What Happens During Smoke Damage Clean Up?

Fire and smoke damage cause financial and emotional devastation for many people each year. In fact, in 2017, it’s estimated that 23 billion dollars worth of property damage occurred as the result of fires. Though much of that was due to rampant wildfires, this statistic just goes to show how much loss can occur when an unexpected fire takes hold of a property. 

Knowing what to do to pick up the pieces after a fire has taken place can be overwhelming. Once the flames have been put out, some damage clean up is often a daunting task.

Though you can try to take on a lot of the cleaning up on your own, to have the job done thoroughly, an expert clean-up crew is the best way to go. Here’s what you can expect from a professional smoke damage clean up process:

Assessing the Damages

The first step in smoke damage clean up, and repair is the assessment. It’s important to hire a professional fire damage restoration company to come in and assess the damage done to your property. They’ll conduct a comprehensive and complete assessment of all damages for the insurance company.

This process will include legal documentation and video recordings of damages. Any furniture or belongings that remained untouched by the fire or smoke should be removed from the home beforehand. This is something that a disaster clean-up crew can assist you with. 

Securing the Foundation

Before the restoration process can take place, the foundation of the property needs to be secured first to prevent any further damage from taking place. Doing so means that any holes in the structure need to be filled, and if the floors, walls, or roof were harmed, they need to be checked to see if repairs or replacement are needed. 

Structural damage isn’t always obvious to the naked eye. A reliable fire restoration service can help you detect any potential leakage spots or areas where water might be getting in since the smoke and fire damage occurred. Mold growth can take place if these spaces aren’t repaired. After dealing with fire and smoke clean-up, the last thing you need is a mold problem on your hands. 

The best fire restoration companies are able to both perform the necessary repairs and set up measures for preventing future water damage. 

Smoke Damage Clean Up and Removal

The smoke damage and lingering soot that can accompany a house fire can be nearly impossible to clean up without professional help. Soot can cause staining that goes beyond the surface of carpets, bedding, paint, and other valuable items. Only the help of professional cleaning can do the job thoroughly. 

If your home has also been affected by water damage since the fire took place, the cleanup process should also include pumping and airing out of all moisture. 

Removing the odors that linger after a fire is tricky as well. The carpets and upholstery will need professional cleaning, and some items might need to be tossed out altogether. 

Repairs

Though tossing out some less expensive, less valuable items might have to be part of the cleanup process, there will be some items such as family heirlooms, priceless pieces, or cherished keepsakes that cannot be replaced. These items will require a careful restoration process. 

Unfinished wood pieces that have been damaged by smoke, soot, or fire can benefit from a sealant to help mask any odor. Finished wood has a better success rate when it comes to full restoration. These pieces can be stripped, sanded, and then refinished to make sure any lingering soot or odor is completely removed.

To have this job done thoroughly, a professional cleaning service is the best way to go. A reliable smoke damage clean up company will have a process for carefully restoring valuable pieces of every kind. 

Renovation

Though no one wishes to experience fire and smoke damage to their home or business, the aftermath can present an opportunity to begin a new renovation to the property. Repairs and cleaning can often take a long time from start to finish. For situations when the damage is so extensive that repairs won’t do the trick, a full renovation might be in order. 

If a renovation is needed, there are many fire damage companies that offer renovations to accompany their repair and restoration services. Be sure to inquire whether or not renovation assistance is available if that’s something you need. An experienced contractor will be able to start by getting the most that they can out of the restoration process and then turning to renovation for those areas that can’t be salvaged. 

Start With a Smoke Damage Restoration Consultation

Hopefully, this article has shed some light on what the smoke damage clean up process is like. Depending on the severity of the damage, the process can take a while to complete, but what’s most important is that the job is done right so you can move forward. 

Though the process of picking up the pieces after a fire has taken place isn’t easy, it can be less stressful with the help of experienced professionals who know what they’re doing. 

If you’re looking for some help with damage repair and restoration, we invite you to learn more about our services and how we can be of help to you. Contact us today with any questions you might have and to schedule a consultation for a free estimate. We’re here to help!