Fire Damage Restoration Tips From IICRC

Professional restoration technicians are always time conscious. They know that damage increases and restoration costs escalate the longer neutralization, corrosion control and cleaning is delayed. When homeowners prolong the restoration of their home, they extend the effects brought on by the smoke exposure. Below is a timeline of the effects of fire and smoke on a home.

Within Minutes

Acid soot residues cause plastics to yellow; small appliances located close to the source of combustion discolor; highly porous materials (marble, alabaster) discolor permanently.

Within Hours

Acid residues stain grout in bathrooms; fiberglass bath fixtures yellow; metals tarnish, counter tops may yellow; finishes on appliances, particularly refrigerators that extend into the heat line, may yellow; furniture finishes may discolor.

Within Days

In time, acid residues cause painted walls to yellow permanently; metal corrodes, pits and rusts; wood furniture requires refinishing; vinyl flooring requires refinishing or replace¬ment; clothing becomes soot stained; upholstery stains permanently.

Within Weeks

Restoration costs escalate tremendously. Synthetic carpet fibers may yellow or discolor permanently; silver plate is corroded permanently; glass, crystal, china may require replacement due to severe etching and pitting caused by prolonged exposure to acid soot residues.

Cleaning up soot residue must be done as quickly as possible. During combustion soot residue is carried by humidity, volatile vapors and air currents to surfaces throughout a structure, and deposited. This deposition process occurs repeatedly until combustion ends, with soot residue building up on surfaces layer-by-layer. By the time restoration technicians arrive, the hardened, lacquer-like soot residue may be quite difficult to dissolve and remove.

In addition to the removal of residue, ridding your home of its smoky odor is necessary. Professionals use this four-step process to remove odors:

• Remove the source of the odor, including unsalvageable debris that contributes to odor generation and recontamination of cleaned and deodorized areas.
• Physical removal of odor causing residue through cleaning of salvageable surfaces and items.
• Recreate the conditions of odor penetration and apply an appropriate odor counterbalance. This is accomplished with direct application of deodorants, or by generating a deodorizing fog that seeks out and combines with the odor causing substances.
• Finally, seal salvageable surfaces that are inaccessible or slightly scorched – not only for aesthetic purposes, but primarily to encapsulate odor and prevent progressive recontamination.

Understanding the effects of a fire can help homeowners 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. Don’t hesitate to discuss these procedures with a trained fire and smoke restoration professional, because increasing your knowledge will ensure that your home is correctly restored. Fire and smoke restoration experts can help you get your home and furnishings back to a “pre-loss” condition.