Should my San Gabriel house be repaired or rebuilt after the fire?

That depends on what the heat and the water did to the frame. Firm joists and dry sills that pass our probe can stay, and the repair keeps to the damaged part of the house. Rot started by trapped water, or char through main beams, can tip the decision toward a new structure. You see the readings and photos for each area first.

Can you check my insurance scope for an San Gabriel rebuild?

We can. Crawlspace drying, insulation under the floor and replacement of wet sill plates sit out of sight, so they are easy for an adjuster to undercount. We compare the estimate with our measured scope, list the gaps with photos from under the house, and hand the list to you for the insurer.

What does the wildfire code require when I rebuild in San Gabriel?

We start with the map check for your parcel. Where the state has mapped a San Gabriel lot for fire hazard, the new roof, vents including the foundation ones, glazing, siding and eaves must meet the wildfire chapter. Where it has not, ordinary code sets the floor, and hardening beyond it is your decision.

Fire Rebuild & Reconstruction in San Gabriel

San Gabriel fire repairs that dry the crawlspace under a raised floor, cover the soil, and fit foundation vents with mesh fine enough to stop embers.

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If a San Gabriel house sits on a raised floor, hose water from the fire can pool in the crawlspace and stay there long after the rooms above dry out. We pump out standing water, check that the soil under the house drains toward an outlet, and lay a vapor retarder over the ground. Foundation vents then get ember resistant mesh fine enough to stop sparks while still letting the crawlspace air out.

Drying the space under the floor

Wet soil under a house keeps the joists, the subfloor and the mudsill damp, and damp wood decays and feeds mold. After pumping, we run fans and a dehumidifier through the access opening and take moisture readings on the framing until it is dry enough to close over. Insulation between joists that soaked up water comes out. Where the grade inside the foundation holds water, a shallow trench and a sump carry it to daylight or a drain. A heavy plastic sheet across the soil, lapped and taped at its seams, keeps ground moisture from rising again.

Vents, grading and the permit

Foundation vents are openings into the house, so they have to block embers as well as move air. We fit listed ember resistant vents or corrosion resistant metal mesh with small openings, keeping enough total vent area for the crawlspace. Outside, the soil against the foundation is shaped to fall away from the walls, and downspouts discharge onto splash blocks or into a pipe that carries water off. The City of San Gabriel reviews this work with the repair permit. If the state has mapped the parcel as a fire hazard zone, these vents and the rest of the exterior also fall under the wildfire chapter.

About our Fire Rebuild & Reconstruction service Services in San Gabriel