First General Services of Western PA has been in the Fire, Water, and Storm restoration business for over 27 years and we'd like to share some of our knowledge and experience through a series of Frequently Asked Questions we get from customers when we are doing a Fire Restoration job for them.

The process is often confusing, but we hope by covering a few quick questions, we can help you better understand what will happen if you have a insurance claim with fire damage. Here are some FAQ's:

1. Will you get the smoke smell out and how?

Yes. We complete the task in a few ways.One is that we use an industry specific ThermoFog machine.We create a negative air pressure in the house and use the Thermofog to pump a special solution of "cleaning smoke" into your home. This solution significantly reduces the smell, especially in hard to reach cracks and crevices. We also use a new product in the industry: a Hydroxyl machine. We will also Ozone all of your contents that have a smoke smell. In addition, we open up your walls and clean any smoke that may have got behind them. We finish by sealing all of the walls up after we are done.

2. How much will it cost?

Before we start ANY job, we give a detailed LINE by LINE estimate of exactly what we plan to do. With that line by line worksheet we show the price for each and every item down to the penny.You should get a DETAILED estimate on your work from whatever contractor you select.

3.How Long is the process?

This differs widely from job to job. Some small fires with just a smoke odor can be cleaned in as little as two days. Other larger fires that have extensive damage can take up to 6-8 weeks.

4.What about my clothes? When will they be cleaned?

We are an emergency response company. We understand that you need to live your life even if you home is damaged.That is why we offer a 24 turnaround on any clothes that you need so life gets back to normal very quickly for you.

5.Will you work with my insurance company through the process?

We work with dozens and maybe over 100 carriers. We can work on your behalf to make sure the insurance company is aware of all the damage to your home and double check that you are covered for those damages.

6.How many times have you done this before?

Only about a few thousand times.If you are working with a less experienced contractor that is doing your fire restoration work, check on the job frequently. This is not just a remodel of your home.This is specialized work that takes decades of experience and know-how to do properly. Get references from your contractor.

7. Are you a registered contractor?

Yes we are.With both the PA Attorney General's office and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).We encourage all of our customers to contact each of them before we start a job..

8.Are your workers checked before they come into my home?

Yes.We do a criminal background check on each of our employees.We also do random drug and alcohol testing. Feel at ease when we are in your home.

Hopefully these answers can make you feel more comfortable when working through your fire claim. We serve most of Western PA from Meadville to Sewickly to Clarion, and parts of Ohio close to Youngstown.We keep our website up to date with the latest Fire, Water, and Storm restoration information.Feel free to stop at our website and ask more questions if you have them!