In November of 2023, we were contacted by the Allen County Sheriff’s Office to board up a property after a house fire in Bluffton, Ohio. The house had caught fire from a vehicle parked near the garage. Most of the damage had been limited to the garage and the closest rooms of the house, but the smoke damage spread throughout the rest of the home. The Bluffton Fire Department was the main crew the night of the fire, and they did an excellent job getting the fire extinguished.

Our team boarded up some windows, and secured the property that night. The next morning our team began contacting the family and the insurance companies involved to help get the restoration process rolling.

Once the home owner approved us to restore the home, we began the Demo Phase. During this part of the process, our crews remove the fire damaged materials, and they strip the rooms down to the bare studs. This always involves lots of dumpsters as the damaged materials are stripped from the property.

Most of the garage was torn down on this job, and rebuilt with brand new materials. On the outside of the home, the old siding is removed, and new siding put up. The same happens with the roof. The old shingles are removed, and the whole house is covered with fresh ones.

The next major part of a fire restoration project is the spray seal. We spray a special sealant over the remaining structure of the home, sealing in any smoke odors that may have been absorbed during the fire. This is the main aspect of our No Smoke Odor Guarantee as we eliminate the possibility of the owner’s smelling smoke from this situation.

The HVAC system is usually replaced, like in this situation, because the smoke has permeated all of it. To have the entire system cleaned costs quite a lot, so the old system is pulled out and a new one installed. If any electrical needs updated or restored, this is the next part of the process.

Then the drywall and ceilings and floors get installed, with fresh coats of paint and stains. Any appliances will be the next thing brought in, and our team puts the final touches on the whole project.

We wrapped up this fire restoration project in 6 months, which is the average length of time on a fire loss this large. The joy and smiles on the home owner’s faces when we walked through the home with them and gave them the keys was such a special moment. It’s one of the best parts of the whole process as they get a fresh start in their home.

If you suffer from fire damage in your home or business, give Swartz Restoration a call to help walk you through the restoration process.

Call our office at 419-331-1024 today.