Smoke Damage Cleanup and Soot Removal

In the aftermath of fire damage in your property, the unmistakable smell of smoke and appearance of soot are highly likely. Both things can contribute to continued issues within the home or business, leading to corrosion and deterioration of components in the property. Ensuring that an effective smoke damage cleanup and soot removal operation is started on the property is vital to ensure the full recovery of the property.

At BELFOR, we are industry leaders in helping to return your property to its former state after fire damage. Entrusting a team of BELFOR smoke and soot removal professionals means you’ll be utilizing years of experience and industry-leading methods, all helping return your property to its former state.

Dealing With Smoke Damage

If left untreated, smoke damage can turn walls yellow within a matter of days, even if they weren’t originally affected by the fire. If your property has been affected by a large fire, it’s important that you hire a professional restoration company, such as BELFOR, and do not attempt repairs yourself. If the smoke damage is not fully repaired, it will cause ongoing problems for your home or business.

When carrying out smoke damage restoration in your property, BELFOR will start by removing everything affected by the fire from the property. At this stage, it will be necessary to evaluate what can be restored and what must be removed. Restoration will then depend on the type of material and its value.

Any items that are deemed "priceless," for example, those of significant emotional value such as a family heirloom that can’t be replaced, will have to go through a thorough and careful restoration process. Items that can be replaced will likely be thrown out.

How To Get Rid Of The Smoke Smell

The smoke smell removal process depends entirely on the material. Smoke damage can permeate the surface of porous materials and goes much deeper than any surface damage you may see. For example:

• Walls and Ceilings – Fire can blister the paint on walls and cause discoloration. Walls and ceilings need to be scraped and sanded back sufficiently until all affected material has been removed, before being repainted.
• Unfinished Wood – There is a lower success rate for unfinished wood. One option would be to apply a sealant onto the wood, in some cases this will trap the odor.
• Finished Wood – As finished wood already has a protective layer that will have been affected by the smoke, this will often be stripped, sanded and refinished.
• Furniture – As furniture is often made of fabric, it’s likely to soak in a lot of the smoke and cause a strong smell. This will require professional cleaning or, if it’s not of great value, replacement.
• Carpets – The same applies to carpets. The fibers of the carpet will hold the smell, meaning that cleaning throughout the property is necessary. If this doesn’t work, a replacement will be required.

Unfortunately, once a fire has occurred inside a property, removing the smell of smoke can be a difficult process. It’s important to seek professional help from a team of fire remediation professionals such as BELFOR.