How to Avoid Additional Damage After a Commercial Fire

8/27/2018 (Permalink)

If your Olathe, KS business recently endured a fire, you likely have a lengthy fire cleanup project ahead of you. In addition to internal destruction, your building’s external infrastructure may have also sustained damage. Because the cleanup and restoration process can take time, you may need to take steps to protect your business’s internal components from additional damage in the interim.
Roof Damage
As firefighters battled the blaze inside your building, they may have cut a large hole in the roof to aid their efforts. Cutting holes helps clear heat and smoke from burning buildings, creating a safer environment for the fire-fighting team. So even if the fire didn’t directly damage your roof, you will likely need to add a roof repair to your building’s restoration requirements.
Temporary Roof Protection
While your roof is exposed, your office space is vulnerable to additional damage from rain, snow, other weather elements and intrusion from animals. To protect your internal assets, you will need to shield your roof with a temporary cover. A variety of temporary roofing materials are available:
• Self-adhesive tarps
• Non-adhesive tarps or thick plastic that you can secure with lumber and felt roofing nails
• Commercial-grade shrink wrap
If you choose to use the shrink wrap method, you may wish to consult a professional for assistance to ensure proper application. A fire cleanup and restoration company can also provide a professional tarp service, which may be particularly beneficial if the roof sustained significant damage.
Boarding Broken Windows
In addition to the roof, your building’s windows may have also been damaged during the fire. To prevent both unauthorized entry into your building and injuries due to broken glass, you will need to board all broken and exposed windows until they can be properly repaired or replaced.
A Work in Progress
The duration of the fire cleanup process depends on several factors, including the severity of the fire and the resulting destruction. Applying a temporary roof cover and boarding broken windows can offer peace of mind that your internal assets will be safe from additional damage while the restoration process unfolds. Visit http://www.SERVPROolathelenexa.com/ for more information on fire damage.