Fire is one of the more devastating and terrifying disaster experiences to go through. It has the power to damage your property and destroy possessions or precious memories. Once you, your family, or your employees, are safe and over the events’ initial shock, it is time to start the recovery process.
The best step forward is calling a professional fire damage restoration company to help. They have the tools and know-how to deal with the fire damage and all the hidden damage that comes with fire. The intense smell of smoke and the appearance of soot is highly likely after a fire.
Both smoke and soot can contribute to ongoing issues within your home or commercial building, leading to the deterioration of components in your property. Smoke can turn walls yellow within a matter of days, and soot can corrode electrical equipment, even those not initially affected by a fire.
Calling the experts is essential. In this post, we look at what happens during the smoke and soot damage restoration process and the steps towards smoke and soot removal.
What You Can do Before Professional Cleanup Begins
Once the property is deemed safe to enter, the first thing to do is start to declutter the affected areas. Go through all your belongings and keep salvageable items, and discard those that are beyond repair. A professional fire damage restoration company will be able to help you evaluate what can be restored, and what will be more cost-effective to get rid of.
Once you’ve done this, the smoke and soot restoration team can go through each room and inspect for smoke damage on your ceilings and walls. It’s usually easy to see, but you will be surprised at how far smoke can move from room to room. It may reach further than you think.
Smoke and Soot Restoration
Fire restoration companies are run by professionals who deal with restoring property and understand the facts about fire and smoke damage. They are experts who deal with hundreds of properties damaged by fire. Of course, some things can’t be repaired or aren’t worth the effort and the cost. A reputable fire damage restoration company will make this clear to you and your insurance adjuster.
Soot damage
First off, the fire damage restoration crew will start removing all soot on the floor and any other affected areas. Using protective gear and a professional smoke vacuum, they will clear up all loose soot.
Soot can be dangerous to your lungs, so it’s essential to get rid of it all. This is not a process to be rushed, as the soot mustn’t be spread further as it’s being vacuumed.
The walls will also be inspected for any soot particles. If found, they will be vacuumed up immediately. Any soot left behind can cause more damage when the cleaning process starts, so it’s essential to get it all at the start.
Smoke damage
Next, the restoration team will remove the smoke from your walls, windows, and ceilings with a dry-cleaning or chemical sponge. This is gentle work and will be done on dry surfaces only.
Once this is done, the team will start with the wet cleanup. The first cleaning phase will use a professional cleaning solution (something like thinners or vinegar and warm water work well).
After this, they’ll work on the area again, this time with a degreaser to scrub off the more oil-soluble smoke and soot particles. Lastly, the areas will be rinsed with hot water to rid them of the cleaning products.
Wood restoration
Unfinished wood has a lower success rate for removing smoke damage and odor. The smoke and soot restoration team will know if adding a sealant will trap the odor, or if this step can help restore a piece.
Finished wood already has a protective layer over it, increasing its chance of restoration. This can then be stripped, sanded, and refinished – hopefully to good as new.
Furniture and carpet cleaning
If you have furniture made of fabric that you cannot professionally clean, it’s more than likely best to replace these items. Fabric and carpet will soak up a lot of the smoke odor and is very tricky to get out.
So if you have items that are not of great value, replacement is your best bet. If thorough cleaning of your carpet does not get rid of the odor, it’s time to replace it.
Electronics damage
Smoke and soot, and other corrosive byproducts of fire, can harm your electronics. Because most modern electronics are pretty expensive, it’s essential to act quickly and try to have them restored. When plastic and metal are exposed to extremely high temperatures, like a fire, they produce toxins damaging to electronics.
Smoke typically leaves a thin black film on electronic components that can make the equipment prone to overheating, becoming a fire hazard. Soot is acidic, and can cause corrosion on the interior and exterior of electronic devices.
Make sure you have the professionals take a look at your electrical situation before turning appliances and equipment on.
Why Professional Fire Damage Restoration Services are Your Best Choice
If your property damage is extensive, call the experts because the lingering smoke and soot from a fire can continue to damage your property and belongings after the fire is out. A reputable restoration company knows the best, most effective ways to deal with soot, smoke, and odor damage.
At Blackmon Mooring & BMS CAT, we are industry leaders in disaster restoration and can help you return your property to its original state after fire damage.
Our team of smoke and soot removal experts have years of experience and industry-leading methods to restore your residential or commercial property.
We take care of the entire smoke and soot restoration process beyond what can be seen at a glance.
Contact us today for a free consultation and learn why homeowners and big businesses trust us during natural disasters and emergencies.