Fire repair and hardening in West Hills, Los Angeles County
Fire Rebuild and Framing Repair in West Hills
Fire rebuilds in West Hills that begin with burned framing: char depth probing, engineered repairs, shoring and an ember resistant shell, by Fernhill.
Scorched studs, a ridge that has dropped or a floor that flexes underfoot put Fire Rebuild first on a West Hills house, ahead of any window, finish or paint. Until the structure is assessed, braced and repaired, the trades that follow have nothing sound to fasten to. Even where the frame survived, the order holds: structure, then the outer shell, then the openings in it.
Measuring what the fire left
How deep the char goes tells us how much sound wood is left in a member. We probe each burned stud, joist and rafter with an awl, measure the remaining section, and weigh it against what the span calls for. Light surface char can sometimes be cleaned, sealed and kept. Deep char or a split piece is sistered or replaced. Where beams, the ridge or bearing walls are affected, a structural engineer reviews our findings and stamps the repair details, and temporary shoring holds the load in the meantime. The foundation gets a look as well, since heat can spall or crack concrete.
A harder shell on the rebuilt frame
Chapter 7A of the California Building Code sets ember resistant assemblies for homes in mapped fire hazard zones, and any rebuild can follow it by choice. Once the frame is sound, the walls can take gypsum sheathing under the siding, the eaves can be closed with noncombustible board, and listed vents can go into the attic and crawlspace. Dual glazed windows with a tempered outer pane and a Class A roof complete the shell. LADBS reviews the structural set for West Hills and inspects the framing before any wall is closed up.
Work we take on in West Hills
Every service on this list is offered here. The exterior and fire work comes first, then remodeling and new space.
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