As an infill builder, my stomach goes tight when I hear of fires in homes under construction. They're susceptible due to accident and frequently arson. So far I've been lucky.

Here are three-three alarmers that immediately come to mind all near where I build (and lived):

Scaffolding for masons is all that remains of a 2010 Christmas time suspected arson fire in a home under construction at 60 Larkfield Rd., Toronto.

A plumber was suspected of accidentally starting three-alarm blaze in this $6,500 a month rental home. The housekeeper and two children in the home at the time escaped without injuries. Guns and ammunition caught in the blaze were an extra concern for firefighters.

Whether to rebuild on the same foundation is a matter determined after inspection by structural engineers. In an intense fire, even concrete can crack. In the two homes above, both were rebuilt on entirely new foundations. In the home below, the foundation remained undamaged and was reused, though above-grade, everything was demolished.

Fire at vacant completed new home 39 Harrison Rd. Toronto

Case-by case evaluation. First are structural issues-- any damage of significance? Seldom do people want to use the exact floor plan again. Will the foundation work with the new floor plan. Reusing could save big $$.

Seldom do people want to use the exact floor plan again.

I certainly wouldn't! (Unless it were a new home.)

There was a house down the road from me that exploded (gas leak) in 1990. The owner died, and a different house was built on the same foundation (after careful inspection).

So, it's not unheard of. Different floor plan, and diferent style house (as bus_driver suggested).

I'll never forget seeing the poor victim. His neighbors were hosing him down, while waiting for EMS crews. If you have gas in the house, and don't know what you're doing, leave repairs to a pro.

The heat from the fire might have damaged the foundation ... that has to be evaluated. Concrete will return to lime if you heat it enough.

If the house was "totalled" by the insurance company because of serious damage, but didn't actually burn down to the ground and there is no risk of weak concrete ... it would depend on the local codes whether you could re-use it.

If the foundation is in good shape, and it makes sense to your new floorplan, or can be incorporated into the new plan, it would make sense to use it.

Such issues are usually determined through negotiation with the insurance carrier especially if the owner wishes to do more than restore the house to its pre-fire condition.

House fires burn upward so the usual damage to a basement would be from water.

Renovator ... basements often fill with flaming debris as the house's joists collapse, debris continues to burn, damaging the upper part of the footings and the floor of the basement.

I would think home fires that collapse the first floor are very rare except possibly in rural areas where the fire service response time is unusually long and/or water is not available. Nationwide, only about 25% of home fires even spread beyond the room of origin which is usually the kitchen from unattended cooking on a range top.

Footings would be buried below a basement slab and virtually impossible to damage and it is difficult to imagine how a concrete foundation wall could be subjected to sufficient heat to damage it in a house fire. Such a wall above grade would have the maximum possible fire resistance rating of 4 hours when tested under ASTM E119 where the wall is placed in a test furnace and the temperature raised from 1000 deg. F to 2,000 deg. F over 4 hours. The temperature on the other side must not exceed 150 deg. F.

Depending on the age of the foundation and any damage, it can get touchy to re-use it.

Some places require that it meet the present code, or be proven 'at least as good.'

Footers may no longer be considered adequate, and any number of other changes can come into play.

Occasionally total losses can only be built on a new foundation, and once in a while changes in zoning make even that very difficult (though rebuilding the same size and square footage is often acceptable).

Unless you have the right kind of insurance, you may end up with drywall instead of plaster (and all the 'improvements' of modern construction methods).

I would think home fires that collapse the first floor are very rare except possibly in rural areas where the fire service response time is unusually long and/or water is not available.

The fires I illustrated above were all urban within five-six minutes of fire stations. In two of the three, the floors collapsed.

It's possible that the cost of cleaning up by hand and rehabilitating the fire-scarred foundation exceeds the cost of removing it with machinery and pouring a new foundation. In the past, I've looked at fire-damaged properties and the stench alone was enough for me to figure that approach was the most economical.

"In the past, I've looked at fire-damaged properties and the stench alone was enough for me to figure that approach was the most economical. "

This is often the driver.

The house needs a LOT of ONLY smoke damage area to be worth trying to clean up.

Local laws are all over the place.

In some places you can use old foundations and buried utilities for a remodel as long as ONE wall remains standing.

It leads to some interesting remodels.

Everything but one gable wall is taken down and a 'new' house rebuilt (often with the 'last wall' enlarged).

The basement of our former house seemed to have absorbed the stench from our house fire like a sponge.

If you did remove all of the fallen ruins by hand -by the shovelful- and you found that the slab wasn't damaged, you'd still have to permanently eradicate the horrendous stench.

My home was completely destroyed by fire in January with the roof caving in to the floor. I'm curious to know what kind of engineer I might hire to inspect it? We've had it cleared and professionally cleaned. We'd like to reuse it if it's structurally sound so we can put more money back into the house, which my brother-in-law designed.

I'm trying to find an agency that will help my friend rebuild the back of his house or burnt down lost everything

I don't get exactly what your asking joannacronin1962?

If you are not commenting on the original issue it is best to start a new thread.

For reconstruction you should start with an architect or design- build firm and let them provide a structural engineer.

Trying too decided on my home it was about 90percent burn inside insurance wants to replace only burn wire and spray something they say get spell out and not replace floor under the hardwood and carpet replace only the shingles on back of my home and not the front part fire marshal and fire chief says the home temperature got so high in our home everything melted from one end to the other in of home sq footage 3300 just don't know what to do any idea please. Also they or paying for all Sheetrock and insulation all duck work they calling it a gunout whole inside but one bedroom but it has smoke damage all inside bedroom and replace all windows but three it is a brick home with all around boxing and gables cover with white vandal with smoke on all Eve's just un decided they trying get me to find another home we just want to make right decision please any advice is welcome Thanks.

If you're at complete odds with your insurer, you will have to get an outside expert and your own lawyer to contest their decisions.

Danny Rogers...we had a house fire in 2003 that was devastating. The worst part was dealing with the insurance companies. I still get slightly nauseated when I remember the whole ordeal. We hired a Public Adjuster but not before we went through he**

We didn't even know such a professional existed. This person knows all the tricks and will be on your side. He will make sure your home is properly repaired and that you are not taking back ruined personal property.

dont let anyone tell you it's not worth it because he will cost you too much. Any % you pay him will be worth it. Do it immediately.

Danny are you in the United States?

anamoo - I found your post extremely helpful. we just lost our home, dogs, and all contents to a total loss house fire on 12/2. we are ready to find a builder - how did you find yours??

khouchin76 - We lost our home, dog, and all of our contents also. The fire just happened last month on February 16th. We are battling the insurance right now, because we do not want to use the slab, but our insurance is pushing heavily for us to do so. We had just finished building our home in October 2020, so it was brand new. We are using the same builder since we literally JUST went through the building process with them.