Fire Damage Repair in Commerce, CA
The debris is gone and the odor is nearly out, yet the house is still open framing and plywood. One free call to Unify Fire Solutions connects you with a licensed and insured independent contractor in Commerce who handles the rebuild: framing, wiring, drywall, roofing and the finish work that makes it feel like home again. The line is answered 24/7, and dispatch begins before you hang up.
- Rebuild contractors who work from your adjuster's scope
- Line-item estimates in writing before a stud is touched
- Contractors who pull permits and schedule inspections
Getting your home back after the cleanup
Cleanup leaves the house safe and stripped. Repair is the slower phase that makes it livable again, and it depends on permits, inspections and an insurance scope that almost never catches everything the first time.
Licensed, Insured Independent Pros
Reconstruction is general contracting, and most jurisdictions require a licensed contractor to pull the building permit. The independent contractors we connect you with carry their own license and liability coverage, and electrical and plumbing work goes to licensed trade subcontractors. Ask to see the license and a certificate of insurance before you sign, then verify both.
Line-Item Quotes Up Front
Nobody should start framing on a handshake. The contractor who walks your property writes a line-item estimate, usually in the same estimating format insurers use, so each line can be held up against the adjuster's scope. If a line is missing, such as drywall texture or an arc-fault breaker, it shows up in black and white.
Rapid Local Dispatch
The line is staffed 24/7, and matching you with a contractor near Commerce starts on the first call. A walkthrough often happens the same day or the next, depending on crew availability and distance. That gets your estimate in front of the adjuster sooner.
The Right Reconstruction Tools
Rebuild crews show up with gear a cleanup crew never carries. Expect moisture meters to confirm framing is dry before it gets closed in, framing nailers and joist hangers, laser levels for flattening a sistered floor, and a paint spectrophotometer for blending new walls into the rooms that survived.
Fire Damage Repair from the framing out
No two fire losses match, yet the rebuild nearly always runs in one sequence: structure first, then systems, then the shell, then finishes.
For most people the construction is not the hard part. Knowing what belongs on the list is. An adjuster writing a scope from the doorway can miss the joist that is charred on its top edge, the circuit that cooked inside a wall two rooms away, or the PEX line that sagged above the ceiling. A contractor who opens wall cavities and probes the lumber catches those items while the walls are still open, not a year later.
These are the parts of a fire rebuild that contractors in our network around Commerce usually take on. Your job may need some of it or all of it, and the written estimate will spell out which.
Adjuster Scope Comparison
The adjuster's scope is the starting point, not the final word. The contractor compares it line by line against what actually burned, scorched or got soaked, and writes a supplement for anything missed.
- Line-by-line comparison with the scope of loss
- Photos and measurements behind each supplement
- Meeting the adjuster on site when needed
Joists, Studs and Framing
Charred lumber gets probed and measured, not guessed at. Lightly burned joists are usually sistered with fresh lumber, and deeply charred or split members get cut out and replaced.
- Char depth checks with an awl or probe
- Sistering, new headers and top plates
- Engineer review for load-bearing changes
Wiring and Plumbing Replacement
Heat travels along a circuit well past the burn line. Insulation on cable can turn brittle or melt inside a wall, so licensed electricians usually replace circuits that ran through the hot zone. PVC softens at modest temperatures and PEX is not built for fire heat, so melted runs get replaced by licensed plumbers.
- New circuits, boxes and panel work
- Melted PEX, PVC and fittings replaced
- Pressure test before the walls close
Drywall, Insulation and Vapor Barriers
After the framing inspection, the walls are rebuilt in layers: insulation, a vapor retarder where code requires one, then board, tape, mud and texture.
- Batts, blown cellulose or foam to code
- Type X board on garage and rated walls
- Texture matched to surviving rooms
Roof Decking, Windows and Doors
A fire that vents through the roof leaves charred rafters, delaminated sheathing and shingles that will never seal again. The contractor replaces decking, underlayment and roofing, then sets new windows and exterior doors where heat cracked glass or warped frames.
- Rafter repair and new roof decking
- Underlayment, flashing and roofing
- Replacement windows and entry doors
Flooring, Cabinets and Finishes
The last stage is the one you will see every single day. New cabinets, counters and flooring go in, paint is color-matched, and trim is milled or sourced to match the profiles in the rooms that made it through.
- Cabinet and countertop replacement
- Flooring matched or replaced room to room
- Paint, trim and hardware matching
About code upgrades: A permit for fire repairs can trigger current-code items your house never had, such as interconnected smoke and CO alarms or arc-fault breakers on bedroom circuits. Many policies carry ordinance-or-law coverage that may help with the extra cost. Limits vary, so ask your adjuster what your policy says before the permit is pulled.
Is the cleanup finished at your place?
A single free call puts you in touch with an independent rebuild contractor in the Commerce area, any hour of the day.
Call +1-833-336-1630From the first call to the final walkthrough
A typical rebuild runs for weeks or months, not days, so it helps to know the shape of it before you start.
- 1
Call the Dispatch Line
Let the dispatcher know how far cleanup has gotten, whether you have an adjuster's scope yet, and which rooms took the fire. The call is free, and the line is open 24/7.
- 2
A Contractor Comes Out
Dispatch matches a reconstruction contractor near Commerce, who sets a walkthrough time, frequently the same day or the next. Timing depends on crew availability and distance.
- 3
Assessment and Written Quote
The contractor probes framing, takes moisture readings, opens a few wall cavities to trace wiring, and photographs everything. You get a written, line-item estimate to go over with your adjuster before any work begins.
- 4
Work Done, Then a Walkthrough
Permits are pulled, rough-in inspections pass, and the house is closed in and finished. At the end you walk every room with the contractor and a punch list, and nothing is signed off until each item is done.
What Commerce homeowners said about the rebuild
The insurance scope only listed drywall and paint over the stove. The contractor pulled the ceiling and found the joists above it charred halfway through. He sistered three of them, sent photos to the adjuster, and the supplement was approved the following week.
Our garage fire looked contained, but the electrician found melted cable jackets running into the laundry room wall. They rewired those runs, hung Type X board in the garage, and it passed inspection the first time.
I own a duplex and had tenants waiting to move back in. The contractor pulled the permit, called me after each inspection, and cleared the punch list in a couple of days. My tenants were home sooner than I expected.
What I worried about was the hallway. Half the oak floor burned and half did not. They wove new boards into the old ones, refinished the whole run, and you honestly cannot tell where the fire stopped.
Fire rebuild questions we hear most
How long does it take to rebuild a house after a fire?
One burned room, such as a kitchen, is often finished within a few weeks of estimate approval. When the damage spreads to the roof or multiple rooms, plan on several months, since permits, inspections and backordered materials all add time. Ask the contractor for a written schedule with the inspection points marked.
Do I need a building permit to repair fire damage?
In most places, yes, once the work goes beyond cosmetic repairs. Replacing framing, wiring, plumbing or roofing typically requires a permit and inspections at rough-in and final. The licensed contractor normally pulls it, and the inspector's sign-off protects you when you sell or refinance later.
Can charred joists be repaired, or do they have to be replaced?
That comes down to char depth and whether the joist can still carry what it was sized for. Light surface char is usually cleaned and sealed, and moderate char is typically handled by sistering new lumber alongside. Deep char, cracking or sagging generally means replacement, sometimes with an engineer's letter.
Does all the wiring have to be replaced after a house fire?
Not every wire, though anything that ran through the hot area needs inspection and is commonly replaced. Heat can damage the insulation on a cable inside a wall even where the drywall looks fine. A licensed electrician traces the runs, tests them, and the work is inspected before walls close.
What if the contractor's estimate is higher than the insurance adjuster's?
That is common, and it rarely means anyone is padding the numbers. The contractor writes a supplement that lists the missing items with photos and measurements, and the adjuster reviews it. Many differences come from hidden damage that was found once walls and ceilings were opened.
Who pays for code upgrades when rebuilding after a fire?
Many policies include ordinance-or-law coverage, which may pay some or all of the cost of bringing rebuilt areas up to current code. Limits and terms vary widely, so read your declarations page or ask your adjuster before work starts. Typical items are smoke and CO alarms, arc-fault breakers and updated stair or egress details.
Fire Damage Repair in Commerce and surrounding neighborhoods
We take calls from every part of Commerce and the communities around it, from older homes with plaster and knob-and-tube surprises to newer builds with engineered joists and PEX manifolds. The dispatcher matches you with an independent contractor who already works in your area and knows the local permit office.
- Kitchen rebuilds
- Garage fires
- Roof and attic losses
- Rental units
- Condos and townhomes
- Small businesses
Zip codes we take calls from include 90040 90022 90023 90091. When the mess is gone and you want your house back, call and a dispatcher starts matching you right away. If the first contractor is not the right fit, call back and we will connect you with another one.
