How Long Does It Take to Repair Fire Damage to a Home?

After emergency services extinguish the fire and consider your home safe to re-enter, you should contact a reputable fire damage cleanup company. Smoke and soot can hang onto your walls and floors, which produces a lingering smell, unpleasant appearance, and health hazard for residents of the home. 

Fire damage cleanup companies specialize in cleaning and restoring your damaged furniture, clothes, textiles, electronics, and other belongings. They’ll also assess any structural damage and help you notify other companies that will help you through the process. 



If you’re insured, Ready.gov suggests listing all of your damaged belongings in a property inventory before discarding anything.

Most fire damage instances fall into three categories: structural, utility, and household item damage. If you conduct thorough research on what problems you might encounter, you can confidently bring any concerns to your fire damage cleanup and insurance companies’ attention.

Structural damage includes issues with the ceiling, flooring, stairs, power and gas lines, and cracks in the foundation. According to Ready.gov, noticeable structural damage can point to a major problem inside your home.

Major utilities, like electrical, plumbing, heating, and telephone systems, are subject to serious damage in a fire. 

The American Red Cross advises homeowners to look for frayed wires, sparks, and a distinct heat insulation smell, indicating problems with your home’s heating or electrical systems.

Commonly damaged items in fires include furniture, clothing, and other personal valuables that may not be replaceable. In these cases, document your losses.

Fire damage repair treatments vary depending on what your home needs. Lemonade.com names services like water damage cleanup, chemical contamination repair, soot removal and cleanup, furniture and textile deodorization, and ozone smoke removal among those most popular with fire damage repair jobs. 

Cleanup companies break down the process into three stages: damage inspection, restoration planning, and cleanup and repair. Once the fire’s out, the cleanup company inspects your property, determines the damage extent, and mitigates any existing damage. 

After creating a plan to repair problem areas and replace unsalvageable materials, they’ll clean up soot, smoke, and water while restoring your home. 



Professionals can complete smaller fire repairs in a day or two, but extensive repairs can take up to several months. The size of the fire and affected household areas will determine your concrete timeline.

Your fire damage repair schedule will change based on what your property needs. It’s essential that you not attempt to control the damage and contact individual companies on your own. 



After consulting with emergency services, a fire damage cleanup company will help you understand your specific needs and develop a conscious plan to restore your home with fire-resistant protective materials for the future.

• https://www.ready.gov/home-fires
• https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/fire/checking-home-after-fire.html
• https://www.lemonade.com/blog/fire-damage/#is-it-safe-to-stay-in-house-with-smoke