Following the devestation of a fire that has covered your home or business premises with smoke and ash, it’s important to begin clean up as soon as possible in order to prevent further damage and even permanent damage from soot residue. Fire or smoke damaged properties can also experience irreversible damage, regardless of the size of the fire. Soot residue is highly acidic and can pit or corrode the metal in doorknobs, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, etc. It can also etch glass in windows, mirrors and cabinets, causing them to look soiled and cloudy. Moreover, plastics, appliances, fabrics and vinyl windows can become discoloured. Below are some tips for fire victims facing clean up.

Practice safety first

Use a dust mask (like painters use) and gloves as you work.

Ventilate the home

Place a box fan in an open window to draw the air and dust out.

Clean from top to bottom

Start with the ceilings, walls and fixtures, and work your way down to the contents of the room, then to the floor.

Vacuum floors and upholstery

Make sure your vacuum cleaner has a high efficiency filter. Otherwise, you risk blowing soot back into the air.

Laundry

Some draperies, clothing and machine-washable items may be laundered. Use a mild alkaline cleaner to neutralize the acid in the soot. Fine clothing should be dry cleaned.

Walls

Most exterior walls (brick, stone, wood, paint, siding) and eaves can be cleaned by spraying with a detergent, agitating soot with a soft-bristled brush, pressure washing from bottom to top, then rinsing from top to bottom.

If the damage is too much, then you need to hire a professional. A fire can cause damage beyond sight and secondary damage can be problematic to retrofit. If the damage and residue are heavy, it may be best to hire a professional to thoroughly restore your home and belongings.

Hire a professional

Always check with your insurance company if you are covered for the damage. We always recommend keeping your policy up to date, especially if you live in a high risk area. If the fire has warped or distorted the structure of your home, you will almost certainly need a restoration company to help.

Don't delay, contact us today!

Here at Tempest Restoration, we know that damage increases and restoration costs escalate the longer neutralization, corrosion control and cleaning is delayed. Every minute you prolong the restoration of your home or business premises you will extend the effects brought on by the smoke exposure. Below is a general timeline of the effects that fire and smoke can cause.

Within Minutes: Acid soot residues cause plastics to discolour. Small appliances located close to the source of combustion will also discolor. Highly porous materials will discolor permanently.

Within Hours: Acid residues stain grout in tiled walls and floors. Fibreglass bath fixtures may yellow. Uncoated metals will tarnish. Finishes on appliances, particularly refrigerators, can discolour and furniture finishes may also discolor.

Within Days: In time, acid residues cause painted walls to discolour permanently. Metal will corrode, pit and rust. Wood furniture requires refinishing. Vinyl flooring requires refinishing or replace­ment. Clothing becomes soot stained. Upholstery stains permanently.

Within Weeks: Restoration costs escalate tremendously. Carpets may yellow or discolor permanently. Any silver plated items will have corroded permanently. Glass, Crystal and China may require replacement due to severe etching and pitting caused by prolonged exposure to acid soot residues.

As you can see, the sooner you take action, the easier it is to restore your items of furniture and possessions. Cleaning up soot residue must be done as quickly as possible. Its worth keeping in mind that a fire in a home or business premises doesn't just affect the rooms in which the fire is contained to. During the combustion of a fire, soot residue and volatile vapors are carried by rising and expanding air to surfaces throughout a structure, and are deposited everywhere. This process occurs repeatedly until the combustion of the fire ends. Soot residue builds up on surfaces layer by layer, each one effectively sealing the last. By the time restoration technicians arrive, lacquer-like soot residue may be quite difficult to dissolve and remove.

Its not just the visual residue that requires cleaning though. A fire leaves odour that can penetrate porous materials. Removal of this smoky odour is essential. Understanding the effects of a fire can help homeowners and businesses alike evaluate the damage to their home. By learning more about residue clean-up and deodorization after a fire, you can minimize the need for costly repair. Tempest Restoration can help you return your home and furnishings to a “pre-loss” condition fast and efficiently. Your home or business premises are important to you. The devestation a fire can cause isn't just limited to the visual side of the aftermath. Tempest Restoration have years of experience in the restoration of fire damaged properties and can quickly identify these risks and return your property to its pre-incident condition leaving you safe in the knowledge that you can move on from the ordeal and your property will once again be a safe place to be in.