodorized with proper attention. The same is true for water damage: careful expert drying can bring back many damaged possessions.
Plan and Design
Next, it’s time to plan the reconstruction, including designing the new structure and grounds. Architects will help with the new design, and you will be able to guide the plans. You can try to rebuild the structure as close as possible to the old house or office, or you can redesign it to better suit your needs. Sometimes it makes sense to re-use the original foundation or slab, but other times it’s best to demolish it and build anew, especially if the new structure will be significantly different.
Demolition and Debris Removal
Once the plans are approved, it’s time to finish demolition of anything that won’t be preserved and remove the last of the debris. This process was likely going on the entire time, but avoiding areas that might have a chance of being used again, like the foundation.
Structural Work
With the debris gone, work on the new building can begin. It starts with structural work: pouring a new foundation, if necessary, then building the bones of the building. The initial structure is put into place and exterior walls are built around it, including a vital weather-proof barrier.
Interior Work
Interior work can start as the structural work is continuing. This work can include the installation of wiring, plumbing, and HVAC ducts, which all need to be completed before the drywall can go up. This is the stage where you can request features like a wired data network, a gas fireplace, or other amenities your original structure didn’t have.
Finishing Work
Once the interior and exterior walls are finished, it’s time for finishing work. This will include building the kitchen cabinets and countertops, adding trim, flooring, painting, and more.
Landscaping can happen outside the house as soon as there’s no need for heavy equipment to drive across the lot.
Inspections and Approvals
Inspections have likely been happening throughout the reconstruction process. For example, all wiring must be inspected and approved before the drywall can be installed. However, there will also be a final inspection before the building is approved for occupancy.
Move-In
Once approved, you can start moving into your property, including any items you were able to restore from fire damage.
Restoration and Reconstruction Experts in
It’s easy to feel lost when your home or business, where so many of your dreams resided, has burned. However, you don’t have to stay lost: help is available. The restoration and reconstruction experts at FLEET Response are here to guide you through the entire process, from beginning to end. We can inspect your damaged property and help you make the decision about restoration or reconstruction after fire damage. Then we can help you preserve anything of value that can be saved after a fire.
We have been the leading restoration provider in since , and we can handle every aspect of your restoration or reconstruction. We’ll even coordinate with your insurance company to provide the documentation they need to pay your claim quickly and in the full amount of your coverage.
Don’t let feelings of loss and confusion overwhelm you. Contact us today. FLEET Response offers 24/7 emergency response services in , and we can be on your property quickly and begin work right away.