Fire Damage Restoration Cost Guide Australia 2026

Fire damage restoration costs in Australia span an enormous range — from targeted smoke and soot cleaning after a contained kitchen fire to full structural rebuilds following a total loss event. The following figures reflect 2026 pricing for residential properties. Commercial properties, heritage buildings, and properties requiring specialist hazmat containment will typically sit at the higher end or above these ranges.

• Emergency make-safe — board-up and hazmat containment ($2,000–$8,000): Securing the property after a fire event to prevent unauthorised entry, weather ingress, and hazardous exposure. Includes boarding openings, setting up containment barriers, and initial assessment by certified technicians.
• Smoke and soot cleaning — single room ($1,500–$5,000): Cleaning of all affected surfaces, contents, and structural elements within a contained area. Requires specialist HEPA-filtered equipment and fire restoration chemistry. A contained kitchen or laundry fire is typically in this range.
• Smoke and soot cleaning — whole house ($8,000–$30,000): When smoke has spread through a whole dwelling — particularly via HVAC systems and wall cavities — the cleaning scope extends to every room, every surface, and all accessible voids. Larger properties and properties with extensive soft furnishings are at the upper end.
• Structural fire damage — partial ($20,000–$80,000): Where fire has burned through structural elements in part of the property — framing, linings, roof structure, or floor systems — the scope includes demolition of damaged elements, structural assessment, and rebuild. A room or wing of a house affected by fire is typically in this range.
• Total structural loss — rebuild ($200,000–$500,000+): A whole-of-dwelling fire requiring complete demolition and rebuild is the most significant loss scenario. Rebuild costs vary with property size, location, materials specification, and current construction labour and material pricing. Heritage properties may exceed this range.
• Contents pack-out and restoration ($5,000–$40,000): Salvageable contents are packed out to a specialist facility for cleaning, ozone treatment, and storage during restoration. Cost depends on the volume and value of contents and the level of smoke contamination.
• Odour elimination — thermal fogging ($2,000–$8,000): Thermal fogging and ozone treatment are used to neutralise smoke odour embedded in porous materials, wall cavities, and structural elements that cannot be physically cleaned. Often the final phase of fire restoration.
• HVAC decontamination ($3,000–$12,000): Smoke and combustion particles spread rapidly through ducted air conditioning and ventilation systems. Full HVAC decontamination — duct cleaning, coil treatment, and filter replacement — is required to prevent ongoing re-contamination of the restored property.

Fire restoration costs are driven by several interconnected variables. Understanding them helps you anticipate the scope and challenge your insurer's assessment if the scope appears to be underestimated.

• Fire size and duration: A fire that burns for 5 minutes in a kitchen causes a fraction of the structural and smoke damage of a fire that burns for 30 minutes through a living area. Duration and peak temperature determine how deeply smoke and combustion products penetrate building materials.
• Building construction type: Timber-framed construction absorbs more smoke and is more structurally vulnerable to fire than brick or concrete. Lightweight steel framing can experience heat-induced deformation. Brick veneer contains fire more effectively but smoke can still penetrate cavities. Concrete tilt-panel commercial construction requires specialist spalling assessment.
• Smoke spread through HVAC and wall cavities: This is the most underestimated aspect of residential fire damage. Smoke particles travel through return air ducts and wall cavities to rooms that were never near the fire. A kitchen fire can result in smoke contamination in bedrooms on the other side of the house. A thorough scope must assess the full property — not only the visibly burned areas.
• Water damage from fire suppression: Fire brigade suppression activities and sprinkler systems deliver large volumes of water to the property. This secondary water damage — often Category 3 (contaminated) due to contact with fire byproducts — requires its own IICRC-compliant remediation scope in addition to the fire restoration work.

Fire is covered by virtually every Australian home building and contents insurance policy. However, the way a claim is assessed and settled involves several important considerations.

• Fire is a standard insured peril: Unlike flood or some forms of water damage, fire does not require a policy extension. A fire caused by any non-excluded event (accidental fire, electrical fault, appliance failure, bushfire) is covered under virtually all Australian home policies. Arson is excluded under most policies.
• Contents restoration vs. write-off assessment: Insurers assess smoke-damaged contents on a restoration vs. replacement basis. Experienced IICRC S700-certified fire restoration contractors can restore many items — including electronics, soft furnishings, and documents — that insurers might otherwise write off. A pack-out and restoration scope can deliver better outcomes than a cash settlement for contents.
• Temporary accommodation (ALE — Additional Living Expenses): Most Australian home building policies provide additional living expenses cover for the period the property is uninhabitable. This typically covers temporary rental accommodation, meals, and storage. Keep all receipts from the date of the event.
• Business interruption for commercial properties: Commercial property policies typically include business interruption cover that compensates for lost revenue during the period of restoration. Quantifying and lodging a business interruption claim alongside the physical damage claim requires specialist expertise and documentation.

The visible char and ash are only part of the story. Several categories of damage — and associated cost — are routinely missed in initial assessments and must be captured in a thorough scope of works.

• Smoke in the HVAC system: As described above, ducted HVAC systems distribute smoke contamination throughout the entire property within minutes of a fire. If HVAC decontamination is excluded from the restoration scope, the property will continue to smell of smoke and surfaces will re-contaminate after cleaning. Always require a dedicated HVAC assessment.
• Structural steel weakening: Steel structural elements exposed to sustained heat can undergo yield strength reduction even without visible deformation. Any property with steel framing, beams, or posts near the fire origin should receive a structural engineering assessment before restoration linings are closed up.
• Electrical rewiring requirements: Heat and smoke exposure can degrade cable insulation and compromise electrical components throughout the property — not just in the fire-affected zone. A licensed electrician's assessment is typically required before the property can be re-energised after a significant fire event. Rewiring costs can add $5,000–$25,000 to the total scope.
• Psychosocial support services: A house fire is a traumatic event. Many Australian insurance policies include access to counselling and support services for policyholders and their families through the claims process. Ask your insurer about available support — these services are generally covered under the policy at no additional cost.

Disaster Recovery connects you with IICRC S700-certified fire restoration contractors through a transparent, fixed-fee platform model. There are no hidden charges or surprise invoices.

• $550 platform fee: Covers your claim lodgement, contractor matching, documentation pack, and ongoing support throughout the restoration process.
• $2,200 contractor credit: Held in trust and applied directly to your restoration works. Your contractor provides a formal contract with full terms and conditions after the initial make-safe assessment.
• $2,750 total initial commitment: This gets your project started with emergency make-safe and a detailed scope of works. Additional restoration costs are quoted transparently by your assigned contractor.

Payment plans are available through Equipped Commercial Finance to help manage the upfront cost while you await your insurance reimbursement.