Fire in Kitchen & smoke damage

[psc3239]

Christmas was going well until we had a chip pan fire in our 10 month old kitchen on boxing day. The cooker and units either side of the extractor are gone, and the rest of the units are black, as are the walls and ceilings.

does anyone have any experience of how this should be tackled, we are insured and i want to make sure its done right. The kitchen is a single story extension on the back of the house with a piched roof. Its also pitched on the inside so where it joins the main house the ceiling is about 10ft high, its has a velux window with spot lights in the ceiling.

Should the ceiling be taken down and re plaster boarded and walls stripped and skimmed, or can it all be cleaned. Will the white units clean up or will they just rip it all out and start again.

Any advice would be appreciated so i dont just have to take the word of the insurance company as im sure they will try to spend as little as possible.

Many thanks Paul

 

[ColJack]

chips, cold turkey and pickles for boxing day dinner? ah yes... the traditional day after christmas meal ..

sorry to hear about the fire.. but one has to ask how you managed to start a chip pan fire in the age of electric chip pans..
or are you one of the silly people that still uses a pan full of oil over a gas hob?

without seeing the extent of the damage it will be hard to give advice on what would need doing..

 

[dave.m]

The insurance company MAY send an assessor round and his figures will be their ballpark figure for repairs. They will then want estimates or quotes.

Then get at least two estimates (if they want three, get three) from reputable companies and send them off. They will then tell you what they are going to pay and, probably, send you a cheque.

Remember your excess payment.

 

[foxhole]

Do you have smoke damage to the whole house?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I bet you get rid of your chip pan now!

 

[27neth]

I worked doing repairs for insurance companys (flood and fire damage) .. If the walls are just smoke damaged they might just stain-block them then redecorate..
Your cabinets wont come clean so they will be replaced, luckily its a new kitchen so you can get a match..
Is there tiles in the kitchen? this could be the problem as they might try to just clean the grout or regrout which never looks good.
You may not need to get quotes as the insurance company may have there own registered builders , then if theres any problems with the work you can complain to the insurance company instead of the builder you choose...

John