Home fires are terrifying and tragic to experience. Fires are capable of causing immense damage in short periods of time. They are regarded as one of the most destructive disasters that can impact a home.
The Potential Damages
Fires burn through and destroy most materials they encounter. Paper products, textiles, and wood can be irreparably damaged within minutes. While certain building materials can be more fire-resistant than others, there are very few resources on Earth that are completely fireproof. Resistance allows materials to prevent or delay the passage of excessive heat and fire.
When fires break out in a home, soft contents are some of the most vulnerable. Textiles such as bedding, curtains, and clothing can spread fire quickly from item to item. Materials that offer more fire resistance, such as cement, brick, and glass, are still vulnerable to damage if exposed to high heat or fire for a lengthy period of time. Glass, for example, has different levels of fire damage resistance. Tempered glass is the most fire-resistant, offering four times the protection that untampered glass offers.
Fire damage conjures up images of charred wood, billowing black smoke, and scorched structural bones of homes. These images aren’t inaccurate, but they don’t show the complete picture. Some damages take time to show up, such as discoloration or staining on walls and other objects.
Water damage can also be present after fire damage disasters, considering that emergency fire response crews deploy an average of 3,000 gallons of water to put out home fires. Excess water that it not extracting promptly can lead to mold growth and structural deterioration.
Depending on the nature of the fire, soot can appear in different forms. Ranging from dry and powdery to wet and sticky, this residue is capable of corroding metal and etching glass. Smoke odors require specialized techniques in order to fully remove them.
To Replace or to Restore? That is the Question
Ash and smoke reach further areas than where a fire is contained to, and can continue to damage items long after flames have been extinguished. Smoke particles can embed themselves easily into fabrics and other textiles and can be difficult to fully remove. These particles can continue to give off unpleasant odors.
The cost difference between replacing damaged contents and structures, and salvaging and restoring what survived the wreckage, is often a primary concern for homeowners. Preserving sections of a building, or salvaging materials to restore and reuse, can save property owners significant time and money compared to complete reconstruction which demolishes and rebuilds the entire structure.
Most homeowners policies offer replacement cost coverage or actual cash value when it comes to covering the cost of damaged items.
Replacement cost coverage allows you to replace damaged items with new ones of similar kind and quality. Depreciation is not calculated. This is often the type of policy for dwelling coverage.
Actual cash value takes the items original cost and calculates its current value minus the depreciation. This is the more common type of coverage for personal property.
Extended replacement cost is an optional add-on, but allows for covering the cost of rebuilding your home if it’s more than what the policy limit allows. There is typically a limit to the additional percentage of coverage.
Guaranteed replacement cost covers the full cost of rebuilding your home no matter how much it totals. Deductibles are the only out-of-pocket expense a homeowner can expect to pay.
Preventative Measures
Homeowners can deploy a few measures to prevent the extent of fire damage they may encounter after a disaster. Fire damage disasters are some of the most destructive tragedies that can impact a person and their family.
Installing and testing smoke alarms regularly, and examining appliances and wiring at regular intervals can detect and resolve problems that could lead to a fire igniting. Preparing a plan of action to navigate various fire damage scenarios and keeping a fire extinguisher accessible in the home can help in minimizing overall damages.
Keep matches and lighters out of reach of young children. Teach age-appropriate fire safety measures. When cooking, use care and attention, and never leave an active stove unattended. Grease fires make up the largest percentage of home fires.
Implementing proper fire safety practices can significantly reduce the destruction that fire damage disasters cause. Catastrophes don’t choose convenient times to strike. That’s why having a plan of action and being prepared can expedite the recovery process and get you back to your usual daily routine faster.
