Returning to “normal” after a house fire can be difficult, to say the least. Besides having to live in an alternative place in the interim, you have to deal with appraisals, inspections, and insurance and develop a plan for making your home liveable again.
It might be the most hectic time of your life. After all, house fires are unexpected, and you probably don’t have a lot of experience handling their aftermath.
Read on to learn how smoke damage restoration is performed, how much restoration is possible, and how Pure Environmental can serve you after a house fire.
Table of Contents
- Smoke Damage vs. Fire Damage: The Difference in Cleanup
- Can Smoke Damage Be Removed?
- Is the Type of Smoke Damage Dependent on the Type of Fire?
- DIY Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup vs. Hiring a Professional: What’s Best?
- Pure Environmental’s Process for Smoke Damage Restoration
- Factors That Influence the Smoke Damage Restoration Process
- Smoke Damage Restoration FAQs
- Pure Environmental: Quality Smoke Damage Repair and Property Restoration Services Tailored to Your Needs
Smoke Damage vs. Fire Damage: The Difference in Cleanup
Smoke damage is different from fire damage in that the items affected were not burned or melted by the heat of the fire. Rather, they are damaged by soot and smoke. This type of damage can be more extensive than fire damage because smoke travels all throughout a house even when the fire hasn’t.
Smoke damage requires specialized cleaning, whereas fire damage usually requires the disposal of affected items and building materials.
Can Smoke Damage Be Removed?
Smoke damage may not be permanent. It can usually be removed, though the extent and depth of soot play a role in how well this can happen. Walls, floors, clothes, and other items in your home are most effectively restored if attended to promptly and with special care.
Pure Environmental is equipped with the tools and expertise needed to restore your home after smoke damage. Contact us today for a consultation regarding our services.
Is the Type of Smoke Damage Dependent on the Type of Fire?
When different materials burn, they create different types of soot, but they are not different enough to greatly affect the restoration process.
For any kind of fire, we adhere to the same procedure of cleaning up soot from the home and HVAC system, having cloth materials specially cleaned, running an air purification process, and removing fire-damaged articles or areas of the home.
If you live in an area prone to forest fires, you are likely to have smoke damage but not fire damage. In this case, putting HEPA and carbon filtration units in your HVAC system is a good preventative measure.
DIY Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup vs. Hiring a Professional: What’s Best?
In general, smoke is extremely toxic and dangerous because of its impact on the lungs and its carcinogenic potential. It should definitely be approached with proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
Particulate matter left behind from a fire can be inhaled if it is not filtered out of the air. The danger posed by particulates depends on the material that is combusted. Synthetic compounds and polymers (plastics), which make up much of our home’s contents and structural materials, are particularly dangerous.
The extent to which these items burned determines how much remains in the air. A fire that burns very hot usually destroys everything, whereas one that smolders for a long time leaves behind a good deal of synthetic material in the area.
Because of the health consequences of being in this unsafe environment, we do not recommend attempting to restore or repair parts of your home after a fire. Not to mention that it may void your insurance coverage.
If your home has sustained a fire, file a claim with your insurance company immediately and arrange to have it professionally assessed and repaired.
Pure Environmental’s Process for Smoke Damage Restoration
Turn to Pure Environmental for an assessment of your repair needs. We know how challenging it can be to bounce back from a disaster like a house fire, especially when its consequences linger and require immediate, extensive work and attention. We’ll help you navigate the difficulties of smoke damage restoration. You can count on us to assist in the following ways.
Survey the Damage
First, we’ll conduct a careful examination of the affected areas of the home to determine the extent, type, and degree of damage to the home and belongings. This includes areas distant from the fire since smoke and soot travel even to rooms beyond the fire’s reach.
Although damage to the walls is most obvious, we will also thoroughly examine the ceilings, which may be easily overlooked. If the fire took place in the kitchen, we will also be inspecting cabinetry, appliances, etc. to determine what if anything can be cleaned.
Provide You With an Estimate for Repairs or Remodeling Services
Next, we’ll draw up a plan for repairs and remodeling, including what you can reasonably expect to pay for these services.
Work With the Insurance Company To Quickly Provide You With a Quality Restoration
Unlike traditional remodeling contractors, the professionals at Pure Environmental work with your insurance company on your home restoration project. Since we have the skills and expertise to assess the value of damaged items, our input can save you money.
Insurance adjusters are more likely to take the word of the professionals who assess the damage in your home. The professional’s assessment can help you get reimbursed for items whose value you can only tentatively estimate.
After a structural fire, the restoration process consists of the following steps:
- Seal affected areas to prevent further damage to nearby areas during restoration.
- Remove all charred material.
- Clean affected surfaces.
- Apply PurAyr treatment.
- Repair damages as needed.
A kitchen fire is somewhat simpler:
- Remove and thoroughly clean the range hood.
- Clean and degrease heavily impacted surfaces.
- Clean carpets, HVAC, system, and other contents of the home.
- Assess damage for necessary repairs.
Factors That Influence the Smoke Damage Restoration Process
The Extent of Exposure
During our assessment of your home, Pure Environmental works to determine:
- What items are salvageable
- What kind of precautions should be taken before restoration can be performed
- The extent of demolition or sealing needed to begin restoration
These decisions depend on the extent of each item’s or area’s exposure to fire, soot, and smoke. This, in turn, depends on:
- How hot the fire burned and thus how much pressure was created during the fire
- Where soot and smoke traveled
- The chemical components of the materials that combusted
Affected Porous vs. Non-Porous Materials
Porous materials — such as fabric, furniture, and carpet — absorb smoke more easily than nonporous materials, so they require deeper cleaning or replacement. Non-porous materials — such as glass and metal — tend to be more easily cleaned but still might require a professional’s expertise.
Soot is the powdery black carbon byproduct left behind after the combustion of organic material. It settles into the tiniest pores in a given material. Furthermore, it is oily by nature. If you try to wipe it off, it will likely smear. Large amounts of longstanding soot are especially difficult to remove. The longer soot remains on an object, the more extensive its corrosive and acidic effects.
Regardless of whether an item is porous or nonporous, the oils on your hands can cause stains to set on the surface, so avoid touching any soot-covered items without gloves. In addition, attempting to wash your carpet, furniture, or clothes can cause irreversible damage and a permanent setting of smoke odor. Consult a professional who will be sure to use the appropriate products and techniques for restoring these items.
Smoke Damage Restoration FAQs
What Does Smoke Damage Look Like?
Even small fires can cause large amounts of smoke damage. It is important to be able to identify smoke damage and not neglect inspecting areas just because they did not combust.
Signs of smoke damage include:
- Blackened or soot-streaked areas
- Black dust
- Discolored paint
Not all signs of smoke damage are detectable, however. If, for example, your home is located near a wildfire, it may not have been directly affected by flames but still have smoke damage and airborne contamination.
Only thorough inspection and testing by professionals, in these cases, can determine precisely which surfaces have been affected and how badly. Air quality testing would be helpful here as well.
What Is Used To Clean Smoke Damage?
Our PurAyr™ technology has the unsurpassed ability to break down and neutralize contaminants in the air and embedded in the home structure itself. This ensures optimal air quality even after your home restoration project is complete.
The PurAyr process causes rapid oxidation of odors, bacteria, and volatile organic compounds without the use of chemicals.
Can You Continue To Live in a Home That’s Undergoing Smoke Damage Restoration?
Evacuation of the home may not be necessary. Sometimes impacted areas can be contained, and the rest of the home can be quickly scrubbed and the smoke neutralized so people can continue living there. We work hard to make as little impact on our clients’ routines, but safety is the top priority.
Cooking fires generally have low soot but high odor. In these cases, there is not a lot of particulate matter that makes living in the home unsafe.
On the other hand, if part of the home itself caught fire, the fire probably burned so hot, increasing pressure within the structure and causing smoke and soot to be pushed inside of wall cavities. In these homes, the walls must be torn out. This more extensive work usually requires evacuation of the home because it affects the home’s stability and raises electrical concerns. An alternative living space is normally covered by insurance.
Pure Environmental: Quality Smoke Damage Repair and Property Restoration Services Tailored to Your Needs
Turning to smoke damage restoration professionals can save you so much hassle and shed light on a situation you might not know much about. The professionals at Pure Environmental are familiar with the obstacles and questions that victims of house fires face and can expertly manage the restoration process so you can resume your routine from your home base.
At Pure Environmental, our high-quality, environmentally friendly, innovative, and timely work can be the providential help you are looking for to restore your home after a disaster, whether it be an electrical fire, a cooking fire, or a structural fire. Call us today to discuss your home restoration needs.