Wildfire Restoration Estimate and Scope Checklist
How to review a wildfire restoration estimate before approving mitigation, smoke cleanup, contents work, roofing, water drying, or reconstruction.
Direct Answer
A credible wildfire restoration scope separates fire, smoke, ash, odor, water, contents, roof, exterior, outbuildings, code and permit items, exclusions, photos, and the change-order process. It should not be a vague one-line promise to restore the property.
This guidance supports restoration decisions. For evacuation, shelter, road, air-quality, water-safety, insurance-coverage, or legal questions, use the official sources and licensed professionals linked on this page.
Structure and mitigation line items
Emergency work should show what is being stabilized, cleaned, removed, dried, protected, or rebuilt. The more complex the loss, the more important the breakdown becomes.
- Look for separate line items for board-up, tarping, drying, demolition, cleaning, sealing, and reconstruction.
- Ask for room-by-room or area-by-area notes tied to photos.
- Confirm the scope identifies what is emergency mitigation and what is permanent repair.
Contents and smoke documentation
Smoke and ash damage often affects contents, closets, attic spaces, HVAC pathways, and soft goods even when flame damage is limited.
- Ask whether contents are being inventoried, cleaned, packed out, stored, or disposed.
- Require smoke, soot, ash, odor, filter, vent, and textile documentation where relevant.
- Do not accept odor treatment as a substitute for source removal and cleaning.
Exclusions, permits, and change orders
A scope should show what is not included, what requires owner or insurer approval, and how hidden damage will be handled.
- Confirm permits, inspections, code items, engineering, roofing, electrical, plumbing, and well-system boundaries.
- Require written exclusions so missing items can be discussed before work starts.
- Use signed change orders for newly discovered damage, not verbal add-ons.
Estimate review checklist
Keep the checklist with your photos, claim notes, and contractor scopes.
- Property address and claim number if applicable.
- Contractor legal name and contact details.
- Date of inspection and date of estimate.
- Fire damage line items.
- Smoke and soot line items.
- Ash cleanup line items.
- Odor source-control plan.
- Water mitigation and drying line items.
- Moisture readings or drying logs if water is involved.
- Contents inventory, cleaning, pack-out, storage, or disposal plan.
- Roof, exterior, fencing, outbuilding, and detached-structure notes.
- HVAC, attic, crawlspace, and insulation notes.
- Permits, inspections, and code items.
- Photos or documentation references.
- Exclusions and assumptions.
- Payment schedule.
- Warranty language.
- Change-order process.
Related Recovery Pages
Continue with the related service, area, and consumer-resource pages that match the damage type.
Questions to Ask a Contractor
Questions that expose vague scopes before signing.
Open pageChoose a Wildfire Restoration Contractor
Selection guide for wildfire restoration vendors.
Open pageColorado Wildfire Insurance Claim Help
Claim documentation categories for wildfire damage.
Open pageFirefighting Water Damage
Moisture documentation after suppression water.
Open pageFrequently Asked Questions
Is a one-page estimate enough after wildfire damage?
Usually not for a complex loss. A simple estimate may miss smoke, ash, contents, water, roofing, outbuildings, permits, and exclusions.
Should smoke cleanup and reconstruction be separate?
They should be clearly separated or clearly itemized. Source removal, cleaning, odor control, and rebuild work have different documentation needs.
What if hidden damage is found later?
Use a written change-order process with photos, explanation, price, approval, and claim documentation instead of verbal add-ons.
Need a restoration scope after wildfire damage?
Top Gun can help document and scope fire, smoke, ash, contents, and water damage once official access is allowed.