Many businesses suffer from fires and related
fire damage each year. Sometimes, the damage may not seem severe. In fact, you
might think that, once the fire has been put out and the business cleaned up,
you're ready to re-open.
While you may sometimes be able to re-open
soon after a fire, more often than not, serious damage exists, damage you might
not even be aware of.
For this reason, you must educate yourself on
the warning signs that you need some professional restorative help following a
business fire.
Unsafe or Weak Areas
After a fire, assess your business and all
parts of it carefully. Take notice if you see any weak or sagging areas in your
floor or ceiling.
Also, if any spot looks caved in or otherwise
dangerous, call a professional restoration company. In fact, even if you don't
spot dangerous looking areas, you may want to call a professional to assess
your business.
Fires sometimes cause structural damage that
may or may not be noticeable but that can make your business a hazardous place
to be.
Lingering Odors
Whether the damage caused by a business fire
is minor or severe, the lingering smoke and its smell are a whole other battle
to contend with.
When you breathe in smoke fumes, even older
ones, you put your lungs and your health as risk. To protect yourself and
everyone who enters your business, be especially cautious about entering and
using your business after a fire, especially when smoke smells linger.
The smell of smoke in the air can mean that
your business still poses a hazard to your health and the health of others and
that you need more in-depth cleaning and restoration.
Moisture
Much of the damage caused by a fire is
actually due to the water used to put out the fire, not the fire itself.
Therefore, after a fire, take notice of any
areas that are still wet, especially wet or dripping insulation. Insulation is
very close to the interior parts of your business, which makes it more of a
risk to the business' structure and integrity.
Furthermore, wet insulation or other business
parts can easily lead to mold growth, which is very hazardous to human health.
Excessive Soot
A fire leaves behind soot, which is like a
thick layer of dust that covers anything and everything that was near the
burning flames.
You may find soot on your walls, your floors,
your ceilings, and more.
While you may be able to scrub some of the
soot away, if a lot remains or if the soot seems to come back after cleaning,
you need more intensive cleaning measures to truly make your business safe and
presentable again.
Salvaged Items
Many people are incredibly grateful when they
can salvage and continue to use items that have been through a fire. However,
if you intend to use salvaged items in your business, properly sanitize them
first. While items may look and even act fine following a fire, they can still
have odors, damage, and other problems that make them unsafe to use without
proper sanitation.
Foundation Cracks
You might not think of your business'
foundation when you check for fire damage.
However, a fire sometimes weakens the
building's foundation, making the building unsafe for further use without
intervention.
Whether you inspect your own foundation or
hire someone to do the inspection, look carefully for cracks in the foundation.
Cracks are one of the most common indicators that your foundation has been
damaged or weakened by fire.
A building fire can feel
like a tragedy, but it doesn't have to be one. Know what to look for and get
the right help as needed for a faster, safer fire recovery. For expert,
professional help after a fire, contact the pros at
C & Z Construction.
