Houston Fire Restoration Servicesfrom board-up to fresh air

Securing the house comes first: plywood over vented windows and forced doors, and battened tarps over roof cuts before the next Gulf storm. Drying is next, because hose water spreads far beyond the fire and Houston's damp air keeps it from drying alone.

Once materials are dry, soot and smoke are cleaned through the house from the ceilings down, and odor removal goes after the smell held in attics, ducts, closets and furniture. Sealing, painting and rebuilding complete the job.

Every service page covers how the work suits Houston homes, from brick ranches and pier-and-beam bungalows to apartments and townhomes, with what you can safely do and what to ask.

Many fires need only some of these stages. A stovetop fire may need cleaning and odor work alone; an attic or garage fire can need all five. The contractor on the call can tell you which apply.

Each service page also points to the Houston neighborhoods where that work raises particular questions, such as crawlspace drying in older bungalows. Every page lists its sources so you can check the facts.