Fire Damage Repair for Chicago Historical Structures – What You Need To Know

8/9/2018 (Permalink)

Fire Damage Repair for Chicago Historical Structures – What You Need To Know

Historical structures in Chicago were not only built to last, but many are protected by certain building designations. This means that when they are damaged by fire the fire damage repair company hired to clean the damage must stay within those designations and make the building look like it was completely undamaged in the fire. This is highly specialized work that must be done by an experienced fire damage restoration company like SERVPRO of Ravenswood. If you maintain or manage historical structures in Chicago, then here is what you need to know before the cleanup begins.

Find Pictures of the Original Structure

In many cases, this is tough, because many of those pictures might have been in the structure itself when it caught fire. Having such records for SERVPRO of Ravenswood will help their technicians know the exact details of the parts of the house that they’re restoring. If photos are not readily available you may turn to the local historical society in order to see if any photos exist in their archives. Otherwise like SERVPRO of Ravenswood will rely on the owners or managers of the structure to determine best repair or replacement options for the fire damaged Chicago historical building.

Work With a Historian

There are cases when a local historian, one who specializes in historic architecture, will be hired by the like SERVPRO of Ravenswood as a consultant. This historian will work with like SERVPRO of Ravenswood to ensure that every repair fits the overall architectural plan of the structure. If something is deemed too modern, then it will have to be redone. Our goal is to make the building look like it did before the fire, and that includes all of the period detailing.

Hunt Down the Original Historical Designation Paperwork

This one is easy, as this information is usually placed online. In order for a Chicago historical building to be declared a local century home or historic landmark, an application must be filed. These applications are usually online in PDF form and held by either the county, state, or federal governments. like SERVPRO of Ravenswood will need to examine that form to see if any specific details about the structure of the building are described. In some cases, photographs might be attached to the application, of which would be very helpful for like SERVPRO of Ravenswood who undergoing the heavy tasks of fire damage restoration.

Special Permits Might Be Needed

If the fire damaged Chicago historical structure is in a local historically designated area, then SERVPRO of Ravenswood will have to gain special permitting to proceed with their work.  We would be required to stay within those codes throughout the restoration process. This isn’t always easy to do, which is why hiring SERVPRO of Ravenswood who have the right expertise for completing this specialized work is of great importance. 

In the end, all that matters is that your historic structure is cleared of all fire damage and restored by a reputable Chicago fire damage cleanup company. It’s worth the expense required to keep these gems standing for future generations to enjoy.