The situation
Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.
In this invented example, a lamp near bedding in an upstairs bedroom of an older bungalow starts a fire. The sloped plaster ceiling is directly below the roof. The household escapes and calls 911. Firefighters knock down the fire quickly but open part of the roof and pull the sloped ceiling to check for fire in the rafter spaces. The bedroom is badly damaged, and smoke fills the rest of the half story.
- The roof opening is tarped the same day, with care taken on the steep pitch.
- Knee-wall spaces on both sides of the house are opened and found to hold smoke-laden insulation.
- Several rafters in the burned area are charred and need replacement or sistering.
- Plaster on undamaged sloped ceilings in the other bedroom is test cleaned and saved.
- Old wiring in the half story is examined by an electrician and replaced where walls are open.
- The downstairs is cleaned for smoke drift, with less damage than upstairs.
The burned bedroom is rebuilt, the roof section is reframed and reroofed with shingles matched to the rest of the roof slope, and the other upstairs rooms are cleaned rather than gutted.
What made this fire different from a ground-floor fire
- Roof involvement
- Sloped ceilings put fire directly against roof framing
- Hidden spaces
- Knee walls hid insulation that held smoke
- Access
- Steep roof needed fall protection for tarping and repair
- Wiring
- Half-story wiring was older than downstairs circuits
How the repair was sequenced
- Protect the opening.Tarp the roof and secure the room so weather stays out.
- Test and clear.Sample suspect materials, then remove charred plaster, insulation and framing.
- Rebuild framing and roof.Replace rafters and sheathing, then roof under permit.
- Update wiring.Rewire the opened area and inspect before closing.
- Finish walls and clean.Close up walls, clean and seal the remaining rooms, and repaint.
Common questions
Why did firefighters open the roof for a fire in one small bedroom?
With sloped ceilings, the space between the plaster and the roof deck is only a few inches deep and runs up to the ridge. Fire can travel there unseen, so crews open it to be sure nothing is still burning.
Could the whole roof need replacing after a small fire like this?
Sometimes. If the remaining shingles cannot be matched, an insurer may agree to redo the full slope or the entire roof. In this example, matching shingles were available for the affected slope.
General information for Park Hill, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.