Fire-Damaged Roof? Why a New Roof Isn't Enough

WatchSome Projects Require More Than a New Roof

A lot of folks know us as a roofing company. We do a lot of roofs. But we're a lot more than a roofing company, and fire losses are where that matters most. When a fire reaches the roof, the shingles are usually the least of your problems.

That's what this short is about. Some projects require more than a new roof.

Why Isn't a New Roof Enough After a Fire?

A roof system isn't just shingles. It's decking, underlayment, flashing, vents, rafters or trusses, and everything in the attic under it, including insulation, ductwork and wiring. When fire gets into an attic or burns through a roof, every one of those layers can be damaged.

Then there's what happens below. Heat rises, so the attic takes the worst of it. Smoke pushes down through light fixtures and attic access openings. Firefighters have to open the roof and pour water on it, and that water comes down through the ceilings into the rooms below.

A contractor who only puts new shingles on top of that is leaving you holding the bag on the rest.

What Gets Damaged Under the Roof?

On a fire that reaches the roof, we commonly look at:

• Rafters and trusses. Charred framing can lose strength, and some of it has to be replaced, not just painted over.
• Roof decking. Burned, smoke stained or water soaked decking has to come off.
• Attic insulation. It soaks up smoke odor and water, and it has to go.
• Ductwork. Smoke and soot get inside the ducts.
• Ceilings and drywall. Water and heat damage, plus soot.
• Wiring. Heat damage in the attic needs a licensed electrician's attention.
• Contents in the rooms below. Smoke and water go where the ceiling lets them.

How Do You Inspect a Fire-Damaged Roof?

Carefully, and only after it's safe. A roof that's been through a fire may not hold a person's weight. Our team documents the exterior from the ground and from the air when it makes sense, and we inspect the attic and the structure from below once mitigation has made it safe.

Then we write the full repair scope in Xactimate, room by room and layer by layer, from the framing up and from the ceilings down. That's how you make sure nothing gets left off.

What Does CMDR Do on These Jobs?

CMDR Restoration (TDLR RCO #1801), our mitigation partner, secures the home, including tarping the open roof so weather doesn't add more damage. They remove water from firefighting, pull out wet and burned materials and handle soot and odor cleanup. That stabilizes the home so G3 Construction can rebuild it the right way.

Why Does It Matter Who You Hire?

After a fire, it's tempting to go with whoever gets there first. Please don't. A fire loss needs a contractor who can rebuild the roof system and the structure and the interior, and who knows how to document all of it clearly.

G3 Construction rebuilds from the structure through the finishes. We don't fix your roof and walk away. And we're straight with people. If something's out of our wheelhouse, we'll tell you.

What Should I Do If Fire Reached My Roof?

1. Stay out of the home until the fire department clears it.
2. Don't go up in the attic or on the roof yourself.
3. Take lots of video of the outside of the home from a safe distance.
4. Keep the HVAC system off.
5. Call your carrier, then call us at (945) 300-9018.

You can see more fire projects on our fire and smoke restoration page, and roofing work on our roofing page. See what a drone flyover after a fire can show.

Frequently Asked Questions

When your project needs more than a new roof, call (945) 300-9018 or use the button below to get help with fire damage.

Keep learning: see our Fire & Smoke page, read Water Damage After a Fire: The Problem Nobody Expects, or read what homeowners say in our customer reviews.