Why a burned building has to be closed up fast
When the fire trucks leave, the building is usually open. Firefighters break windows and cut holes in roofs to let heat and smoke out, and they force doors to get in. That's part of fighting a fire well, and it leaves a building that rain, snow, animals and people can all get into. Every day it stays open, the damage can grow: water soaks into what the fire spared, wind drives soot further in, and an empty, damaged building draws thieves and trespassers.
Board-up is the first stage of restoration. It isn't glamorous and it isn't permanent. Its job is to stop the building getting worse while everything else is planned.
Wait for the fire department
Don't go back in until the fire department says the building is safe to enter. Fires can rekindle in hidden spaces, floors and roofs can be weaker than they look, and the utilities may be off or damaged. The fire department, and the gas and electric utilities, decide when power and gas come back on, not the restoration company.
What board-up covers
- Windows and doors. Openings are covered with plywood or oriented strand board, fastened from the outside or bolted through so the panels can't be pried off. A secured entry door, often a plywood door with a lock, lets you and the crew get in.
- Roof openings. Holes cut for ventilation, and areas that burned through, are covered with tarps or temporary sheathing fastened so wind can't get under them. A loose tarp in a storm can do more damage than no tarp.
- Walls. Burned-through exterior walls may need temporary framing and sheathing.
- Fencing. Temporary fencing around a badly damaged building keeps people out of a dangerous site and helps with security.
- Temporary power and lighting. Where the utility allows it, a temporary power setup can run lights, pumps, dehumidifiers and security equipment.
Protecting what's left
Once the building is closed, the next priority is water. Hoses can put thousands of gallons into a house, and water left in walls, subfloors and insulation can lead to mold within days. Many companies start water extraction and drying on the same visit as the board-up. See smoke, soot and odor removal for what comes after.
Documentation starts here
Before anything is covered, it's worth photographing the damage from outside and, once it's safe, inside. A good restoration crew photographs the openings before boarding them and keeps a record of what it did and when. If you have insurance, your adjuster will want to see the condition of the building, and those photos can matter later. Ask the company for copies.
Your responsibility to limit the damage
Many property insurance policies ask the policyholder to take reasonable steps to protect the property from further damage after a loss. Board-up and tarping are usually how that happens. What your own policy says is between you and your insurer: read it, or ask your agent, before assuming anything is covered.
Questions to ask
- Is the building released by the fire department, and are the utilities safe?
- How will you secure the doors, windows and roof openings, and how will I get in?
- Will you start water extraction and drying at the same time?
- Will you photograph the damage before you board it up, and can I have copies?
- What does the board-up cost, and is it separate from the rest of the work?
- What happens if a tarp comes loose in a storm?