Why do this now
A typical contents inventory after a fire lists furniture, clothing and electronics. The building itself gets described in an adjuster's estimate, usually in generic terms. In an older house, the details that matter most, such as door hardware, original light fixtures, built-in cabinets and tile, can vanish into a dumpster in an afternoon of demolition without ever being written down.
This inventory fills that gap. Walk the house room by room, ideally before mitigation work starts and certainly before anything is torn out. Photograph each item, give it a short description, and note its condition. If it is removed, record where it went.
You do not need to be an expert in architectural history. Write what you see: five-panel fir door, glass knob, brass hinges, painted; or hexagon white floor tile with black border. Specifics help a millwork shop, a tile supplier or an adjuster understand what is needed.
Features to look for in each room
- Doors: style, wood, panel count, glass, and original hardware such as knobs, hinges and plates.
- Trim: baseboard height and profile, window and door casings, picture rail, crown, plate rail.
- Built-ins: buffets, bookcases, window seats, linen cabinets, ironing board cabinets, telephone niches.
- Floors: wood species and width, borders or inlays, original tile.
- Walls and ceilings: plaster finish, coves, beams, medallions, wainscot.
- Windows: wood sash, art or leaded glass, original hardware and pulleys.
- Fixtures: light fixtures, sconces, radiators and their covers, registers and grilles.
- Fireplaces: surround tile, mantel, hearth, and any original screen or andirons.
- Bathrooms and kitchen: original tile, pedestal sinks, cast iron tubs, cabinetry.
Sample worksheet layout
| Room and item | Description | Condition after fire | Plan | Where it went |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dining room, buffet | Built-in oak buffet, leaded glass doors, original pulls | Soot on glass and top, finish intact | Clean in place | Stays |
| Front hall, door | Fir five-panel door with glass knob | Heat blistered paint one side | Remove, strip, refinish | Garage, labeled H1 |
| Living room, fireplace | Tile surround, wood mantel | Heavy soot, cracked hearth tile | Clean, replace hearth tiles | Mantel stays; tiles sampled |
| Upstairs bath, floor | Small white hexagon tile with border | Water stained grout | Clean and regrout | Stays |
General information for Park Hill, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.