What Should I Do if a Fire Damages My Roof?

1/6/2021 (Permalink)

Roof tarping services in South Garland, TX

Three Steps To Protect Your Business

If a fire breaks out in your building and damages the roof, you may feel overwhelmed by the details of the fire cleanup process. Many property owners believe that they should step back and allow their insurance company to handle all repairs. However, roof repair is not a quick process. There are steps you should take to protect your building until repairs are complete.

1. Cover Your Roof with a Tarp
There are several reasons you need to cover your building’s roof with a tarp if the roof has been damaged by fire.

Prevent Additional Damage: A fire-damaged roof leaves your building, and its contents open to the elements. Wind, rain, insects, and animals all have the potential to cause more problems inside the building, increasing your repair time and costs.
Comply with Insurance Requirements: Many commercial property insurance policies contain a provision that requires you to take the necessary tarp and board-up actions in the event of a fire or other roof damage. Failing to do so could result in a loss of insurance coverage; check your policy to be sure.

2. Board Up if Necessary
Tarping over your roof not only reduces overall fire cleanup work and protects your building from the elements, but it may also minimize leaks and prevent structural instability. In addition to roof tarping, you may need to board up any windows, doors, or other openings that were compromised by the fire.

3. Go with the Pros
Don’t attempt to handle tarping or board-up work yourself on a fire-damaged building. Fires can create dangerous conditions inside buildings. Even if the building looks safe to enter, there could be hidden structural damage or electrical hazards. Professional fire restoration companies often offer board-up and tarp services for damaged properties. Hiring a professional service keeps you safe and allows you to avoid any liability that could result from improper, DIY tarp installation.
Properly securing your South Garland, TX, building after a fire will prevent further damage and can reduce your total fire cleanup expenses.