Fire damage cleanup – The cost of restoring your home following a fire

A fire within your home or commercial property can cause catastrophic damage and give your wellbeing an unwanted dent. However, depending on the types of fire you have and the damage it has caused, professional fire restoration (or fire damage cleanup) can help you get back on track fast and rescue some possessions that otherwise could be thrown away.

In this fire restoration focussed blog article, we will cover:

• What is fire damage restoration.
• The most common causes of property fire.
• The cost of fire damage restoration services in the UK.
• What to do if you have had a fire at your property.

So, for everything you need to know about the cost of fire damage restoration in the UK, read on.

Fire cleanup and restoration explained

Fire damage restoration is the process of returning a property that has been damaged by fire and smoke to a habitable condition, just like it was before the fire ever happened. Depending on the severity of the fire, the fire cleanup and restoration process can take anywhere between a couple of weeks to a few months.

A typical fire damage cleanup service may include:

• A survey of the site
• Stabilisation works (including removing any items for storage)
• Ash and soot cleaning
• Smoke odour removal

Fire damage restoration often includes everything after the cleanup stage too, such as installing a new kitchen, painting & decorating etc.

Did you know that a property fire can also cause water damage? This is because the fire can melt or warp waterpipes and the water used by the fire brigade will need to be cleaned up. Therefore, there is usually a level of water damage restoration work to take place following a property fire.

The most common causes of property fire

In the year ending June 2024, Fire and Rescue Services in England attended 594,384 incidents and 47% of those were fire related.

When it comes to accidental fires, specifically within homes, there are a few common causes. In no particular order, these are:

Electrical equipment

Fires caused by electrical equipment are usually due to faulty wiring, overloaded plug sockets, or malfunctioning appliances. Cheap extension cords can also cause fires when overused along with any electrical appliances with frayed wiring.

Cooking related fires

According to the London Fire Brigade, 60% of home fires start in the kitchen. From a rogue oven glove too near the hob, to an excessive build-up of grease on exhaust hoods. There are multiple risks in the kitchen that can easily be mitigated.

Heating appliances

Portable heaters became incredibly popular during the energy crisis because households wanted to reduce their energy consumption for whole house heating. There was an influx of new panel heater models, some good, some bad. However, if used incorrectly (such as clothes placed over them to dry), they are one of the biggest causes of fire when it comes to portable heaters. This is because they stop the heat from radiating into the room and instead, it overheats the heater instead.

Along with portable heaters, a chimney that has a build-up of soot is another heating related cause of house fires.

Candles

It’s unsurprising that candles contribute to thousands of fires in the UK. Often left unattended, a simple knock by the household pet can start a fire instantly. It’s always better to keep candles on non-flammable surfaces and put them out when you leave the room.

The cost of fire cleanup and restoration services in the UK

There are several key factors which impact the cost of a fire damage cleanup and restoration service. These include:

• The size of the area to be cleaned.
• The extent of the fire damage within the property.
• What the type of damage is. For example, soot, smoke, fire and/or water.
• The location of the property.

The cost of cleaning up after a property fire can range significantly based on the points above. However, most professional fire damage cleaning companies who work with insurers should be working towards reducing the need to strip out any material that can be saved. This also helps make savings to the total fire restoration costs for the project.

So, what is the average cost for fire damage cleanup and restoration?

The UK average cost for a professional fire damage clean-up is between £5,000 and £6,500. For a full damage restoration project and according to Checkatrade, the average cost is £35,681. But this is only if the property and possessions can be salvaged.

What to do after you’ve had a fire at your property

There are several key steps to take following a fire at your property. We’ve outlined the key ones below.

1. Contact the insurance company

One of the most important steps to take following a fire, is to contact your insurance company. They will be able to guide you through the process of restoring your home and provide you with everything you need when submitting your claim. Depending on the insurance company, they may ask you to get estimates for fire damage clean-up and restoration services. Others may have a list of preferred suppliers they use to help you get back to normality fast.

A lot of what you do and what the insurance company will do, depends on what level of cover that you have with them.

2. Make sure your property is secure

Once your property has been deemed safe to enter, your insurance company will request that you secure it while you are away during the fire damage clean-up and restoration process. This will not only involve contacting your local glazier to board up windows and doors should they be damaged, but you’ll also need to remove any valuable possessions.

3. Find alternative accommodation (if required)

It may only be the case that one room in the property has been affected by fire. However, because there will be lingering fumes and damage caused by smoke, alternative accommodation might be suggested to protect your health. Depending on the insurance policy that you have taken out, the costs of alternative accommodation may or may not be covered by your insurance provider.

4. Let your utility company know

Depending on the extent of the fire and if any utility supplies have been damaged, you will need to reach out to your utility suppliers. If there is damage, an engineer from the utility company will attend your property to assess the extent of the damage and what is needed to safely reconnect your property. Under no circumstances should you attempt any repair work to main utility supplies by yourself.

5. Get the fire damage clean-up professionals in

Decontaminating and cleaning your property after a fire is a specialist job. Without the experience and industry-leading equipment to perform a fire damage cleanup, it’s almost impossible to fully remove all the traces of the fire.

A small amount of soot or ash left in your property can lead to secondary damage because both soot and ash will eat away at any surface. Within hours, secondary damage can cause paint and fiberglass to yellow, metal start to corrode, and clothing start to stain.

The frequent release of unpleasant odour into the air is another example of secondary damage which can become overwhelming and render a property uninhabitable. If the fire damage clean-up process isn’t done thoroughly and the particles correctly removed, it’s likely that they will continue to affect the property and your wellbeing. Decontaminating your property and smoke odour removal is another step in the fire damage restoration process.

6. Replace any damaged contents

If some of the contents within the property can’t be cleaned and restored, the insurance company will arrange replacing them or cover the cost of you replacing the items. Yet again, this will depend on the extent of the fire and what level of cover you have with your insurance policy.

What next?

In the unfortunate circumstance that you have had a fire in your property and require a professional fire damage clean-up and restoration company, contact one of the Ideal Response team who will happily answer any questions and advise on the best course of action to take.