Concrete and brick walls are the toughest. Even though these walls are strong and non-combustible, they can be severely damaged if a terrible fire breaks out. When concrete walls are exposed to flames and high heat, spalling can occur. When this happens, the layers of the concrete and brick will break away, and the wall can even crumble or fall apart. It is also very common to see deep cracks form in concrete and, in extreme cases, chemical changes can occur in the concrete, which can weaken the wall materials.
The exterior of the wall is also likely to be affected. Wall coatings like paint can become dried out, cracked or stained and will bubble up and peel. Restoring fire-damaged concrete walls can be complex, especially since it can be tough to determine the extent of damage on the inside of the wall.
In this guide, we are going to take a quick look at how to get to work on restoring your walls after a house fire breaks out.
Get an Assessment Done
The first thing you need to do is get wall professionals to come and do a damage assessment. Professionals need to thoroughly inspect the wall to ensure that no chemical damage occurs and to ensure that the wall is still structurally sound. If not, the wall will need to be removed and rebuilt.
It is also good to take note of other damages that might have occurred. This includes damage like cracks, discolouration, spalling, and damage to the surface paint coat.
Request a Damage Report
When you get a damage assessment done, it is always best to ask for a damage report. This damage report can be used to verify your claim at your local insurance company.
Clearing Out Contaminants and Damaged Sections
Before the wall can be restored, the contaminants and damaged areas of the wall need to be cleared away. Any walls that are structurally compromised will need to be demolished. Loosened, cracked or weakened materials also need to be stripped away.
The Cleaning Process
After clearing away anything that is beyond salvage, the remaining walls need to be properly cleaned. This is very important since smoke and soot can contain toxic substances that can cause health issues. Cleaning fire damage is a two-step process that includes the following processes.
01. Dry Cleaning
The wall is dry cleaned, and any loose soot and debris are removed. It is best to use a vacuum cleaner to suck up all soot and particles and a dry sponge to scrub the walls.
02. Wet Cleaning
The walls should also be properly washed. This is usually done with a mild detergent and can help clear up some of the stains.
Repairing the Structure
Once all of the soot and damaged materials are cleared away, the restoration process can begin. A good bonding material will first be applied to any areas that need to be filled out or restored. This bonding agent will help new materials form a solid bond with the old wall. Mortar lines need to be filled out, cracks need to be restored, and corners or edges need to be squared. The wall repair company will work carefully to properly smooth and finish the wall.
Finishing and Painting
After doing all of the restoration work, the wall will be treated with a good base coat. This will be followed by a few coats of paint.
Professional Concrete Wall Restoration in Melbourne
If you are dealing with concrete walls that have been damaged by fire, then it is best to get professionals like We Fix Walls to come and assist with the project. Our skilled team can help with the assessment and damage report, and we can do all of the repair work needed. When We Fix Walls is done, your walls will be perfectly smooth again, and there will be no traces of the fire incident.
