Key facts: Board-Up and Tarping in Wedgwood
- Wedgwood is a southwest Fort Worth neighborhood of mostly brick ranch homes with attached garages [5].
- Roofs and floors damaged by fire may not bear weight, so the U.S. Fire Administration advises caution before anyone climbs onto them [1].
- The National Weather Service office for Dallas–Fort Worth is worth checking before a Wedgwood roof is tarped, since storms here can build quickly [2].
A typical Wedgwood house after a fire
Most Wedgwood homes are one-story brick ranches built on concrete slabs in the 1960s and 1970s, with aluminum or later vinyl windows and an attached two-car garage at one end [5]. The brick walls usually stand up to a fire, while windows, the garage door, the front door and the roof take the damage. Those are the openings a board-up crew closes first.
Because these houses are single-story and fairly uniform, a crew can often close one up in a single visit once the fire department releases it. Ground-level work also means less need for lifts than on a two-story house.
The garage door and the wall you share with it
Kitchen and garage fires are the most common starting points in homes like these. A garage fire can warp the overhead door so it will not close or lock, and it can burn through the door or wall between the garage and the house. Bracing or covering the garage opening and securing the interior door keeps the house closed even if the garage is badly damaged.
If vehicles were inside, move them once it is safe and photograph them first. Auto damage is usually handled under a separate policy.
Securing a Wedgwood ranch
The usual sequence on a single-story brick house.
- 1
Get the release and check the utilities
Wait for the fire department and make sure gas and power are safe.
- 2
Photograph each side of the house and the roof
Front, back, garage end and any visible roof damage.
- 3
Close the garage opening and broken windows
Brace or panel the overhead door and board windows to the brick opening.
- 4
Tarp roof damage with battens
Cover holes with plenty of overlap, fixed along every edge.
Aluminum and vinyl windows
Original aluminum windows are common in Wedgwood, and many houses now have vinyl replacements. Aluminum frames can warp from heat and vinyl can soften or melt near a fire. Panels are fitted to the brick opening rather than fastened through the thin frames, which keeps the opening ready for a new window.
Large front picture windows and sliding doors to the back yard are often the biggest openings and need the largest panels.
Low roofs and storm season
Wedgwood roofs are usually low hip or gable roofs with composition shingles. A burned section is easier to reach than on a tall house, but the decking around it may be weak. Crews check from the attic where possible and fix battens to solid framing.
Spring storms in southwest Fort Worth can bring hail and strong wind. Checking the forecast before tarping, and looking at the tarp after every storm, keeps rain out of the attic and ceilings [2].
Details to give on your call
So the crew brings what is needed.
- Whether the garage door closesA warped overhead door needs bracing.
- Which windows or doors are brokenFront, back, bedroom wing or garage.
- Where the roof is openGarage end, kitchen or another section.
- Any fence or gate accessSo the crew can reach the back of the house.
Fences, sheds and the back yard
Many Wedgwood back yards have wood fences and storage sheds. A fire that starts outside, at a grill or in a shed, can spread to the fence and the back of the house. Damaged fence sections leave the yard open, so closing gaps with temporary panels or fencing keeps the property secure.
Pets that usually stay in the yard may need somewhere else to go until the fence is repaired.
Protecting what is inside
While openings are being covered, move furniture and belongings away from broken windows and cover them with plastic. If firefighting water is on the floors, getting it out and starting fans once power is checked will help. Small belongings that matter, such as documents, medicines and jewelry, can be removed once the fire department allows entry.
Keep a simple list of what you take out so nothing is forgotten when the claim is prepared.
What follows once the house is closed
With the house secure, the restoration can move on to drying any firefighting water on the slab and cleaning smoke and soot through the long hall and bedrooms. The Wedgwood page explains how slab floors, textured ceilings and attic ducts shape that work.
A household displaced from a Wedgwood home should keep every lodging and meal receipt; the Texas Department of Insurance outlines how additional living expense coverage generally works [4].
FAQ
Board-Up and Tarping in Wedgwood: questions
My garage door won't close after the fire. What can be done?
A warped overhead door can be braced or covered with panels so the garage and the house stay secure until it is replaced.
Can aluminum windows be boarded without damaging the brick?
Yes. Panels fit inside the brick opening and are fastened to the frame or opening, not drilled through the face brick.
Does a damaged fence need to be fixed right away?
Temporary panels or fencing can close the gap until it is repaired, which keeps the yard and house secure.
