Boarding Up After a Fire Protects You and Your Home

2/8/2022 (Permalink)

Make sure to protect your home after a fire.

Protecting Your Home After Fire Damage

Firefighters often break windows and knock holes in roofs when putting out a fire. After the flames are out, homeowners in Cowesett, RI, need to board up these openings before heading off to stay with friends or family. Consider these three factors before you leave your home.

1. Trespassers, Theft and Injury

Most people will leave a home with fire damage alone because it is inherently unsafe, but kids can see a landscape that is perfect for exploring. If they get hurt, their injuries could be a liability for you. Teens might see it as a great place for a party or some new graffiti, while adults can target a vacant home for theft or other criminal activities.

2. Mother Nature

The weather won't stop just because your home has been damaged. Performing an emergency board up of windows, doors and other openings will help keep out wind, rain and storms until your home can be repaired. Closing the gaps also keeps out branches, leaves, and pollen from trees and bushes. Make sure to board up crawl space access to keep out critters and rodents.

3. Insurance Coverage

Some insurance policies require homeowners to mitigate further property damage after a disaster hits. If you neglect to secure your property or limit access by people who shouldn't be there, your insurance might not cover the new damage or injuries. If someone gets injured inside the property due to your negligence, the insurance company could deny coverage. Even if they are trespassing, you could still be held liable.

Make sure to protect your home in Cowesett, RI, after a fire disaster by getting a professional fire restoration company out to board up holes, broken windows, burned doors and roof damage as soon as possible. Doing so can save your property from more extensive damage while also protecting you, as property owner, from additional liability.