Quick answer
Fire restoration in Corktown means working on small, closely spaced wood-frame houses, most built in the latter half of the 1800s. Old framing burns quickly and smoke moves between houses, so we secure the property fast, clean and dry the structure, check neighboring homes when asked, and plan repairs with the historic district's design standards in mind.
What fire jobs look like in Corktown
Corktown sits just west of downtown, south of Michigan Avenue, with streets of one-story workers' cottages, two-story frame houses and a few rowhouses, plus newer homes built to match.
Kitchen fires, electrical fires in old wiring and space heater fires are the most common causes. Because houses sit close together, smoke and heat from one fire often reach the siding and windows of the next.
Wood-frame cottages and what they mean after a fire
The historic district holds about 280 structures, most of them small residences from the latter half of the 19th century, and the great majority are wood frame, one to two and a half stories tall.
Old, dry framing chars quickly, so we check joists and studs carefully and clean or replace what heat damaged. Clapboard siding, porches and trim are repaired to match the district's design standards, and the historic district commission's review is built into the schedule for exterior work.
Corktown by the numbers
- 280
- Structures in the Corktown Historic District. City of Detroit Historic District Commission staff report
- 1978
- Year Corktown was listed on the National Register. Detroit Historical Society, Encyclopedia of Detroit
- 1800s
- When most of the district's homes were built. City of Detroit Historic District Commission staff report
Fire in a Corktown home? Call the line now; we will secure it and plan the work.
Call (313) 391-5430Jobs we handle most in Corktown
Old wood-frame houses on close-set lots make these the most common jobs in Corktown.
Emergency Board-Up
Plywood over broken windows, doors and vent holes so the house is closed up.
Emergency Board-Up in CorktownFire-Damaged Framing Repair
Charred joists and studs repaired, sistered or replaced.
Fire-Damaged Framing Repair in CorktownSmoke Damage Restoration
Whole-house smoke cleanup, including rooms the fire never reached.
Smoke Damage Restoration in CorktownSmoke Damage From a Neighbor's Fire
Smoke and heat that reached your home from a fire next door.
Smoke Damage From a Neighbor's Fire in CorktownExterior Smoke and Soot Cleaning
Soot cleaned off brick, siding, windows and gutters, surface by surface.
Exterior Smoke and Soot Cleaning in CorktownElectrical Fire Cleanup
Wire-insulation smoke and corrosive residue cleaned around the source.
Electrical Fire Cleanup in CorktownHow we reach Corktown
Corktown is covered from the Detroit service office, a short drive across the city toward downtown.
We handle jobs in Corktown with our crews. The one exception is a night when all of them are out, and then we tell you we are passing the call along.
Corktown fire restoration questions
Lightly charred framing can often be cleaned and sealed; deeper char is cut out and replaced.
Exterior work in the historic district usually does; we plan for it.
Yes. See smoke damage from a neighbor's fire.
Yes, including Boston-Edison and Pershing.
