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.
Trusted Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration for Miami Homeowners
Fire and smoke damage restoration in Miami typically costs $3,500-$18,000 depending on the fire class, square footage affected, and whether structural repairs are needed. Most emergency board-up and stabilization calls are answered within 90 minutes, with full restoration timelines ranging from 5 days for light smoke damage to 8-12 weeks for major structural rebuilds. Call (786) 250-0820 for a written estimate before any work begins.
Since 2011, Alicia Brennan has led Back to Dry Restoration under The Haven Standard, building the company around a documentation gap she saw firsthand as a former claims adjuster: restoration invoices that insurers denied because crews couldn’t produce moisture logs, photo records, or written scopes. We’ve restored 12,000+ homes, and every one started with a written price and ended with a documented record. In Miami’s subtropical climate, where humidity above 75% year-round can reactivate smoke residues and accelerate corrosion of electrical systems, that documentation isn’t paperwork. It’s the difference between a paid claim and a disputed one.
Our crews carry professional-grade equipment from Dri-Eaz, Phoenix, and XPOWER, and every technician is background-checked, uniformed, and licensed. The license number is available on request. Live phone coverage runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no voicemail trees. When you call, a person answers.
What Our Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Service Includes
Fire Damage Cleanup
Fire damage cleanup is the controlled removal of charred structural materials, compromised insulation, and fire-damaged personal property following NFPA 921 classification standards. You need it after any fire that produces visible charring or structural compromise, even if the fire department contained the blaze to one room. At Back to Dry Restoration, we document every removed material with photos, classify debris by type (Class A ordinary combustibles, Class B flammable liquids, or Class C energized electrical), and provide a written inventory for your adjuster before anything leaves the property.
Smoke & Soot Removal
Smoke and soot removal targets the acidic residues that settle on surfaces within minutes of a fire and begin etching glass, metal, and painted drywall within hours. You need it when you see discoloration on walls near the fire origin, or when you smell smoke in rooms the flames never reached. We use HEPA vacuuming followed by wet-cleaning with pH-specific detergents: alkaline cleaners for protein smoke from kitchen fires, solvent-based products for synthetic smoke from plastic combustion, and dry sponges for oxygen-starved, greasy soot from slow-burning fires.
Odor Removal & Deodorization
Odor removal and deodorization eliminates smoke odor molecules that have bonded with porous materials, not just masking them with fragrances. You need it when smoke odor persists after surface cleaning, particularly in Miami’s humid climate where elevated vapor pressure drives odor molecules deeper into drywall and upholstery. We deploy thermal fogging, ozone treatment (with proper safety protocols and re-entry timing), and hydroxyl generators for occupied spaces, documenting pre- and post-treatment odor readings with a calibrated olfactometer where adjusters require quantitative proof.
Contents Cleaning & Pack-Out
Contents cleaning and pack-out is the inventory, removal, cleaning, and storage of salvageable personal property during structural restoration. You need it when smoke or water from fire suppression has affected items in multiple rooms, or when structural repairs require emptying the space. We photograph each item in place, assign a barcode, clean at our facility using ultrasonic immersion for non-porous items and specialized textile cleaning for fabrics, and store everything in a climate-controlled warehouse with 24-hour security monitoring until your home is ready.
Emergency Board-Up & Tarping
Emergency board-up and tarping secures compromised openings in your home’s envelope to prevent weather intrusion, vandalism, and liability exposure. You need it immediately after fire department release, before Miami’s afternoon thunderstorms or overnight humidity can cause secondary damage. We use 5/8-inch plywood minimum for board-ups, fire-retardant tarps for roof breaches, and document the condition of each opening with dated photos for your insurance file. The written scope includes a timeline for permanent repairs.
Structural Fire Repair
Structural fire repair restores load-bearing elements, framing, and finished surfaces to pre-loss condition under applicable Florida Building Code requirements. You need it when fire, heat, or suppression water has compromised joists, studs, subflooring, or foundation elements. We produce engineered repair plans for permit submission to Miami-Dade County, coordinate inspections, and provide a written price for the full rebuild before demolition begins. No scope-creep additions once the crew is inside. Haven Standard, Clause 1.
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 serviced hundreds of homes with Dri-Eaz dehumidification systems deployed during the water damage phase that follows nearly every fire suppression effort. Their LGR 7000XLi units integrate with our daily moisture logs, producing the psychrometric data, vapor pressure differential readings, and grain depression measurements that document drying progress to IICRC S500 standards. When your adjuster asks for proof that structural members reached acceptable moisture content before rebuild, we have it.
Phoenix and XPOWER air movers and axial fans figure heavily in our smoke odor removal protocols, particularly in Miami’s dense neighborhoods like Coral Gables and Miami Beach where multi-unit buildings require contained, documented airflow management. Whether your property was serviced with Dri-Eaz, Phoenix, XPOWER, or any other make of restoration equipment, we can assess the damage, document the findings, and produce the written scope your claim requires.
Signs You Need Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Right Now
- Visible soot or discoloration on walls and ceilings. Soot is acidic and begins etching painted surfaces within hours. In Miami’s high humidity, that etching accelerates. If you see gray, black, or brown staining, especially near electrical outlets or HVAC vents, the residue is already active and spreading through your air handling system.
- Persistent smoke odor that returns after cleaning. Surface cleaning with household products cannot reach odor molecules absorbed into drywall, insulation, and wood framing. If the smell comes back within 24-48 hours, you’ve got bonded residues requiring professional thermal fogging or hydroxyl treatment.
- Corroded metal fixtures or tarnished appliances. Smoke contains hydrochloric acid from PVC combustion and sulfur compounds from rubber and insulation. These begin corroding metal within 72 hours. In coastal Miami, where salt air already accelerates corrosion, smoke-accelerated damage can total appliances that appeared functional immediately after the fire.
- Water damage from fire suppression. Sprinkler systems and hose lines introduce 100+ gallons of water that saturates drywall, warps hardwood, and creates mold-conducive conditions within 24-48 hours in Miami’s climate. The fire damage and water damage must be addressed together, with documented drying logs for both.
- Compromised structural elements. Charred or heat-distorted framing, sagging ceilings, or buckled flooring indicate load-bearing damage that poses ongoing safety risk. Do not occupy spaces with visible structural compromise. We provide emergency shoring and engineered repair plans for permit-compliant rebuilds.
Our Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Process - Step by Step
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Emergency response and site stabilization. We arrive within 90 minutes for emergency calls in Miami, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, and surrounding areas. Our crew boards compromised openings, tarp roof breaches, and shuts down HVAC systems to prevent smoke circulation. Every action is photographed and time-stamped for your insurance file.
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Damage assessment and documentation. We conduct a room-by-room inspection using moisture meters, thermal imaging cameras, and borescope examination of wall cavities. We classify fire type, identify smoke migration paths, and document pre-existing conditions. You receive a written scope and price before any restoration work begins. Haven Standard, Clause 1.
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Contents inventory and pack-out. Salvageable items are photographed in place, barcoded, and transported to our climate-controlled facility. Non-salvageable items are inventoried with photos and descriptions for your personal property claim. You receive a copy of the complete inventory within 48 hours.
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Structural cleaning, deodorization, and drying. We deploy HEPA vacuuming, pH-specific wet cleaning, thermal fogging, and hydroxyl or ozone treatment as appropriate. For water damage from suppression, we establish drying chambers with Dri-Eaz and Phoenix equipment, recording daily moisture readings, relative humidity, and vapor pressure differential until materials reach IICRC-dry standards.
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Structural repair, rebuild, and final documentation. Permitted repairs are completed under Florida Building Code compliance, with progress photos at each inspection milestone. We provide a final photo record, signed completion certificate, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise backed by The Haven Standard. If it’s not done right, we make it right.
How Much Does Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Cost in Miami?
A typical emergency board-up and stabilization in Miami runs $800-$2,500 depending on the number of compromised openings and roof area requiring tarp coverage. Light smoke and soot cleanup for a single room with no structural damage typically costs $2,000-$5,000. Moderate fire damage affecting multiple rooms with contents pack-out and deodorization ranges from $5,000-$12,000. Major structural fire repair with rebuild, including engineered plans and permit coordination, typically runs $15,000-$50,000+ depending on square footage and finish quality.
Several factors move these ranges. Fire classification matters: protein fires from cooking require more intensive cleaning than dry-paper fires. Smoke migration distance affects labor hours, particularly in open-plan layouts common in newer Miami construction. Water damage from suppression adds drying equipment days and potential mold prevention treatment. Finish quality for rebuilds, from builder-grade to custom millwork, drives material costs significantly.
To avoid overpaying, get every scope in writing before work starts. Haven Standard, Clause 1 exists precisely to prevent the surprise additions that occur when crews discover “unforeseen” damage after they’re already inside. We also offer a Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written estimate. Bring another company’s quote and we’ll review it at no charge, line by line, against what we would document for the same loss.
Our free estimate includes the full written scope, equipment list, timeline, and price. No obligation. Call (786) 250-0820 to schedule.
Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Near Miami - Our Service Area
Back to Dry Restoration serves Miami and surrounding communities with typical emergency response times of 60-90 minutes in the urban core and 90-120 minutes in outlying areas. We regularly work in Miami Beach, Key Biscayne, Coral Gables, Hialeah, Opa-locka, North Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Hollywood, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, and Fort Lauderdale. In coastal neighborhoods like Key Biscayne and Miami Beach, where salt air accelerates corrosion of smoke-damaged metal and high-rise buildings complicate equipment access, our crews carry corrosion-inhibiting treatments and compact equipment configurations for constrained spaces.
Serving Miami, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Miami area and know this community well, including Coral Gables. 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 Miami
Fire and smoke damage restoration is the professional process of cleaning, deodorizing, repairing, and rebuilding a property after fire, smoke, or soot damage. It includes emergency stabilization, contents handling, structural cleaning, odor elimination, and permitted reconstruction to return the property to pre-loss condition. At Back to Dry Restoration, every phase is documented with photos, moisture readings, and written scopes for insurance compliance.
Light smoke damage with cleaning only typically takes 3-5 days. Moderate damage requiring contents pack-out and deodorization runs 1-3 weeks. Major structural repairs with rebuild typically require 8-12 weeks depending on permit timelines and material availability. We provide a written timeline with every scope so you know what to expect before work begins. Call (786) 250-0820 for a specific estimate based on your damage.
Costs range from $800-$2,500 for emergency board-up, $2,000-$5,000 for light smoke cleanup, $5,000-$12,000 for moderate damage with contents handling, and $15,000-$50,000+ for major structural rebuilds. The fire type, smoke migration distance, water damage from suppression, and finish quality all affect the final price. We provide a written price before any work starts, with no scope-creep additions. Haven Standard, Clause 1.
Yes. We’ve serviced hundreds of properties with Dri-Eaz and Phoenix dehumidification and air movement systems, and we stock compatible components for integration with our documented drying protocols. Whether your previous contractor installed Dri-Eaz, Phoenix, XPOWER, or another brand, we can assess current equipment function, document findings, and incorporate existing units into a compliant drying plan or replace them as needed.
Yes. Live phone coverage is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no voicemail trees. Emergency board-up and stabilization crews typically arrive within 90 minutes in the Miami area. Fires don’t follow business hours, and neither does our dispatch. Call (786) 250-0820 any time.
Every job is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise backed by The Haven Standard. If any aspect of our work is not done right, we make it right at no additional cost. This is a written guarantee, not a verbal assurance, and it’s stamped on every job file. We can also provide documentation of our work for your insurance company’s records.
Ensure the fire department has released the property and utilities are shut down or tagged safe by the authority having jurisdiction. Do not enter until structural safety is confirmed. Gather your insurance policy number and adjuster contact if available, but do not delay calling us for this. We can begin emergency stabilization and documentation immediately, and we coordinate directly with adjusters as part of our standard service. Call (786) 250-0820 and we’ll guide you through the immediate steps.
Schedule Your Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Service in Miami Today
Call (786) 250-0820 now for a free, written estimate on fire and smoke damage restoration in Miami Beach or anywhere in the Miami area. A live person answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You’ll receive a documented photo record on every visit, a written price before any work begins, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise backed by The Haven Standard. No obligation. No voicemail. Just the documentation your claim needs.
Written by Alicia Brennan, Owner at Back to Dry Restoration, serving Miami since 2011.