Effects of Fire and Smoke Damage

Behavior of Smoke

Often times the most damage from a fire is caused by smoke. The complexity of property loss or destruction due to fire damage is due to the unique behavior of smoke. Our restoration professionals are trained to survey the loss site to determine the extent to which fire, smoke, heat, and moisture impacted building materials and contents.

Smoke can penetrate within cavities of the structure, causing hidden damage and odor. A thorough investigation of the damage is vital to the proper restoration of your home. Our knowledgeable fire restoration professionals will conduct an in depth investigation of your properties smoke damage.

There is more to smoke than you may know:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, using holes around pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the fire damage restoration process.

Smoke can materialize in various forms:

Upon arrival one of our first tasks is to determine the type of smoke damage we are dealing with. Cleaning procedures will be based on the information identified during fire damage pretesting.

Types of soot include:

• Wet Smoke Residues – Result from smoldering fires with low heat. Residues are sticky, smeary and with pungent odors. Smoke webs can be difficult to clean.
• Dry Smoke Residues – Result from fast burning fires at high temperatures. Residues are often dry and powdery.
• rotein Residues – Virtually invisible residues that discolor paints and varnishes. Extreme pungent odor.
• Fuel Oil Soot – Furnace puff backs distribute fuel oil soot.

Loss Evaluation and Plan of Action

Our trained professionals will do a complete site analysis to determine the extent of fire damage and the scope of needed cleaning, restoration, and repairs.We will give you a complete plan of action and keep you informed the entire way. Allowing us to take care of your home will allow you to take care of your family.

• Fire Damage can have a wide range of effects on a persons home and contents. There are many things to be considered when developing a scope of loss and restoration plan. How many materials are affected by smoke or fire? What is the proper method for cleaning? Will your personal belongings need to be relocated while your house is restored? These are just a few of the decisions that must be made.
• While the number one objective is to asses the damage and get a plan to restore your home… It is important that a protection plan for the undamaged areas of your home is put into place.
• We will complete an itemized inventory and determine which items can be cleaned and which items need to be replaced. Pretesting also allows us to focus on saving precious items or keepsakes for you.