Has anyone inspected a house that was damaged by a fire? Is there a good article that describes what remediation needs to be done prior to repairing the damage.
Thanks
Jonathan
Don’t know of any articles. Here’s what I say:
“We noted darkened and charred sections of wood in the attic from a previous house fire. The soot and charred wood should have been evaluated by a professional engineer to determine the structural integrity of the wood. We recommend that you ensure this was done and that you obtain a stamped copy of the engineer’s letter. Generally, smoke and fire damaged wood should be evaluated and sealed by a fire/smoke remediation company. Unsealed wood may cause odors in the home and may affect occupants with allergies, respiratory issues, or other health concerns. Environmental issues are beyond the scope of a home inspection and should be addressed by professional engineers or contractors with expertise in fire/smoke remediation issues. If no corrective action is performed, this issue, most probably, will appear on future home inspections when the home is sold.”
Great language Mr. Funderburk! I am going to use that for certain.
Great verbage Joe!! Thankfully, the seller disclosed the fire and the house had been renovated at the inspection. The fire didn’t seem to sway the client.
Thanks
Jonathan
A couple of water related issues should also be evaluated. 1) When the fire was extinguished, how long was the wood and remaining structure wet? There could be mold/rot issues. and 2) If sanitary plumbing was compromised, gray/black water may have soaked into the wood and/or foundation which could cause a myriad of health issues in the future. If that is the case then suggest sealing the foundation/wood from the living spaces with epoxy, etc.