Free visual inspection and a written scope of work before any mitigation begins - photos, moisture readings, and drying logs go in your claim file
The scope we write is the scope we bill. Anything new gets shown to you, in writing, before we touch it.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterTrusted Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration for Fort Lauderdale Homeowners
Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Fort Lauderdale typically costs $3,500-$18,000 depending on the scope, and most emergency board-up and stabilization work begins within 2-4 hours of your call. DryMark Restoration Fort Lauderdale handles everything from kitchen grease fires in Coral Ridge homes to lightning-struck roofs in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, with a written price before any work starts and a photo-documented record of every visit.
We’ve restored more than 12,000 homes since 2011, every one with a written scope delivered before the first tool came off the truck. Alicia Brennan founded Back to Dry Restoration after working as a claims adjuster and watching homeowners lose thousands to restoration invoices that insurers rejected for lack of documentation. That’s why every Fort Lauderdale fire damage job we handle includes daily moisture logs, room-by-room psychrometric readings, and a photo record that turns your restoration bill into a claim your adjuster pays without a fight. Our live dispatch answers (754) 254-1257 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no voicemail trees, no next-business-day callbacks while smoke residue keeps etching your finishes.
What Our Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Service Includes
Fire Damage Cleanup
Fire damage cleanup removes charred structural materials, compromised insulation, and debris from partial or total burn events. In Fort Lauderdale, we regularly see this need after electrical panel fires in 1970s-era homes near Coral Shores and kitchen flare-ups in newer construction off Las Olas. Our crews document every removed material with photos and classification codes, then provide a written scope for reconstruction before any demolition begins.
Smoke & Soot Removal
Smoke and soot removal addresses the acidic residue that settles on surfaces within minutes of a fire and continues etching finishes until properly cleaned. Fort Lauderdale’s humid climate accelerates this damage, particularly on porous materials like unsealed travertine and coral stone accents common in local architecture. We use HEPA vacuuming, chemical sponges, and ultrasonic cleaning systems from Dri-Eaz and Phoenix to remove soot without grinding it deeper into surfaces.
Odor Removal & Deodorization
Odor removal and deodorization neutralizes smoke particles that have penetrated HVAC systems, wall cavities, and soft furnishings. This isn’t masking with fragrance; we deploy thermal fogging, ozone treatment, and hydroxyl generators to break odor molecules at the source. In Fort Lauderdale’s tight construction market, we’ve found that homes near the Intracoastal with limited cross-ventilation often require extended vapor pressure differential monitoring to confirm odor elimination.
Contents Cleaning & Pack-Out
Contents cleaning and pack-out protects salvageable belongings from further damage while restoration work proceeds. Our crews inventory each item with photo documentation, clean textiles and hard goods at our facility using ultrasonic and Esporta wash systems, and store everything in a climate-controlled warehouse until your Fort Lauderdale home is ready for return. Every inventory sheet is dated and signed, with copies for you and your adjuster.
Emergency Board-Up & Tarping
Emergency board-up and tarping secures your property against weather intrusion and unauthorized entry after fire department ventilation or structural compromise. We carry 5/8-inch plywood, commercial-grade tarps, and temporary security fencing on every emergency vehicle, and we document the pre-existing condition of all openings with photos before we seal them. In Fort Lauderdale’s hurricane season, this step also protects against secondary water damage that can complicate your insurance claim.
Structural Fire Repair
Structural fire repair rebuilds compromised load-bearing elements, wall assemblies, and roofing systems to pre-loss condition. Our project managers provide written scopes with line-item pricing, permit coordination with Fort Lauderdale Building Services, and progress photo documentation at each inspection milestone. We don’t start reconstruction until you’ve signed the scope and your insurer has confirmed coverage, so there’s no surprise invoices when the work is done.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
We’ve deployed Dri-Eaz and Phoenix dehumidification and air-scrubbing systems on hundreds of Fort Lauderdale fire restoration jobs, from single-room kitchen fires in Imperial Point condos to whole-house events in Rio Vista estates. These units produce the psychrometric data, vapor pressure differentials, and daily drying logs that document whether a structure is actually stabilized or merely surface-dry, and we know their performance curves well enough to spot when a unit needs filter replacement or refrigerant service before it fails on your job.
Our crews also work with XPOWER and B-Air air movers and HEPA filtration equipment for targeted smoke particle removal in tight spaces like Fort Lauderdale’s older Mediterranean Revival homes with minimal attic access. Whether your property has these systems already deployed by your insurance carrier’s preferred vendor or needs a complete equipment setup from our inventory, we can assess their output, document their readings, and supplement or replace them as needed to meet IICRC and IFA documentation standards.
Before
AfterSigns You Need Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Right Now
- Visible soot on walls or ceilings. Even a small fire produces enough smoke to leave a gray or brown film on surfaces above the burn point. In Fort Lauderdale’s humidity, this residue absorbs moisture and becomes acidic within hours, permanently staining painted drywall and etching glossy finishes.
- Persistent smoke odor that returns after cleaning. If you’ve wiped surfaces and run fans but still smell smoke when the HVAC cycles, particles have penetrated your ductwork, insulation, or wall cavities. This requires professional thermal fogging or hydroxyl treatment to reach hidden reservoirs.
- Discolored or warped drywall near the fire origin. Heat damage often extends beyond visible charring, compromising the paper facing and gypsum core. Fort Lauderdale building code requires replacement of fire-damaged drywall rather than cosmetic repair, and your insurer needs documentation of the full affected area.
- Corroded metal fixtures or electrical components. Smoke residue contains hydrochloric and sulfuric acids that attack copper wiring, brass fixtures, and galvanized steel within days. We document this corrosion with macro photography for your adjuster before it progresses to failure.
- HVAC system running after a fire. If your air handler operated during or after the event, it distributed smoke particles throughout the duct network and likely contaminated the coil and blower. This requires duct cleaning, coil restoration, and filter replacement with photo documentation of the contamination spread.
Our Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Process - Step by Step
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Emergency response and stabilization. When you call (754) 254-1257, our live dispatch gathers your address, insurance carrier, and the fire department’s release status. A crew with board-up materials and moisture detection equipment is dispatched to your Fort Lauderdale property, typically arriving within 2-4 hours depending on traffic patterns from I-95 or the Turnpike.
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Damage assessment and documentation. We photograph every affected room from multiple angles, record moisture readings in structural materials, and classify damage by type: char, heat distortion, smoke residue, or water damage from suppression. This documentation becomes the basis for your written scope and insurance claim.
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Written scope and price delivery. Before any work begins, you receive a line-item written scope with labor, materials, and equipment costs. Haven Standard, Clause 1: the price you sign is the price you pay, with no additions once our crew is inside your property.
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Cleanup, mitigation, and structural drying. We remove unsalvageable materials, clean soot from salvageable surfaces, deploy HEPA air scrubbers and dehumidifiers, and produce daily moisture logs showing vapor pressure differentials and specific humidity readings. This data proves the structure is dry, not just surface-dry, when we request insurance payment.
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Reconstruction and final documentation. After mitigation passes third-party verification, we rebuild to pre-loss condition with permit-compliant materials, coordinate inspections with Fort Lauderdale Building Services, and deliver a final photo record plus your signed 365-Day Done Right Promise under The Haven Standard.
How Much Does Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Cost in Fort Lauderdale?
A typical kitchen fire with limited smoke spread in Fort Lauderdale runs $3,500-$7,500 for cleanup, deodorization, and minor drywall repair, which shows how much Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration costs at the lower end. Moderate smoke damage affecting multiple rooms, including HVAC contamination and contents pack-out, typically ranges from $8,000-$14,000. Major structural fires requiring extensive demolition, reconstruction, and extended odor remediation can reach $15,000-$35,000 or more depending on square footage and finish quality.
Several factors move the price within these ranges: the fire’s duration before suppression, the materials burned (synthetic materials produce more toxic residue than natural wood), whether your HVAC system was running during the event, and the age of your home’s construction (pre-1990s homes in Fort Lauderdale often contain asbestos or lead that requires specialized abatement). High ceilings in neighborhoods like Harbor Beach or Lauderdale Yacht Club increase square footage of affected wall surface, while compact condos off A1A may concentrate damage in smaller, harder-to-access spaces.
What drives cost up unnecessarily is scope creep from verbal estimates that expand once work is underway. Haven Standard, Clause 1 prevents this: every line item is priced and signed before work begins. You can also bring any competitor’s written estimate for our Free Second Opinion review at no charge.
What’s included in our free estimate: a complete walk-through with photo documentation, moisture and contamination mapping, a written scope with line-item pricing, and a consultation on your insurance coverage and deductible. Call (754) 254-1257 to schedule.
Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Near Fort Lauderdale - Our Service Area
We respond to fire and smoke damage calls throughout Broward County and into northern Miami-Dade, including Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Pompano Beach, Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Plantation, Hollywood, Margate, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach, Pembroke Pines, Miami Gardens, North Miami Beach, and Boca Raton. Response times from our Fort Lauderdale staging area average 2-4 hours to properties east of I-95 and 3-5 hours to western Broward during peak traffic. For emergency board-up and stabilization, we prioritize properties with active weather exposure or security vulnerabilities.
Serving Fort Lauderdale, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Fort Lauderdale area and know this community well, and we also provide Plantation Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Fort Lauderdale
Fire and smoke damage restoration is the professional process of cleaning, stabilizing, and rebuilding a property after fire, smoke, or soot damage. It includes emergency board-up, debris removal, soot and odor remediation, contents cleaning, structural drying, and reconstruction to pre-loss condition. At DryMark Restoration Fort Lauderdale, every phase is documented with photos and moisture readings for your insurance claim.
Minor smoke cleanup and deodorization typically takes 3-5 days, while moderate fire damage with reconstruction requires 2-4 weeks. Major structural fires involving extensive rebuilds can extend to 8-12 weeks depending on permit timelines with Fort Lauderdale Building Services and your insurer’s approval process. We provide a written schedule with your scope so you know what to expect at each phase.
Most Fort Lauderdale fire restoration projects fall between $3,500 and $18,000, with kitchen fires at the lower end and whole-house events with structural damage at the upper end. Your specific cost depends on the fire’s size, materials affected, and whether your HVAC system distributed smoke throughout the property. Call (754) 254-1257 for a free written estimate with exact pricing for your situation.
Yes, our crews are trained on Dri-Eaz, Phoenix, XPOWER, and B-Air systems and can assess, operate, and document their output on any fire restoration job. If your insurance carrier’s preferred vendor deployed equipment that isn’t performing to spec, we’ll measure its output and replace it with units that produce the documented readings your claim requires.
Yes, our live dispatch answers emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (754) 254-1257 with no voicemail trees or next-business-day callbacks. Emergency board-up and stabilization crews are typically dispatched within 30 minutes and arrive at Fort Lauderdale properties within 2-4 hours.
Every job is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise under The Haven Standard: if any aspect of our work isn’t done right, we return and make it right at no additional cost. This is a signed written guarantee, not a verbal assurance, and it’s stamped on every scope we deliver.
If the fire department has released the property and it’s safe to enter, gather your insurance policy number, adjuster contact information, and any photos you took of the fire’s progression. Don’t attempt to clean soot yourself, as improper technique can grind residue deeper into surfaces and complicate documentation. Our crew will handle all assessment, documentation, and cleanup from arrival, and we’ll coordinate directly with your adjuster if you authorize us to do so.
Schedule Your Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Service in Fort Lauderdale Today
Call (754) 254-1257 now to speak with our live dispatch and schedule your free written estimate. We’ll arrive at your Fort Lauderdale property with documentation equipment, board-up materials, and a commitment to Haven Standard, Clause 1: a written price before any work starts, every time, with no exceptions. Whether you’re dealing with last night’s kitchen fire or last week’s lightning strike, we’ll show you exactly what we found, exactly what it costs, and exactly how we’ll document it for your insurer, including for Pompano Beach Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration.
Written by Alicia Brennan, Owner at Back to Dry Restoration, serving Fort Lauderdale since 2011.