Fire & Smoke Damage
Fire and smoke damage restoration in Round Rock and the Austin area
The fire department has left, there's soot on everything, the house smells terrible, there is water all over, and you can't live in your house right now. We handle all of it.
What happened
The fire is out. The damage is still spreading.
Not only is there soot all over, but the soot is actually acidic and will begin to etch metal, discolor your paint and countertops, and stain anything porous within a few days. The smoke odor not only smells terrible, but it has permeated the entire house, even in rooms that the fire did not get to. The smoke odor has gotten inside all of the closets, inside the cavities of your ductwork, into your carpets and furniture, and more. And on top of all of this, if the fire department used water to put the fire out, it is just like any other water damage situation, with mold on the clock.
Whether you had a kitchen fire, an electrical fire, a fire in the garage or in another outbuilding, a lightning strike, or even smoke damage from a neighbor's fire, Guardian can help. Our first visit is to document the damage, stop it from getting worse, and plan the rebuild.
What we do
Our fire and smoke damage restoration process
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First visit.
On our first visit, we will walk you through the process and tell you which areas of the house are safe.
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Inspect and scope.
Inspect the damage room by room and write out a scope of work, with photos, so you and your adjuster see exactly what was affected.
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Remove the water.
Remove the water left behind by the fire department, and dry the structure the same way we handle any water loss.
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Clean the soot.
Clean the soot residue from the walls and surfaces using a process called "dry sponge" and chemical clean. The method we use depends on what type of soot is present in the structure. Any materials that can't be cleaned will be removed.
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Remove the odor.
Remove the odor from the house by scrubbing the air with HEPA filter air scrubbers, sealing off affected framing, and deodorizing with our professional equipment.
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Rebuild.
Rebuild the house back to its former glory. Whether it's framing, drywall, cabinets, painting, flooring, or other finishes, Guardian can take care of it for you.
Right now
What should you do after a fire or smoke damage incident?
- Do not return to the structure until you have been cleared by the fire department. Once you have been cleared, do not let children or pets in the damaged area of your home.
- Do not wipe anything. The soot will only get rubbed in and it will make the cleanup harder.
- Do not turn on any electronic devices or appliances that were in the smoke or near the water.
- Do call your insurance company. Keep any receipts of expenses that you incur, like a hotel.
- Do throw away any food that has been exposed to the fire. Even if the food is packaged, if it was in a room with heat, smoke, or soot, you should discard it.
- Take photos of the damaged areas before anything is cleaned or moved.
Why Guardian
What you can expect from us.
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You get a straight answer.
You will always get a straight answer from us, and you will always know exactly what your invoice is going to look like when the job is done.
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We respond fast, and we're available 24/7.
When you call, even at 3 a.m., somebody will pick up the phone, and we will get a crew out to you as soon as we can. Time is of the essence when it comes to water.
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We fix the source of the problem.
There is no use in drying something out if the leak is still going on.
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We do quality work.
Not only will we dry out your house, but we will also rebuild the damage, and we stand behind our work. Meet the people who own the work.
Questions
Common fire and smoke damage restoration questions
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Call or send us an email. Read more: what to do after a house fire.
Can you really remove the smoke smell?
We sure can. Part of the smoke odor is because of the soot residue that is on your walls and other surfaces. Another part of the odor is because of porous materials getting saturated with the smoke. And the last part is that the smoke is permeating the air in your home. We will remove the soot residue, clean (or remove) the porous materials, scrub the air with HEPA scrubbers, and use professional-grade deodorizing equipment to remove the odor. Simply using a spray-on odor remover to mask the odor is not going to help.
Can we stay in our house after a fire or smoke damage?
Usually, you cannot stay in your house until the damage areas are cleaned up. The soot is acidic and can be bad for you to breathe. And fires can cause a lot of electrical and structural damage that you may not be able to see. On our first visit with you, we will let you know if there is an area of your house that it is safe for you to stay in.
The fire department used a lot of water to put the fire out. What should we do?
When the fire department puts a fire out with water, it causes a water damage issue in addition to a fire damage issue. The water needs to be dried just like any other water damage situation to prevent mold from growing. We take care of the water damage along with the fire damage, so you don't have to hire two companies.
Smoke damage gets worse by the day.
Smoke damage will only continue to get worse the longer you wait. Call Guardian now and talk to a real person.
(512) 884-4238 Call Guardian NowOpen 24 hours · Serving Round Rock and the Austin area