How to Repair & Restore Fire & Water Damage

Park the dumpster by the house. Remove all damaged materials like drywall, flooring, roofing, fixtures, furniture and plumbing and electrical work. Start with anything on the ground clearing the work area and then taking damaged areas apart. Pry or cut out damaged areas as needed. Shovel smaller debris into bags or haul larger pieces out and toss into the dumpster. Clean the area thoroughly before attempting to restore the structure. Secure large, heavy duty plastic tarps over the damaged roof, doors and windows with tape or staples to keep out the elements.

Replace damaged areas of the roof first. Then replace the outside doors and windows to protect the inside of the house. The roof's rafters may need to be replaced if heavily damaged. Match roof shingles to the undamaged sections or replace the entire roof. Match replacement doors and windows to undamaged ones.

Inspect the home's plans and build new frames for damaged walls as needed. Measure the lumber for frames precisely before cutting them. Replace all heavily damaged studs or save as many as possible. Studs are generally placed 16 inches apart on the frames. Replace damaged units with new HVAC ductwork, plumbing and electrical components before installing sheetrock. Drill holes into the frames as needed to accommodate the plumbing and electrical to be installed. Secure these new lines before proceeding.

Install new sheetrock in place. Measure the areas precisely and cut the pieces using a straight edge and a razor knife. Attach the sheetrock to the wall frames with sheetrock screws. Screw them tightly in place into the studs and countersink the screw heads slightly into the sheetrock. Finish the sheetrock installation by taping the seams and corners, mudding the seams and sanding all of it smooth when dried. Paint the walls to match when they are ready.

Replace the flooring with appropriate materials. Hardwoods, carpet and tile will all be attached in different manners, so consult directions before installation. Replace any trim along the baseboards, so it lays over the flooring edges.

Inspect the house, and touch up any areas needing attention. Major appliances also may need to be replaced as needed.