Why Does Fire Rebuild Need a Damage Restoration Contractor?
A fire-damaged house cannot be repaired through simple cosmetic renovations. Even when localized, fires affect the building’s structure, melting insulation and causing significant moisture issues from water used to extinguish them. Therefore, the structural repairs needed to return the building to its original safe condition are not considered renovations.
A specialized damage restoration contractor manages the entire restoration process from start to finish. This consists of evaluating underlying structural damage, reconciling repair estimates to insurance scopes, obtaining complex municipal permits, and rebuilding to current fire-resistant building codes.
At Arbor Construction, we offer our assistance to those who want to navigate the reconstruction process. If you are dealing with a partial claim or total claim, you need to know why it is beneficial to turn to professional contractors.
Why Fire Rebuilding Is Different From Ordinary Home Remodeling
Remodeling an existing kitchen or adding on to the square footage of one's home is a controlled, predictable process. Rebuilding an entire structure, which has been affected by fire, is very unpredictable due to the nature of the elements present: heat, smoke, soot and water.
A general contractor who may only be used to remodeling may be oblivious to the damage that the fire damage restoration technician is aware of.
Structural Damage: Extreme heat can weaken concrete foundations, warp steel, and damage wooden structures. Just because something looks intact doesn't mean it is.
Water and Chemicals: Thousands of gallons of water along with various chemical retardants are used to put out a house fire if not removed and handled correctly and tested. It can lead to mold, rot, and damage to the foundation of the home.
Smoke and Soot Penetration: The minute particles of smoke are highly acidic. They can penetrate the smallest cracks, get inside the walls and the HVAC ducts, and then come out in the form of odors if the drywall is painted over. Contractors, therefore, cannot just paint over the drywall. It will be necessary to take all the steps to properly remove the soot and smoke odors. This may include sanding, washing, and repainting.
Code Compliance: If the house was built a long time ago and if it was rebuilt, the rebuilding contractors will have to comply with the latest California building codes, since California is a high-risk area for wildfires.
What Does a Damage Restoration Contractor Do After a Fire?
A damage restoration contractor is the focal point of the entire restoration scope. By the time the actual job begins, the owner is not managing a number of different specialties, such as structural engineers, testing laboratories, architects, and others.
1. Site Assessment and Safety
Before works can begin on the improvement or construction of a development, an inspection of the site is necessary in order to assess the current standing and the possibilities of reuse of what remains of the site’s foundation, support structures, and utilities.
2. Environmental and Structural Testing
Fires can expose hazardous materials. Lead and asbestos are two examples of such materials that may be present in older Los Angeles homes. A specialized contractor handles both the environmental hygienist conducting tests on-site and the removal of debris. The same contractor may also bring in a structural engineer to determine the weight capacity of the building’s existing structure.
3. Construction Management and Coordination
Effective construction management is essential during the restoration process after a fire. It involves coordinating the sequence of work performed by various specialists from different industries, starting with foundation contractors and ending with electricians. In addition, the construction site must meet all municipal control and inspection requirements.
How the Fire Rebuild Process Works
A rebuilt home follows a strict construction sequence. Although the timeframe depends on the severity of the damages and local municipality regulations, the fire rebuild process generally consists of the following stages:
Initial secured staging of the site by fence and engineer’s survey. The estimate is made regarding the work scope needed for reconstruction.
Creation of a detailed construction estimate by the contractor that describes the rebuild cost in today’s local market.
Contracting companies are hired to remove debris from the site. Debris includes ash and damaged framing materials, as well as concrete foundations, if they are considered faulty.
Designers and engineers create project designs that meet all the requirements for buildings located in the region in terms of fire safety.
The builder applies for permits from the local building department.
The actual work of rebuilding the house starts and continues until its completion. This process includes installing new mechanical systems and appliances, as well as working on the interior.
The city finalizes approvals and issues a Certificate of Occupancy.
Fire Rebuilding in Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu
The local environment and regulations greatly affect the manner in which the fire-damaged house reconstruction will take place in Southern California.
A large number of homes in our service area are located in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has classified many of these areas as high or very high fire hazard severity zones. Any Pacific Palisades fire rebuild or Malibu fire reconstruction project will need to meet California Building Code Chapter 7A.
These local requirements dictate strict fire-resistant construction materials and methods, including:
Ignition-Resistant Exteriors: Build with stucco, fiber-cement siding, or wood that is generally more resistant to embers.
Enclosed Eaves and Soffits: Enclosed eaves and soffits can prevent wind-borne embers from getting underneath the roof and into the attic, causing a fire.
Tempered Dual Pane windows: Regular glass will shatter from the increased temperatures during a wildfire, allowing the flames inside the residence. By using tempered glass, it will be able to withstand the higher temps.
Metal screens on attic and foundation vents: Specialty metal mesh screens can be installed on vents to prevent embers from entering the home or coming in contact with the home's exterior.
Furthermore, the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) and the City of Malibu have different procedures. Although certain cities allow for expediting the process of permits for fire victims, the engineering and design plans have to be approved to ensure code compliance. A local fire damage restoration expert in Los Angeles can advise on the specific steps needed to avoid any unnecessary delays.
Coordinating Insurance Documentation for Fire Damage
One of the most challenging aspects for homeowners who are dealing with insurance claims is connecting the cost of rebuilding to the insurance company’s estimate.
One of the reasons why it is essential to turn to a professional restoration contractor is that the latter is not a public adjuster or a lawyer but possesses the necessary knowledge of construction to adequately present his case and ensure fair compensation from the insurance company. The latter’s adjuster is not always aware of the intricacies of hillside construction and the specifics of the area’s WUI code upgrade, and a third party’s software may lack the tools and vocabulary to reflect them accurately.
At Arbor Construction, we offer comprehensive line item estimates along with the architectural scope of work. By presenting your adjuster with local, reliable construction cost data, we can help ensure the costs to rebuild are presented accurately and communicated clearly.
What Should You Look for in a Fire Damage Restoration Contractor?
Choosing the right builder defines the timeframe, quality, and safety of your rebuilt home. When interviewing a fire rebuild contractor, ask yourself these following questions and assess them using this handy checklist:
Appropriate California Licensing: Confirm they have an active and appropriate license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to perform full-service structural rebuilds (ideally a Class B General Building Contractor license).
Local WUI Experience: Ask if they have built homes in the area that are subject to Chapter 7A regulations in the past. In particular, ask if they have built or remodeled homes in the Santa Monica Mountains or on the coastal hillsides.
Permit Management Capability: Make sure they have experience getting permits from either the LADBS or the City of Malibu.
Comprehensive management: The contractor should have the resources within his organization to supervise multiple specialty contractors.
Transparent documentation: They should be able to provide a detailed scope of work that is easily understood by you and your insurance company.
Why an Integrated Design-Build Approach Can Help
A traditional construction model requires that the homeowner engage an architect to design the project and then bid the project to multiple contractors. The process is fragmented and typically results in design plans that are substantially more to construct than anticipated.
Using an integrated design-build construction company can make the rebuild process much easier. In this type of company, the design, engineering, permits, and building are all done by one united group.
Some advantages of this are:
Cost control: Builders and designers work together, making sure that the design fits within the building budget and the limits of the insurance company.
Faster timelines: Since the builder is involved, materials can be purchased and permits applied for at an earlier stage.
Clearer responsibility: There is no 'blame game' between the architect and builder. Someone has to be responsible for making sure your dream house comes seamlessly onto the ground.
When Should You Contact a Fire Damage Restoration Contractor?
You should contact a licensed contractor as soon as possible after the fire department has cleared the property to be safe to enter. Having a builder on site early can help prevent additional weather damage and get started on getting the necessary building documents pulled for your adjuster.
Waiting several months to get a contractor hired can cause a large delay in getting the engineering completed and permits pulled to start rebuilding.
Rebuild With Confidence
Rebuilding your home in the wake of a fire can be a complicated undertaking that requires specific local knowledge, a level of construction expertise, and up-to-date information on fire-resistant building practices. Without proper assistance, the logistics of engineering, permits, and construction can create unnecessarily long delays as well as code issues down the line.
Our team has the local expertise to manage a complete residential fire reconstruction from start until finish. If you're dealing with a fire rebuild in either LA, Pacific Palisades, or Malibu, give us a call to set up a consultation and learn more about how we can help your family using an integrated design-build process to put everything back together correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a fire damage restoration contractor do?
A special contractor takes care of the complete recovery. He evaluates the damages, removes debris, handles complicated permits from the municipality, coordinates special construction trades, and rebuilds the structure according to today’s fire regulations.
Do I need a contractor if my home was completely destroyed by fire?
Yes. A total loss involves a contractor managing the environmental testing, foundation removal, new architectural design, structural engineering and complete rebuild of the premises from the ground up.
How does fire reconstruction differ from remodeling?
Remodeling generally refers to updating an existing structure. Fire rebuilding refers to correcting deficiencies in load-bearing structures, hidden water damage due to firefighting operations, water damage, and smoke damage and updating current local building and fire codes.
How long does rebuilding a fire-damaged home take?
The amount of time depends on the severity of the damage, the insurance process, and the local permits. In most cases, it can take anywhere from 12 to 24 months from the fire date in Los Angeles.
What permits are needed to rebuild after a fire in Los Angeles?
Depending on the scope, you may need demolition, grading, structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. In WUI, homes will require special approvals to ensure that they are built or altered to meet fire-safe standards.
Can a contractor help with insurance documentation after a fire?
While builders are not insurance adjusters, an experienced contractor provides a very detailed and thorough local construction cost estimate and scope, allowing the insurance adjuster to fully understand the true cost of rebuilding.
