According to the National Fire Protection Association, firefighters responded to 1.35 million fires in the United States last year*. The cause of these fires varies from grease fires while cooking to electrical overload on dated wiring.
Industrial, residential, and commercial property owners lose billions of dollars every year due to fire damage, but most properties that get damaged are not a total loss. Most surfaces that suffer fire and smoke damage, including brick, stone, and wood, are salvageable.
Table of Contents
How Does Fire Damage Wood Furniture?
It depends on how the fire started. Not all fires start or burn the same. Electrical, spontaneous combustion, chemical, oil, and gas fires burn and impact wood differently.
Oil and gas
Oil and gas fires involve flammable liquids like natural gas or class II (kerosene) and class IIIB (animal and vegetable oils, glycerin, etc.) combustible liquids. With class II combustible liquids, a fire ignites at 100°F. Class IIIB flammable liquids spark a flame at 200°F*.
Spontaneous combustion
The exact cause of a spontaneous combustion fire is difficult to determine; however, spontaneous heating is typically the trigger. Spontaneous heating happens when a material increases in temperature without pulling heat from its surroundings. Materials that are known to combust include:
- Trash
- Oily rags
- Hay
- Agricultural products
Electrical
Any fire that begins from an electrical malfunction is considered an electrical fire. Most malfunctions are related to wiring, cords, and plugs. The most common types of equipment to malfunction and start a fire include the following:
- Space heater
- AC unit
- Fans
- Washer and dryer
How Do You Repair Fire-Damaged Wood?
That’s a tricky question. You can’t fix burnt wood. Once the wood is burnt, its structural integrity may be compromised. So if you decide to use burnt wood, you risk structural damage later on.
You can, however, fix chemical-, smoke-, or soot-damaged wood.
First, remove as much residue as possible. Then seal the wood to prevent any smells or noxious particles that remained from being released into the air.
The Fire Damage Restoration Process
The Assessment
The restoration professionals will start with an assessment of the damage. Additionally, it will also gauge if your property is safe to enter.
Documenting the damages will help with your insurance claims. Make sure you take pictures and videos to show all damage.
Remediation
Fire and water damage can potentially weaken the house structure, and you need to prevent further damage to your home. This includes boarding windows and doors to protect your home from vandalism and rain.
Removing Smoke and Soot
Smoke residues are removed using air scrubbers and air movers, which improves the air quality in the house, making it safe to breathe. The professionals will remove the soot, identify all smoke odors, and eliminate them.
Corrosion Mitigation
Soot and ash are acidic, so they must be removed from all areas to prevent corrosion. The metals in your home also need to be protected from humidity. If rust has already developed, the fire damage restoration company can use rust-removal chemicals or rust converter sprays to stop the rust from progressing.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
Cleaning after a house fire is a bit more complicated than just using a mop and a bucket of water because everything needs a different cleaning process. Professional fire restoration companies will use air scrubbers, fogging devices, and deodorization technology to clean, sanitize, and remove odors.
Restoration
We do whatever it takes to revive your home or business to its pre-loss condition.
Trust CTR With Fire Damage Restoration
If your home or business has recently fallen victim to a fire, we’re here to help you every step of the way. From the initial inspection to the last nail hammered, we’ll inform you what we’re doing and how the fire damage restoration process is going. We’re the largest restoration and construction business in Idaho. We have the resources, experience, expertise, and compassion that you need to help you move past this troubling time.
You can fill out a form online or call one of our offices. We also offer emergency services 24/7.
