Types Of Smoke Damage And Their Restoration Solutions
4 Types Of Smoke Damage
- Dry Smoke. This type of smoke damage happens when the fire burns very hot and fast and is typically fueled by paper or wood. It creates a powdery residue that doesn’t smear when being wiped, making it relatively easy to clean up. Dry smoke residue can easily fall into cracks or porous material, which can make it incredibly difficult to completely rid the space of the lingering smoky smell. This type of smoke damage doesn’t smell as strong as others and a restoration professional will be able to eliminate the smell.
- Protein Residue. This type of fire damage is caused by a low-heat fire when organic material is evaporated, as in a common cooking fire. Protein residue can permanently discolour painted, varnished, or other finished surfaces. A person may not notice this type of smoke damage just with a visual inspection, but they would be able to tell by its intense odor. If not properly cleaned up, the smell of the protein residue can invade the entire house.
- Fuel/Oil Residue. This type of smoke damage is most common when a home’s furnace has a puff-back where it doesn’t properly ignite and creates a puff of smoke and soot that escapes in a leak or minor explosion. You can have this type of smoke damage despite not having an actual fire. Fuel/oil residue, also called petroleum residue, can be sticky, dense, and hard to clean. It has a strong and unpleasant odor that can easily ruin fabrics, carpet, upholstery, and other soft surfaces in your home.
- Wet Smoke. Plastic and rubber fires can produce a wet smoke residue. This type of fire is usually low-heat, but produces thick and heavy black smoke that can cover every surface of your home or business. These incredibly pungent fires leave a thick, black residue that will coat everything and that is extremely difficult to clean up without special equipment and products.
Smoke Damage Restoration
When fires cause minimal damage and/or produce easy to clean smoke, it is likely that objects affected can be cleaned up. Dry smoke, for example, is typically easy to clean. When smoke damage is worse or has been left to permeate an area, restoration is much more difficult. Items will likely have to be resurfaced, which includes recarpeting, reupholstering, and repainting. In worst case scenarios, such as situations with wet smoke or where the smell of smoke has permeated to the point that nothing else can be done, items need to be replaced. To have the best chances for salvaging what you can and to minimize the risk of the permanent damage caused by leaving smoke residue to permeate throughout your home or business, contact a professional restoration company experienced in addressing the damages caused by smoke an fire as soon as possible.
Call 24/7 Restoration In Calgary to Clean Up Smoke And Fire Damage
Some types of smoke damage may seem easy to clean up, but the odor could linger. If your home has smoke and fire damage, contact the restoration experts at 24/7 Restoration in Calgary at 1-403-247-4365 or fill out the online contact form. Smoke damage can get worse over time as the smoke residue and odor penetrate your possessions and the surfaces of your space. Acting quickly after a fire by connecting with a restoration specialist means more of your belongings can be salvaged. With the extensive experience, our IICRC fire and smoke certified technicians, top-of-the-line equipment, and state-of-the-art cleaning processes, you can feel secure in the knowledge that 24/7 Restoration is doing everything possible to return your home or business to a safe and healthy condition.
FAQ
Q: Can I stay in my home during the clean up?
A: That depends on the degree of smoke damage and how extensive the cleaning process must be. In some cases, we are able to clean up while you continue to live in your home. In others, we may be required to use specific equipment and products to remove the odor and as such you will not be able to stay in your home during that process.
Q: The Fire Department has come and put the fire out, but now I have water in my house. Will this be cleaned up?
A: Water damage resulting from a fire is very common, and 24/7 Restoration will employ all of our expertise in water damage mitigation and structural drying into our restoration strategy for your fire loss. It is our job to ensure that you don’t have mold growth from this event.
Q: WIll you secure and board up our home?
A: 24/7 Restoration will board up and secure your property to prevent further damage and theft.
