Fire Damage Mitigation, Structural Stabilization & Reconstruction — 7015 Wellcrest Drive NW

Composite Fire, Smoke, Heat & Water Damage Mitigation — Single-Family Residence

Project Overview

Ducere Construction Services, Inc. performed fire damage mitigation, structural assessment, and partial reconstruction services at a single-family residential property located at 7015 Wellcrest Drive NW, Kennesaw, Georgia. Approximately 50% of the residential structure sustained fire, smoke, heat, and water damage. The scope required coordinated mitigation and reconstruction across the exterior wall assembly, attic framing system, roof structure, and affected interior spaces.

Origin and Cause of Fire

The fire originated on the exterior along the side elevation. The tenant had been burning leaves in close proximity to the exterior wall. The fire escaped containment, ignited combustible exterior wall materials, and propagated vertically up the wall assembly. It breached the soffit and fascia system, entered the attic through the eave area, and spread laterally through the attic cavity before suppression.

The fire's path produced a composite damage pattern:

• Direct flame impingement to exterior wall framing, sheathing, and cladding
• Radiant and convective heat damage to roof framing within the attic cavity
• Smoke infiltration and char deposition beyond the direct flame contact zone
• Fire suppression water intrusion through the compromised roof and attic envelope
• Thermal cycling stress to structural connections and fasteners

Scope of Damage

Exterior wall framing exhibited char penetration from grade to roofline. Sheathing was consumed or structurally compromised across the affected section. The attic framing sustained direct flame and heat exposure at the lower chord. Rafters, ceiling joists, and blocking in the attic zone exhibited char, structural section loss, and smoke penetration. The fire spread laterally through the attic, exposing approximately 50% of the total structure to combined direct damage and smoke/heat exposure.

Mitigation and Reconstruction Scope

• **Emergency stabilization** — temporary weather barrier installed over compromised roof area immediately upon mobilization
• **Debris removal** — systematic removal of destroyed cladding, char deposits, burned insulation, and non-salvageable framing
• **Smoke and char assessment** — all exposed structural members categorized: (a) replacement required, (b) encapsulation required, or (c) treatment and monitoring
• **Structural member sealing** — penetrating fire and smoke sealant applied to all salvageable framing members exhibiting surface char; multi-coat application to end grain, knots, and areas of deeper char penetration; purpose: odor encapsulation, surface stabilization, moisture barrier, and structural monitoring baseline
• **Structural framing replacement** — members with structural section loss removed and replaced per building code; sistered framing installed where partial section loss required reinforcement
• **Roof system reconstruction** — compromised decking and roofing assembly removed and replaced; new assembly integrated with existing system to restore continuous weathertight envelope
• **Exterior wall reconstruction** — full wall section rebuilt from sill to roofline; new framing, sheathing, WRB, and cladding installed to match existing assembly
• **Insulation restoration** — fire-damaged and smoke-contaminated insulation removed and replaced to current code requirements
• **Interior remediation** — affected ceiling assemblies, wall surfaces, and flooring cleaned, treated, and prepared for finish restoration; water-damaged materials replaced to prevent mold development

Project Significance

This project required coordinating emergency mitigation with systematic reconstruction across a composite damage pattern — direct fire damage on one elevation, lateral attic spread, and secondary smoke and water damage across a broader interior zone. The fire origin pattern — exterior leaf burning entering the attic through the wall-soffit junction — requires precise identification of the full fire travel path. Smoke and heat damage in attic framing systems is frequently more extensive than the visible burn zone suggests. A comprehensive scope requires evaluation of the full attic volume, not only the directly burned area.

Ducere Construction Services, Inc. — GA License GCCO006711 · FL License CBC1263793 · NASCLA 404696491 · IICRC 7781459