Smoke Damage Removal – Arundel, ME
House fires can be quite devastating to your home or business. Structural fires can be highly destructive. In no time at all, flames can rip through a structure consuming everything in their path. Precious items as well as portions of the building itself can be consumed quickly. After the flames have been extinguished, you still have to deal with fire and smoke damage. Even if your lovely Arundel home suffered only light damage, the smoke damage is almost impossible to remove. Whatever the extent of the damage, it’s very likely that you will require smoke damage removal.
Elements of smoke
Smoke damage removal is a challenge because it can affect all areas of a building; from ceilings to floors. Cleaning smoke damage that a building suffered due to a fire is nearly impossible to clean without professional help. To understand the difficulty of smoke removal, it’s best to explain what smoke is. Smoke is fuel that does not burn completely (including carbon particles and other such elements). The components of smoke are microscopic matter that is below 10 microns (PM 10). PM 10 is composed of particles such as small wood tar droplets, soot, ash and gases. Smoke elements are less than 1 micron – they are miniscule. Smoke damage can discolor your walls and ceilings (or wherever smoke touches). It can be incredibly difficult to remove.
Cleaning smoke damage
Smoke damage is visible as brown or black marks on ceilings or walls. The process of smoke damage removal should be coordinated with a property damage restoration professional (remodeling may be the only option). However, the good news is that, in some instances, semi-gloss or satin finishes may rectify the problem after a thorough cleaning. To clean on your own, you could try using a Trisodium Phosphate product which can be harsh. You should be prepared to use protective clothing (gloves and goggles), if you take this route. You will need:
- Two buckets, one with water and a tablespoon of Trisodium Phosphate and another with clean water (for rinsing). Make sure to read and follow instruction and safety labels of any products used.
- A large sponge
- Rags
Dip the sponge in the cleaning solution and begin scrubbing a section of your wall. Once you have a section clean, use a rag and water to rinse off the section. You may have to clean the walls more than once; this can be time consuming, so exercise patience.
Calling in the pros for smoke damage removal
While DIY methods can save money and help with the odor, your home may still end up with the lingering smell of smoke. For this, you may need to contact a professional. Soil-Away Cleaning and Restoration is a highly skilled IICRC certified company with over 25 years of fire and smoke damage removal services. They not only clean and remove soot, but they can detect hidden odor damage. Smoke can travel through your air ducts causing damage throughout your beautiful Arundel home. Soil-Away has the equipment, the experience, and the know-how to deal with these situations. They are quick, effective and available 24/7. Contact them right away at 1-800-293-6319.
Written by E. Aceves
