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🏠 Home Repair Timeline After a Fire: What to Expect Month by Month

Created by House Fire Solutions – Helping Homeowners Rebuild with Confidence

Recovering from a house fire is a long, emotional, and technical process.
This month-by-month timeline helps you understand what typically happens after a fire — from inspection to full rebuild — so you can plan, stay organized, and avoid common delays.

🚨 WEEK 1–2: Immediate Aftermath & Emergency Response

Goal: Ensure safety, secure property, and begin documentation.

Key Steps:

Contact your insurance company immediately.
File a claim and get your claim number.
Secure the property.
Emergency board-up, roof tarping, water removal.
Contact House Fire Solutions or a public adjuster for guidance.
Get a copy of your fire report from the local fire department.
Document all damage (photos, videos, written notes).
Remove valuable or salvageable items.
Arrange temporary housing.
Insurance may cover ALE (Additional Living Expenses).
Avoid cleanup before inspection.
Insurers need to see original damage conditions.

📎 Typical Duration: 1–2 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Waiting for the adjuster’s initial inspection.

🧾 MONTH 1: Damage Assessment & Insurance Inspection

Goal: Get your full scope of loss documented and approved.

Key Steps:

Adjuster inspection & scope of loss creation.
They estimate all repairs, cleaning, and replacements.
Hire a fire restoration contractor (vetted and licensed).
Obtain multiple restoration estimates for comparison.
Review and confirm coverage details (structure, contents, ALE).
Identify any excluded damages early.
Secure unsafe areas with temporary fencing or signage.
Begin smoke, soot, and water mitigation cleanup.

📎 Typical Duration: 3–5 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Insurance approval of restoration estimate or claim dispute.

🧹 MONTH 2: Cleanup, Mitigation, and Demolition

Goal: Remove all hazardous materials, debris, and damaged structures.

Key Steps:

Debris removal and hazardous cleanup.
Soot, asbestos, lead, and chemical residue testing.
Dry-out and dehumidification.
Especially for homes with firefighting water damage.
Content pack-out and cleaning.
Furniture, electronics, and sentimental items cleaned offsite.
Odor removal.
Ozone or hydroxyl treatment for smoke smell.
Structural assessment.
Engineer inspects for hidden or unsafe damage.
Demolition of unsalvageable materials.
Walls, flooring, insulation, drywall.

📎 Typical Duration: 3–6 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Delayed asbestos/mold clearance or city disposal permit.

🏗️ MONTH 3: Structural Repairs and Framing

Goal: Begin rebuilding the home’s structure safely.

Key Steps:

Rebuild framing, roofing, and exterior walls.
Replace damaged trusses or beams.
Inspect foundation for cracks or fire stress.
Install sheathing, vapor barriers, and insulation.
Begin HVAC duct cleaning or replacement.
Order replacement windows, doors, and materials.

📎 Typical Duration: 4–6 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Material shortages or building permit delays.

⚡ MONTH 4: Rough-In Work (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing)

Goal: Complete all behind-the-wall systems before drywall installation.

Key Steps:

Electrical rewiring and panel inspections.
Plumbing rough-ins and line replacements.
HVAC rough-in for ducts and air systems.
City or county rough-in inspection and approval.
Smoke detectors, vents, and system testing.
Address any failed inspections quickly.

📎 Typical Duration: 3–5 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Failed inspections or parts backorders.

🧱 MONTH 5: Interior Build-Out (Drywall, Flooring, Carpentry)

Goal: Make the home livable again — walls, floors, and structure rebuilt.

Key Steps:

Drywall installation and finishing.
Painting and texturing.
Flooring installation (hardwood, carpet, tile).
Interior doors and trim.
Cabinets and countertops installed.
Lighting and fixture placement.
Bathroom rebuild (vanity, tub, toilet).

📎 Typical Duration: 4–8 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Custom materials or fixture selection delays.

🪟 MONTH 6: Exterior Finishes & Details

Goal: Restore the curb appeal and exterior integrity.

Key Steps:

Exterior painting or siding replacement.
Window and door installation.
Gutter, roofing, and downspout completion.
Driveway or walkway repairs.
Deck, porch, or patio rebuild.
Garage restoration.
Final exterior inspection.

📎 Typical Duration: 3–6 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Weather, subcontractor availability.

🪑 MONTH 7–8: Interior Finishing & Move-In Prep

Goal: Complete finishing touches and prepare for occupancy.

Key Steps:

Appliance installation.
Final cleaning and deodorization.
HVAC balancing and testing.
Electrical fixture final setup.
Final paint touch-ups.
Furniture delivery and unpacking.
Insurance re-inspection for completion verification.

📎 Typical Duration: 4–6 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Scheduling final inspections and walkthroughs.

🏡 MONTH 9–10: Final Inspections & Move-In

Goal: Get final approvals and restore full occupancy.

Key Steps:

Final building inspection from the city or county.
Fire marshal clearance.
Certificate of Occupancy issued.
Final insurance release payment (recoverable depreciation).
Walkthrough with contractor and adjuster.
Confirm warranties and get lien releases.
Move back home! 🎉

📎 Typical Duration: 2–4 weeks
⚠️ Common Delay: Paperwork and scheduling backlog.

🧾 MONTH 11–12: Post-Rebuild and Maintenance

Goal: Close out your claim and maintain your rebuilt home.

Key Steps:

File any remaining supplemental claims.
Submit receipts for recoverable depreciation.
Check all appliances, systems, and finishes.
Schedule annual HVAC, plumbing, and electrical checks.
Document everything for future insurance updates.
Consider fire prevention upgrades (sprinklers, alarms, materials).
Celebrate your new, safe, and restored home.

📎 Typical Duration: Ongoing
⚠️ Common Delay: Final paperwork or missed depreciation submission.

💡 Tips from House Fire Solutions

✅ Keep a project binder with estimates, invoices, and photos.
✅ Communicate weekly with your contractor or project manager.
✅ Use our Expense Tracker and Claim Checklist to stay on budget.
✅ Review all inspection reports before signing final approval.
✅ Don’t rush move-in — double-check air quality and safety first.