Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration

Time is critical when repairing fire damage, as delays worsen the damage. That’s why finding nearby fire cleanup companies quickly is essential. PuroClean offers fire damage restoration services nationwide.

With 24/7 emergency services, PuroClean responds quickly, mitigating damage and saving you money. Contact PuroClean today for immediate assistance.

We understand the emotional distress from fire and smoke damage and work with sensitivity and diligence to provide effective restoration services.

Replacing household items can be costly, but our advanced techniques often prevent replacement, reducing expenses.

PuroClean IICRC-certified professionals are highly trained and experienced in fire and smoke damage restoration. For fire or smoke cleanup services, check out our list of services below.

Fire Damage Restoration Services

What is Smoke Damage?

Smoke damage is any physical or structural damage caused by smoke rather than the fire itself. Smoke does not burn a room, belongings, or property like fire; nevertheless, it can cause significant problems. Soot can be deposited on personal items, and its lingering odor can be evident long after a fire has been extinguished.

Many people are unaware of how greasy soot can be. It can make items uncomfortable to touch when it settles on them. Soot is especially harmful to fabrics, clothing, and furniture. Soot and dense smoke particles can negatively impact porous surfaces such as plastics and marble. It also causes metals to tarnish or corrode quickly. 

What Are the Types of Smoke Damage in Homes?

The type of damage smoke causes depends on several factors: the type and amount of soot particles released, the location, the ventilation and humidity levels, and the source of ignition should be considered when dealing with smoke damage in your home. Due to so many flammable substances in your home, the smoke damage restoration process requires expertise and precision. 

There are three types of smoke that can cause odor damage in a home:

1. Wet Smoke – This type of smoke is heavy and sticky and is often caused by burning rubber or plastic. The remediation process for wet smoke typically includes using air movers and dehumidifiers to remove the moisture from the affected area, followed by thorough cleaning and disinfecting.

2. Dry Smoke – This smoke is often caused by burning paper or wood. It’s lighter than wet smoke and not as challenging to remove. The remediation process for dry smoke usually includes thorough cleaning and using air purifiers to remove the tiny smoke particles from the air.

3. Protein Smoke – This smoke is caused by burning food or other organic materials. Because it’s so difficult to remove, professional ozone treatment or thermal fogging is usually required to eradicate the odor. 

The Impact of Smoke Damage on Your Property

Smoke has various effects on various materials, and the temperature and sort of fire will produce different types of smoke damage on your property, depending on where they are located. 

When it comes to smoke damage, time is of the essence. Act fast. The sooner you respond, the more likely you will avoid further damage. Some materials, such as synthetic fibers and porous items, may need immediate treatment to be preserved. In no more than a day or two, damaged components of your home must be addressed, including painted walls and flooring.

The Stages of the Fire/Smoke Damage Restoration Process

Receiving the Homeowner’s Call

At this time, the restoration company triages the situation to determine the order of priorities and attention needed. This moment is critical for gathering information to ensure the damage is assessed and estimated correctly.

The initial conversation can begin along the lines of: “Thank you for choosing to call us. We understand your property has experienced fire damage. I’d like to ask you a few questions that will help us assess the situation to begin the restoration process.”

Questions That Are Commonly Asked During the Initial Call:

• When did the fire occur?
• What was the cause of the fire?
• Did the fire infiltrate through the house?
• Is there soot and fallout in your home?
• Have you or anyone else attempted to clean up some of the damage?

These questions allow the professional to analyze the extent of the job: its size, the severity of soot, and the customer’s immediate need. Based on this preliminary analysis, the restoration company will know what to expect and how to remove the damage from the home.

Can Homeowners Help With the Smoke Damage Cleanup?

Before the fire restoration company arrives, the homeowner can begin the fire damage cleanup. Yet, they need to know what specialized equipment and tools are required to clean up efficiently. Injuries and further damage are the last things a homeowner wants to deal with at this time. 

First of all, you should wear a proper N-95 particulate respirator to avoid inhaling soot particles and dust. You can find these respirators at hardware stores. Also, wear protective clothing such as rubber gloves, long sleeves, and long pants.

Homeowners can clean fixtures, countertops, sinks, faucets, toiletries, showers, and anything that everyday cleaners can wash. Leave the cabinets to the professionals, however. Many of them are made of wood, a porous material requiring precise cleaning solutions. 

The property owner can also pre-vacuum their carpets before the remediation/mitigation company’s arrival if they so choose.

Traveling to the Site to Inspect and Pre-Test

For the inspection and pre-testing phase, professionals bring a spotting kit. They will also have prepared industry-standard paperwork to discuss the severity of the damage and expectations with the property owner.

Upon arrival, it will be necessary to inspect the damage with the homeowner and perform pre-testing. The latter helps put the client at ease by highlighting the fire damage restoration company’s expertise.

Professionals will also ask the homeowner to explain what they see and allow them to voice their concerns. After inspection, the restoration professionals go over the required paperwork with the customer. The paperwork features the following information:

• The customer information form
• The authorization for the remediation/mitigation company to perform their services
• Material safety data sheets
• The fire damage information form outlining the date the fire restoration job begins, the do’s and don’ts, and details about the cleaning agents used. The paper also addresses and identifies the customer’s personal items, such as jewelry, heirlooms, and documents, and alerts the mitigation team of contents that cannot be destroyed, tampered with, or lost.

Scoping and Estimating the Job

The professionals will summarize what’s been found to the homeowner when the scope is finished. The scoping document will later serve as the estimate.

Before scheduling the work, the professional makes sure all documents have been thoroughly read and signed by the customer. They will also verify if the property owner has coverage by contacting the insurance adjuster.

After the professional has completed the site visit, they will call the adjuster, inform them of their findings and the expected costs, and provide a reasonable date for an estimate.

Activating the Work Order

Once the completed scope and estimate are in order, the professional can consider the document a work order. The technician who performs the service will sign the work order, whether they conduct the wall-washing, window-tasking, or whatever task is due to be completed.

After the Job

After the fire damage restoration process is complete (see steps below), the professional will walk through the home and ensure the job has met the homeowner’s expectations. The customer should verify everything by reviewing the days of service.

The client will be asked to sign a certificate of satisfaction, which states to the homeowner and insurance company that everything has been completed. The homeowner will then receive a copy from a three-part form, one for the following: restoration vendor, homeowner, and the insurance provider/source handling the expenses.

Reviewing With the Adjuster

The restoration company will tell the adjuster that the certificate of satisfaction has been completed. They will also communicate to the adjuster any particular concerns the homeowner might have with the company’s service or any pre-existing conditions in the home.

Advising of Payment Date

At this point, the restoration company will send an invoice to the customer, ask when the payment could take place, and what the best time would be for a follow-up on the cost.

Writing a Thank You Note

Within one week of the job’s completion, the fire damage restoration company may send a thank you card to the customer to express gratitude and appreciation for the privilege of restoring their home.

By following the fire damage restoration process above, professionals can ensure that everything is handled correctly from start to finish, eliminating and reducing the stress on homeowners during this difficult time.

The Fire/Smoke Damage Restoration Process

After everything has been discussed and signed, it’s time for the restoration company to provide the fire cleanup services. The steps include:

Remove the Source of the Problem

The first step in the smoke odor removal process is to eliminate the source of the odor. This involves removing burnt items such as furniture, cabinets, and non-salvageable contents. The items can either be discarded or restored, depending on the severity of the damage.

Clean the Salvageable Contents

A professional smoke damage remediation company can clean salvageable items carefully and thoroughly. The cleaning process typically includes washing, scrubbing, and disinfecting surfaces like walls and windows.

Interior items such as cabinets and drawers can be professionally cleaned, too. Often, personal belongings that endured smoke damage which can be restored are removed and taken off-site. Check out how to clean fabrics after a home fire. 

Clean the Air Ducts

Smoke and soot can infiltrate a home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, causing it to malfunction. Thus, cleaning the ducts early in the smoke smell removal process is essential to prevent the HVAC system from recontaminating areas that have been cleaned. Please leave the duct cleaning to the professionals, as it requires specialized equipment and techniques.

Professionally Removing Smoke Odors

The final step is removing the remaining lingering odors. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber that may help temporarily, but professional assistance is usually required. Here are some examples of proven methods:

Air Scrubbing

A technician will use high-efficiency particulate arrestor (HEPA) air scrubbers, which can remove 99.97 percent of particulates from the air. Eliminating these airborne particulates can also remove additional source materials for odors, improving your air quality.

Thermal Fogging

This process uses a petroleum-based deodorizer emitted from a thermal fogging unit, filling the affected area with a mist-like deodorizer. Fogging counteracts odorous molecules by using fragrance modification for permanent odor neutralization. Before fogging, technicians put out any smoldering flames. Everyone in the treatment area must wear respiratory protection equipment or leave the site.

Vapor Modification

This method uses an aromatic compound vaporized from a sealed plastic container that’s then dispersed into the air by a fan or blower. The mineral oils used in this process are non-toxic, non-oily, non-flammable, and non-explosive.

Therefore, customers can choose to remain in or near an area during the smoke smell removal process. The deodorizer also penetrates affected porous contents like upholstery and drapery.

Ozone Generator

This is one of the most popular and familiar processes for removing airborne smoke odor molecules, including hard-to-neutralize protein smoke. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer that neutralizes odorous molecules by releasing additional oxygen into the air. While an effective odor remover, ozone is not an “air purifier.”

Customers should not be present when an ozone generator is in operation. Trained technicians should enter the treatment area only briefly to turn the ozone generator on or off. Ozone works best in a controlled environment, such as an ozone chamber. Odorous contents can be subjected to 24 to 48 hours of ozone gas.

Contact PuroClean for Professional Smoke and Fire Damage Restoration Services

The process of smoke damage and odor removal is a complex one that must be done efficiently to be successful. Call your local PuroClean office for professional smoke damage restoration.

From cigarette smoke to stubborn smoke odor after a fire, we have the necessary training, equipment, and experience to rescue and restore your home after smoke damage. To connect with your local PuroClean office, visit our office locator online or call (800) 775-7876.