Fire and smoke damage restoration in Chesapeake and South Hampton Roads
AmeriTribe restores homes and apartments after kitchen, garage and multi-unit fires in Chesapeake and across South Hampton Roads. The crew assesses the structure, removes what can't be saved, cleans the framing, treats smoke odor and manages your contents, then rebuilds as a licensed Virginia Class A contractor. Call (757) 520-5190 24/7.
- Native American ownedFamily run since 2011
- Virginia Class A ContractorLicense #2705142434
- Licensed asbestos contractorLicense #3306001176
- Emergency line, 24/7(757) 520-5190
The fire is out. The damage keeps going.
Smoke and soot get into drywall, insulation, ductwork and everything you own. The smell comes back on humid days. Water from the fire hose soaks floors and walls. Many companies clean the surfaces and leave, and the odor and the rebuild are your problem.
We've seen how much a kitchen fire takes out of a family
AmeriTribe handles the whole job under one license: the structural check, the tear-out, the cleaning and odor treatment, your belongings, and the rebuild. You deal with one company while you get your life back in order.
Three steps, one company
Call (757) 520-5190.
We check the structure and what is safe.
We clean, deodorize and document.
Tear-out, stud cleaning, odor treatment and an Xactimate estimate for your insurer.
We rebuild.
Framing repairs, drywall, kitchens, flooring and paint.
What does fire damage restoration include?
Fire damage restoration covers a structural assessment, removal of burned and smoke-damaged materials, cleaning the framing, smoke odor treatment, contents cleaning or packout, and the reconstruction. AmeriTribe handles each phase, so the home goes from burned to rebuilt without a handoff between contractors.
Why does smoke smell come back after cleaning?
Because smoke works into porous materials, like drywall, insulation and bare wood, that surface cleaning never reaches. AmeriTribe takes damaged walls down to the studs where needed, cleans the framing itself in a process that runs about six hours, and uses an aerosol fogging treatment to break down odor deep in the structure.
Our fire and smoke damage restoration process
Structural assessment. Check the structure and identify what is safe to enter and what can be saved.
Contents. We manage a packout of your belongings with a dedicated contents partner. Clothing, paintings and furniture can often be restored.
Tear-out. Burned and smoke-saturated drywall, insulation and flooring come out, down to the studs where needed.
Stud cleaning. A specialized cleaning of the exposed framing, about six hours for a typical area.
Odor treatment. Aerosol fogging reaches the smoke odor that cleaning alone leaves behind.
Insurance documentation. Photos and an Xactimate estimate for your adjuster.
Reconstruction. Framing repairs, drywall, kitchens, flooring, paint and trim.
What about the water from putting the fire out?
Firefighting water soaks floors, walls and subfloors, and wet materials can grow mold within days. AmeriTribe dries the structure as part of the fire job, and if the tear-out exposes asbestos in an older home, our licensed abatement crew handles it too.
From a client
★★★★★
It’s difficult to put into words how grateful I am to have worked with Steve and the entire Ameritribe team. Unfortunately I was dealing with the trauma of a burnt down house and was initially working with an unscrupulous contractor. My gut told me something was wrong as they started framing the house. I called Ameritribe to get another opinion and a quote. Steve went to the house, taking photos of the shoddy construction and taking the time to explain exactly what was wrong with the framing. I knew immediately I needed to work with him.
For the next 10 months, I worked closely with Steve and the team. They did the cleaning (everything from the crawl space to removing the soot, etc), fixed the shoddy framing and they built back the rest of the house. Steve was patient as I had some trust issues from the previous contractor, always taking the time to explain next steps and go over construction step by step so I understood what was going on. What really blew me away was how ethical Steve was. Steve not only went above and beyond, but always stood by his word and did what was right by me as the customer. That doesn’t happen often and I’ll admit, I can be nitpicky and a little difficult to work with. It didn’t seem to phase Steve at all.
During construction, one of the subcontractors messed up the sink installation and incorrectly cut the countertop in the kitchen. Steve worked around the clock to get them to fix their mistake with minimal timing disruption and made sure that I wasn’t charged any additional fees.
When I say he went out of his way to do the little things, I’ll give you another example. I had a small open gap in my side porch that I planned to cover with plywood. In passing, Steve said it would be better to use a sheet of metal so it would last longer. I was already over budget and didn’t want to pay extra so I said the plywood was fine. When I came back to the house a few weeks later, he had cut a sheet of metal for me. Things like these were thoughtful and honestly, just kind. I was already going through the worst time of my life with the house fire and to encounter someone who was just a good human, was really refreshing.
I’d also like to give Amber a shout out for quickly answering my calls and emails throughout this very lengthy process. I can’t say enough good things about Steve and the entire Ameritribe team - I highly recommend them.
What waiting costs you
Soot is acidic and keeps working on finishes, metals and electronics after the fire is out. Smoke odor settles deeper the longer it sits, and fire-hose water starts the mold clock. The sooner the cleanup starts, the more of your home and belongings can be saved.
What affects the cost of fire damage restoration?
Cost depends on how far the fire and smoke spread, how much has to be torn out, the volume of contents to clean or pack out, and the scope of the rebuild. A contained stovetop fire is a very different job from a fire that reached the attic. Fire damage is usually a covered peril on homeowners policies, and AmeriTribe writes the Xactimate estimate your adjuster will review.
What moves the price up or down
- How many rooms smoke reached
- Structural damage to framing or roof
- Contents packout and cleaning
- Water damage from firefighting
- The scope of the rebuild
Paying for part of it yourself?
For your deductible, work your policy doesn't cover, or upgrades you choose, you can check financing options through Acorn Finance. Checking your options won't affect your credit score.
Check your financing options (opens Acorn Finance in a new tab)Financing is offered through Acorn Finance and its lending partners, who make all credit decisions. AmeriTribe is not a lender. How financing works
Where does AmeriTribe provide fire and smoke damage restoration?
AmeriTribe provides fire and smoke damage restoration from its Chesapeake office to homes and businesses in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk. One call to (757) 520-5190 covers all of South Hampton Roads.
Licensed, insured and verifiable
Virginia Class A Contractor #2705142434. Virginia Asbestos Contractor #3306001176. Fully insured, including pollution liability. Native American owned and family run since 2011.
Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration FAQ
Can my belongings be saved after a fire?
Often, yes. Clothing, paintings, furniture and many household items can be cleaned and restored. Items damaged by fire suppression foam or exposed to toxic smoke are harder to save. AmeriTribe manages the packout and works with a dedicated contents partner, and your adjuster gets a full inventory.
Do you handle small kitchen fires?
Yes. Most of the fires AmeriTribe restores are kitchen, garage and apartment fires. Even a small kitchen fire can push smoke through the whole house, so we check every room, not just the one that burned.
Do you work on apartment and multi-unit fires?
Yes. Multi-unit fires are a regular part of our work. Smoke and water often travel into neighboring units, and AmeriTribe can work with property managers and owners on every affected unit.
How long does fire damage restoration take?
The cleanup phase depends on how much has to be torn out, and the rebuild depends on the scope and on insurance approval. You get a written scope and timeline before reconstruction starts.
Should I turn on the heat or air conditioning after a fire?
Not until the system has been checked. Running the HVAC can push soot through the ductwork and into rooms the fire never reached. Leave it off, ventilate if it is safe, and tell us about it when you call.
Not ready to call yet?
Read the free checklist, The First 48 Hours After Water, Fire or Mold Damage.
From smoke damage to move-in ready, with one company
Emergency line answered 24/7. Office open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM.