Soot, Smoke, and Fire Damage Restoration Services

2/8/2022 (Permalink)

Correct Removal of Fire and Soot Related Stains Is a SERVPRO Area of Expertise

Fire is an essential part of the lives of residents. It is necessary for cooking, heating, and even burning certain substances. However, when it goes out of control, the results can be very destructive to your property. Soot and smoke particles from the fire can land and stick to different surfaces in the structure. Restoration involves getting rid of these residues. The process requires a professional who understands the behavior of smoke during a fire and knows where to locate the heaviest deposits when inspecting the damage.

If your home sustains soot and smoke damage, you can rely on SERVPRO to restore your property. Our technicians are highly trained, experienced and can respond quickly to your fire damage emergency. As usual, we are dedicated to bringing back your contents to preloss conditions, "Like it never even happened."

Smoke and Soot Damage

Soot residues come in different forms - some are easier to clean while others tend to be stubborn. SERVPRO fire damage technicians are trained to deal with various types of soot, namely protein smoke residues, wet smoke residues, fuel oil smoke residues, and dry smoke residues. Factors that determine whether the smoke residue is wet or dry include:

• The type of substance or material burning
• The level of oxygen present
• The rate of combustion

These types of combustion byproducts require different cleaning methods. We use mild cleaning procedures for dry smoke because it does not cause embedded stains and has relatively fewer pungent odors. Natural materials often produce dry smoke when they sustain fire damage. Getting rid of wet smoke residues is more difficult because it is packed with aerosols such as solvents, varnishes, and other components. You can expect wet smoke if any synthetic materials are burning in the structure.

Ignoring smoke damage can lead to permanent consequences. Furniture, carpeting, and personal items with severe soot and fire damage could become irreparable. The soot can irreversibly discolor porous materials within minutes. After a few hours, it can rust or corrode metallic furniture and even damage your flooring. In the end, this can cause greater cleanup and replacement costs.