Restoration Services
Fire Damage Restoration
Fire Damage Restoration by Michaelson & Messinger Insurance Specialists, LLC
Fire restoration is what Michaelson & Messinger is known for. Look through our project gallery and you will see homes on Montana, Balmoral, and Luella in Chicago that were gutted by fire and rebuilt to a higher standard than before. Look through our reviews and you will see families who were back in their homes in months, not years. We have done this work across Chicago and the suburbs since 2006, and we do it with our own crews under one contract.
The First 24 Hours
The night of the fire we board up openings, tarp the roof, and secure the building against weather and vandalism. We remove standing water from firefighting, set up temporary power and heat if needed, and begin the contents pack out. Everything that can be cleaned goes to storage. Everything that cannot is documented before it is discarded. This protects the property and it protects the claim.
Smoke, Soot, and Odor
Smoke travels through a house in ways that are not obvious. It rides the ductwork, settles in closets, and soaks into plaster, insulation, and framing. Cleaning and painting does not remove it. We open walls and ceilings, remove contaminated insulation and drywall, treat the framing with odor sealing primer, and clean or replace the HVAC system. If the house smells like smoke when you move back in, the job was not done. Ours do not.
Structural Repair and Rebuild
- Demolition of fire and heat damaged framing, roof structure, and finishes
- Structural repair and replacement of joists, rafters, and load bearing walls
- New electrical service and wiring brought to current code
- Plumbing, HVAC, insulation, and drywall or plaster
- Roofing, siding, windows, and doors
- Kitchens, baths, flooring, trim, and paint
- Permits, inspections, and coordination with the village or the City of Chicago
One Team, One Contract
Our licensed public adjusters negotiate the claim and our restoration crews build to that scope. There is no gap between the estimate and the work, and no contractor asking you for money after the claim is closed. Many clients use the rebuild to open a floor plan or update a kitchen, and we price those upgrades separately so the numbers stay clear.
Written Warranty
Every fire restoration is performed under an item by item contract and backed by a written warranty. Our reviews describe us returning years later to address a door or a leak. We stand behind the house.
Call Tonight
Fire restoration starts the night of the fire. Call 630.654.2600 at any hour and a crew will be on the way.
Frequently Asked Questions: Fire Damage Restoration
Will my house smell like smoke after the restoration?
Not if the work is done right. We remove contaminated insulation and drywall, seal framing with odor blocking primer, clean or replace ductwork, and treat contents. Cleaning and painting alone does not remove smoke odor from plaster and framing, which is why underpaid claims produce houses that still smell.
Can you save my hardwood floors and original trim after a fire?
Often. We remove, clean, and store original trim, doors, and hardware for reinstallation. Hardwood that is charred or saturated is replaced. We match profiles and species when replacement is needed.
Do you replace the ductwork after a fire?
We clean it when the damage is light and replace it when smoke has penetrated the system. A house that smells of smoke every time the furnace runs is a house with contaminated ducts.
Will the electrical be replaced or reused?
Fire and heat damaged wiring is replaced, and in most older homes the whole system is brought to current code as part of the rebuild. Code upgrade coverage pays for this when the claim is presented correctly.
What is odor sealing primer?
A shellac or oil based primer applied to framing and subfloor that locks in smoke odor. Standard paint does not do this. We use it on every fire rebuild.
How do you handle a fire in one unit of a two flat?
We secure both units, document damage to each, and rebuild both under one contract. Smoke and water travel through shared walls and stairwells, so the undamaged unit is rarely undamaged.
Can I visit the site during the rebuild?
Yes. Your project manager schedules walk throughs at demolition, rough in, and finish so you can make selections and see progress.
