Fire Damage and Your Roof
If you have experienced a house fire, there is a good likelihood that your roof has sustained some fire damage. Even if it was your neighbor’s house that was burning, the intense heat and licking of the flames can still damage your home, including your roof.
Dealing with the aftermath of a house fire can be mentally exhausting. This article hopes to organize the process of dealing with fire damage to your roof into several step-by-step actions you can take to make your life easier.
Insurance
Like dealing with other home disasters, contacting your insurance company should be one of the first things you do. Every insurance company handles things differently, but they will almost always request photos of the damages before any kind of repairs have begun on the property. The sooner you can take these photos, the better.
Track down your homeowner’s policy number and give them a call. Your insurance company will let you know what to do next.
Assessing Damage
This step of the process can be particularly dangerous in the aftermath of a house fire. Assessing roof damage normally involves climbing up a ladder onto the roof yourself to take a look. After a fire, however, the surface you lean your ladder upon and the places where you might be walking could be entirely unstable and dangerous.
If you decide to climb a ladder to take a better look at the roof, make sure to be extra cautious. Wear thick gloves to protect your hands, and wear heavy-soled shoes to protect your feet from hot surfaces. Do not attempt to inspect your own roof alone!
When assessing interior damage, make sure you wait until several hours after the fire has completely burned out to avoid breathing in any harsh chemicals or dust.
Hire A Roofer
Handling roof repair after a house fire should be left to professionals. Under no circumstances should you try to make roof repairs yourself. A tarp can protect the inside of your home from rain and the elements while you wait for your contractor to arrive.
When selecting a roofer, keep your eye out for a couple of important things:
Ask if they provide a warranty, and if so, request details on the warranty they provide.
Ensure they are licensed and willing to provide copies of their licenses upon request.
Ask for references from previous customers in your state. If they can only provide out-of-state references, this is a red flag.
Financial Resources
Special loans or grants may be available to assist you with repairs if your home is damaged in a fire. Check with the following:
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Small Business Administration
A fire is one of the most traumatic home disasters you can experience. If you or a friend have experienced a home fire, let us help make your recovery process a bit easier. Contact New Look Roof at (502) 341-4415 for a free inspection and price quote. Our professional roofers are licensed and well equipped to deal with repairs of this nature. They will make sure that the process is as smooth and stress-free for you as possible.