Although fire is notorious for causing catastrophic damage to your property, smoke can be just as bad.
Smoke damage will occur even if the firefighters extinguish it before it causes more damage.
Furthermore, smoke damage goes beyond the evident discoloration and soot deposits on surfaces. It can compromise a building’s structural integrity, stability, and even the health and safety of its occupants.
What Is Normally Considered Smoke Damage?
Smoke damage refers to the adverse effects on materials and structures caused by smoke and soot from a fire. It includes discoloration, pitting, corrosion, and degradation of materials such as walls, ceilings, flooring, and personal belongings.
Several elements affect the extent of smoke damage, including the type of fire, temperature, and duration of exposure.
It also dictates how specialists, such as Complete Restoration, can help clean and restore your smoke-damaged areas by following these steps:
- First, we ensure that the area is well ventilated
- Then we examine the smoke damage.
- Next we get the essential tools, such as a smoke vacuum, soot remover, liquid soap, or Trisodium Phosphate (TSP).
- We slowly vacuum to remove the smoke and soot before cleaning the walls using a soot-cleaning sponge.
- We also remove any leftover strains with warm water and TSP or liquid soap.
- Finally, using a dry clean cloth or blowers and fans, ensure that everything, including the walls and surfaces, is dry.
What Do Insurance Companies Normally Consider Smoke Damage?
Homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies cover smoke damage as part of their coverage for property damage. It also includes the cost of removing smoke odors.
However, the insurance provider will decide how much it will cost to fix or replace the damaged products and structures. It could entail fixing or replacing electrical and HVAC systems affected by smoke. Cleaning or replacing objects like carpets, furniture, walls, ceilings, and personal belongings may also be part of it.
Nevertheless, the insurance company must consider who or what caused the fire before they can settle any claims for smoke damage. Was it on purpose or an accident?
What to Do With Smoke-Damaged Items or Clothes?
If smoke damaged items or clothes, it is best to:
- Open the windows and doors to bring in the fresh air and eliminate any remaining smoke smell.
- Keep the items in containers or plastic bags to prevent any remaining smoke odor from spreading.
- Then, wash the items using a strong detergent and plenty of water, or take them to a professional dry cleaner.
- Use odor-eliminating products like baking soda, vinegar, or specialized smoke smell-eliminator sprays. You can also call a professional smoke damage cleaning and restoration company like Complete Restoration.
It is important to note that some items may not be salvageable if the damage is too severe. In such cases, it may be best to dispose of them.
Contact Complete Restoration for Help With Smoke Damage!
After a fire causes smoke damage, you should have a professional handle the restoration.
Why?
Because you may find it a daunting, long, and tiresome task given your emotional state, consider contacting Complete Restoration for smoke damage assistance.
Complete Restoration has years of experience dealing with smoke damage. We also have the expertise, equipment, and technology to properly repair the effects of smoke and soot on your home.
Also, our qualified professionals use the most up-to-date cleaning and restoration techniques to quickly return your property to its pre-loss condition.
When restoring your home, we recognize that time is of the essence, so we work fast to prevent any more damage.
So, contact us to schedule a consultation and find out how we can help you with your smoke damage restoration services in and near Salt Lake City, UT.
