An open building keeps losing value. Rain comes through a hole in the roof, and a broken window or a door kicked in by firefighters invites people in. Board-up and tarping stop that. FMGC does both for homes and commercial buildings.
Why buildings are open after a fire
Putting a fire out is hard on a structure. The U.S. Fire Administration explains that firefighters may have broken windows and cut holes in the roof, and that in some cases you may need to board up windows and doors so no one can get in (USFA). Do not go inside until the fire department says it is safe.
Temporary repairs and your claim
- Temporary repairs are expected. The Texas Department of Insurance says to make temporary repairs to protect your house and belongings, for instance by putting a tarp on your roof or covering a broken window (TDI).
- Permanent repairs wait. Don't make permanent repairs before the insurance adjuster sees the damage (TDI).
- Pictures first. TDI says your policy should pay for the materials and labor used to make repairs, but to take pictures of the damage before doing any work (TDI).
- Keep receipts for any materials bought to make repairs (TDI).
How we secure a building
- Photograph every opening before it is covered, inside and out, so the adjuster sees the damage as it was.
- Board windows, doors and storefronts with exterior-grade plywood fastened to the framing, cut to cover the whole opening.
- Tarp the roof past the damaged area and up over the ridge where possible, fastened so wind cannot lift it.
- Check the inside for standing water, and start extraction if the building is wet.
- Give you the photos and an itemized invoice for your claim file.
Roof work is done with fall protection. It is not a job for a homeowner on a wet or fire-damaged roof.
Contractors who show up after a storm
Disasters bring crews from out of town. The Texas Attorney General warns that emergency remediation contractors from another area, with some exceptions, are not allowed to require payment before beginning work, and that a contract signed at your home must include a notice giving you the right to change your mind within three business days (Texas Attorney General). Ask for the company's name, a local address and proof of insurance before anyone goes on your roof.
After the building is closed
Board-up and tarps buy time. They are not the repair. Once your adjuster has seen the damage, the next steps are drying, if water got in, and the rebuild: water extraction and drying, fire and smoke damage repair or storm and hail roof repair.
Common questions
- Will board-up or tarping hurt my insurance claim?
- Temporary repairs are what the Texas Department of Insurance tells policyholders to make: for instance, put a tarp on your roof or cover a broken window. What TDI warns against is permanent repairs before the adjuster has seen the damage.
- Does insurance pay for board-up and tarping?
- The Texas Department of Insurance says your policy should pay for the materials and labor used to make repairs, and to take pictures of the damage before doing any work. Keep every receipt. Your policy and your adjuster decide what is paid.
- Can I go inside to get my things after a fire?
- Not until the fire department says it is safe. The U.S. Fire Administration's guidance is not to enter a damaged home or apartment unless the fire department says so.
- Do you board up commercial buildings?
- Yes. FMGC boards storefronts, doors and windows and tarps roofs on homes and commercial buildings across Dallas–Fort Worth.
Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, When are water damage and mold covered by insurance?, Help after a storm and FAQ: Homeowners insurance and disaster claims; U.S. Fire Administration, After the Fire (2019); Texas Attorney General, Disaster Scams.