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Fire & Water Clean Up

Home – Fire & Water Clean Up

Emergency Services

When disaster strikes, time is of the essence. The first thing you must do is protect the rest of your property from further loss. Our emergency team will arrive quickly at your property and determine which emergency services are necessary. Emergency power, board-up services, roof tarps, water extraction, winterization, temporary fencing, debris removal, mold prevention, dehumidification, and content protection are just a few of the services DFW Build Remodel provides.

Structural Stabilization & Board Up

During a fire, it is common for windows and doors – sometimes even walls – to be destroyed. The foundation holding up the property structure could be weak and crumbling after having been damaged by the fire. This can leave you vulnerable to additional loss from injury, weather or theft. From shoring up your structure to a plywood board up of windows, or security fencing around the entire property, you can rest assured that DFW Build Remodel will keep your property safe and secure. 

Insurance Claim Negotiation & Management 

We understand how frustrating it can be to navigate the complexities of property restora­tion. Most property owners only have to experience this once in their lifetime. Unfortu­nately, this puts you at a disadvantage when dealing with the insurance company. As experts in restoration, reconstruction we know all the little things that can easily be missed or overlooked – and they can really add up! Fortunately MAP can help even the playing field. We manage your claim and negotiate for you. Our extensive experience working with insurance companies on behalf of property owners ensures that you get the most out of your insurance policy. 

Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration 

Fire and smoke damage can be very complex and may include more than what you can see and smell. The type of smoke will greatly impact the restoration process. For example, smoke flows through plumbing systems, using holes around pipes to go from floor to floor. Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure. Even a small fire can cause serious damage to your property. If not properly restored, odors can linger for years as heat and moisture draw out odors. Our restoration professionals have detailed construction knowledge as well as expertise in smoke removal, odor eradication, soot and ash elimination, stain removal, toxicity removal and restoring balance to the environment. 

Structural Repairs & Reconstruction

Structural damage and reconstruction is common when dealing with fire. While DFW Build Remodel specializes in fire, water damage restoration, as well as a General Contractor capable of restoring all types of property damage. 

Cleaning & Deodorizing 

Cleaning up after fire damage is a long and tedious process. Ideally, fast and immedi­ate action should be undertaken when cleaning after fire damage. Walls, ceilings, floors and even air ducts need to be cleaned and deodorized. Additionally, the fire damage can actually be worsened if the people handling the restoration don’t know what they are doing. If not deodorized properly, smoke molecules can remain in the pores of their materials and continue to release smoke odors even after the fire damage cleanup. These odors can easily spread onto clothes, furniture, carpets, and to other parts of the house, especially on a warm day when the high temperatures can reopen smoke-filled pores. Proper deodorizing can spell the difference between big savings and spending thousands of dollars on cleaning everything again. DFW Build Remodel restoration professionals are equipped with the right knowledge and the proper equipment to clean up after fire damage. DFW Build Remodel professionals can prevent additional damage to fire ravaged property from soot and smoke. 

Contents Cleaning, Moving & Storage 

Most fires include damage to your contents as well as the structure. Even if the fire itself didn’t damage your contents, chances are that smoke and water did. Many items might not be salvageable if left in their scorched state for some time. First our specialized content restoration staff performs a detailed and exhaustive room-by-room inventory. Then we carefully pack everything up and transport it to our warehouse where it is inspected. Non-salvageable items are documented for insurance reimbursement; salvageable items are cleaned and restored. We securely store your contents in our warehouse until your structural restoration is complete. Then we carefully transport them back to you and unpack them. 

Water Extraction & Drying 

Where there is fire, there is usually water. Our expertise would not be complete without a detailed knowledge of water extraction and drying. Moisture remaining in your property can lead to mold, mildew, and dry rot if it is not properly extracted and dried. Our restoration experts use the most effective water removal and drying methods. 

A Description of Typical House Flood Damages and Cleanup Requirements

When your house floods, the water can wreak havoc on the structure of the house, your personal belongings, and the health of the inside environment. Flood waters contain many contaminants and lots of mud. High dollar items can get ruined all at once, even with just an inch of water, for example: carpeting, wallboard, appliances, and furniture. A more severe storm or deeper flood may add damage to even more expensive systems, like: ducts, the heater and air conditioner, roofing, private sewage and well systems, utilities, and the foundation.

After a flood, cleaning up is a long and hard process. Here is a list of common techniques for sanitizing and cleaning flooded items:

First things first: call your insurance agent. If your insurance covers the damage, your agent will tell you when an adjuster will contact you. List damage and take photos or videotape as you clean. You’ll need complete records for insurance claims, applications for disaster assistance and income tax deductions.

Contaminated Mud

Shovel out as much mud as possible, and then use a garden sprayer or hose to wash away mud from hard surfaces. 

Clean and Disinfectant

Scrub surfaces with hot water and a heavy-duty cleaner. Then disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water or a product that is labeled as a disinfectant to kill germs. 

In the kitchen

Immerse glass, porcelain, china, plastic dinnerware and enamelware for 10 minutes in a disinfecting solution of 2 tablespoons of chlorine bleach per gallon of hot water. Air-dry dishes. Do not use a towel.

Disinfect silverware, metal utensils, and pots and pans by boiling in water for 10 minutes. Chlorine bleach should not be used in this case because it reacts with many metals and causes them to darken.

Cupboards and counters need to be cleaned and rinsed with a chlorine bleach solution before storing dishes.

Furniture and Household items

Take furniture, rugs, bedding and clothing outside to dry as soon as possible. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to remove moisture or open at least two windows to ventilate with outdoor air. Use fans to circulate air in the house. If mold and mildew have already developed, brush off items outdoors to prevent scattering spores in the house. Vacuum floors, ceilings and walls to remove mildew, then wash with disinfectant. Wear a two-strap protective mask to prevent breathing mold spores.

Mattresses should be thrown away.

Upholstered furniture soaks up contaminants from floodwaters and should be cleaned only by a professional.

Wood veneered furniture is usually not worth the cost and effort of repair.
Solid wood furniture can usually be restored, unless damage is severe.

Toys and stuffed animals may have to be thrown away if they’ve been contaminated by floodwaters.

Photographs, books and important papers can be frozen and cleaned later. They should be dried carefully and slowly. Wash the mud off and store the articles in plastic bags and put them in a frost-free freezer to protect from mildew and further damage until you have time to thaw and clean them or take them to a professional.


Ceilings and Walls

Wallboard acts like a sponge when wet. Remove wallboard, plaster and paneling to at least the flood level. If soaked by contaminated floodwater, it can be a permanent health hazard and should be removed. If most of the wallboard was soaked by clean rainwater, consider cutting a 4- to 12-inch-high section from the bottom and top of walls. This creates a “chimney effect” of air movement for faster drying. A reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade works well, but use only the tip of the blade and watch out for pipes, ductwork and wiring.

Plaster and paneling can often be saved, but air must be circulated in the wall cavities to dry the studs and sills.

The three kinds of insulation must be treated differently. Styrofoam might only need to be hosed off. Fiberglass batts should be thrown out if muddy but may be reused if dried thoroughly. Loose or blown-in cellulose should be replaced since it holds water for a long time and can lose its antifungal and fire retardant abilities.

Electrical System

The system must be shut off and repaired and inspected by an electrician before it can be turned back on. Wiring must be completely dried out- even behind walls. Switches, convenience outlets, light outlets, entrance panel, and junction boxes that have been under water may be filled with mud.

Heating – Cooling systems and ducts

Will need inspection and cleaning. Flood-soaked insulation should be replaced.

Appliances

Appliances will get stains, odors, silt deposits, and gritty deposits and need to be serviced, cleaned and sanitized. Running equipment before it is properly cleaned could seriously damage it and/or shock you. Professional cleaning is recommended for electronics, TVs and radios, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and vacuum cleaners. The hard exterior can be hand cleaned. All metallic appliances that have been flooded should be properly grounded to prevent electric shock. Mud or dirt in a grounded outlet or adapter may prevent the grounding system from working, and you could be electrocuted.


Pump out the basement

If your basement is full or nearly full of water, pump out just 2 or 3 feet of water each day. If you drain the basement too quickly, the pressure outside the walls will be greater than the pressure inside the walls. That may make the walls and floor crack and collapse.

Floors

With wood subflooring, the floor covering (vinyl, linoleum, carpet) must be removed so the subflooring can dry thoroughly which may take several months. Open windows and doors to expose the boards to as much air as possible.

Carpeting

Clean and dry carpets and rugs as quickly as possible. If sewage-contaminated floodwater covered your carpeting, discard it for health safety reasons. Also discard if the carpet was under water for 24 hours or more. To clean, drape carpets and rugs outdoors and hose them down. Work a disinfecting carpet cleaner into soiled spots with a broom. To discourage mildew and odors, rinse with a solution of 2 tablespoons bleach to 1 gallon water, but don’t use this solution on wool or nylon carpets. Dry the carpet and floor thoroughly before replacing the carpet. Padding is nearly impossible to clean so should be replaced. If the carpet can’t be removed, dry it as quickly as possible using a wet/dry vacuum and dehumidifier. Use a fan to circulate air above the carpet, and if possible, lift the carpet and ventilate with fans underneath.

Vinyl

Flooring and floor tile may need to be removed to allow drying of subfloor.

Wood floors

 Wooden floors should be dried gradually. Sudden drying could cause cracking or splitting. Some restoration companies can accelerate drying time by forcing air through the fluted underside of hardwood floorboards. Remove hardwood floor boards to prevent buckling. Remove a board every few feet to reduce buckling caused by swelling. Clean and dry wood before attempting repairs.

Roof damage and leaks

    Flashing is the sheet metal used in waterproofing roof valleys, hips and the angle between a chimney and a roof. Wet spots near a chimney or outside wall may mean the leak is caused by defective flashing, narrow flashing or loose mortar joints. Look for corroded, loose or displaced flashing on sloping roof valleys and at junctions of dormers and roof.


Clogged downspouts or eaves

Check for choked downspouts. Accumulated water or snow on the roof above the flashing may cause a leak. Ice accumulations on eaves sometimes form ridges, which cause melting snow to back up under the shingles.

Cracks and Deterioration

Roofing (especially wood or composition shingles) usually deteriorates first on southern exposures. Check southern slopes for cracking or deterioration.

Holes

Missing shingles or holes in the roofing may be causing wet spots. To find holes, check for a drip trail or spot of light coming through in the attic. Stick a nail, straw or wire through the hole to mark the spot on the outside.

Private Sewage systems

Flooding of a private sewage system can be a hazardous situation for homeowners. It may lead to a back-up of sewage in the home, contaminated drinking water and lack of sanitation until the system is fixed. When flooding or saturated soil conditions persist, a private sewage system cannot function properly. Soil treatment systems for waste water rely on aerobic (with oxygen) regions to reduce the amounts of chemicals and living organisms (viruses, bacteria and protozoa). When the soil is saturated or flooded, those hazardous materials can enter the groundwater and your drinking water supply.