Guidelines for Fire & Smoke Damage Repair
The thought of a fire scares most home and business owners. Dealing with the aftereffects of smoke and fire damage is a daunting task. It is important to get rid of the odor and fire residue for breathing safety and to salvage your belongings. While it is difficult, minor damage repair is something you can do yourself. Fires that damage the building structure require evaluation for safety and some more extensive restoration methods. Does this Spark an idea?
Residue and Water Cleanup
If fire extinguishers left a residue, sweep or wipe up the hardened residue. Remove any water-damaged rugs, furniture or personal items after fire department hosing. Wash and dry wet clothing and fabrics. It is important to wash them first even though they're already wet in order to get rid of the smoke odors. Put furnishings outside and hang large fabric items like rugs outside to dry out. Sweep, vacuum or scrape up any soot or debris before attempting to restore other areas of the building. Leftover ash and soot from a fire will keep on producing odors and smoke long after a fire is out.
Material Cleaning
Wash all clothing still in the house, even clean ones hanging in closets or packed in drawers. Smoke permeates everything and invades closed spaces. Wash bedclothes and steam clean rugs, draperies and mattresses to disinfect them and get rid of the smoke odor. Steam clean or use commercial fabric deodorizing spray on upholstered furniture. Do not simply buy perfumed sprays to cover up smoke odors or they will return as soon as the spray wears off.
Hard Surface Cleaning
Wash down cabinets, countertops and walls with mild soap followed by an astringent such as vinegar spray (one part vinegar to three parts water). The soap and water removes the residue and the vinegar spray cuts odors and mold. Remove dishes and food from inside cabinets and clean all inner surfaces. Throw out opened dry good foods.
Repairing Damage
Inspect all damaged wood areas. Remove all wood with any damage from either fire or water. Even wood with burn marks is a damaged piece and will hold smoke odors, and possibly even disintegrate further over time. Water-damaged wood is prone to rot even when dried out. Remove drywall that has water damage or is crumbling and replace it. Scrape all soot and residue from concrete and apply a layer of mortar over the damaged area to level out. Furniture with burned or water-damaged wood is unsalvageable unless pieces are replaceable.
When to Get Help
Call a professional to handle damage that is extreme, and can't be handled with simple cleanup. A professional can sandblast or pressure-wash concrete with excessive smoke and soot buildup, and will accomplish the repair with minimal additional water damage. He will check for soot and residue in vents and attics and power-wash rooftops and exterior walls. A professional smoke and fire damage control company will also perform tests to the structure of the building to determine safety for buildings suffering extreme fire damage.
Tags: fire damage, smoke odors, after fire, Cleaning Wash, Damage Repair
