Clearing the Smoke and Soot Damage After a Somerville Fire

9/9/2020 (Permalink)

This was the state of the ceiling before we came in to do cleaning services.

The residues left in your Somerville home after a fire do not clean up simply by using conventional techniques and products. When homeowners try to remove the soot coating every surface, their efforts frequently make things worse rather than better. Our technicians master techniques during the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) training that rid your home of the different types of soot household fires produce. 

Depending on the materials fire damages in your Somerville home, the smoke and soot produced have different qualities. Our well-trained crew members evaluate the characteristics of the soot space to space throughout your home. Each of our crews has Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) certified by the IICRC at the scene of your disaster. 

When a fire burns fast and hot, often seen with paper and wood, the residues are light and ashy. SERVPRO employees know to use dry sponges and a light brushing action to loosen the soiling, vacuuming up the dry debris. Thick, sticky soot deposits after electrical or slow-burning fabric fueled fires need more aggressive action, including agitation and pre-treatment with products containing surfactants and wetting agents to loosen the residue. 

We frequently address protein-based soot as kitchen fires are commonly the source of the disaster. Food and grease produce a thin, lacquer-like coating that has a strong odor and is difficult to remove. SERVPRO crews employ abrasives and solvents to remove this coating, taking care not to damage further the surfaces involved.  

Soft materials damaged by soot need specialized care during cleanup. SERVPRO has resources available for laundering items that are washable and dry cleaning others. Furnishings can respond well to foam cleaning; the product brushed on to absorb the soiling and then lifted off. 

At our production facility, we have tools, equipment, and skilled technicians who use a variety of innovative methods to clean and restore household and personal items damaged by the fire. SERVPRO invests in ultrasonic cleaning and other immersion tubs and other systems that clean, dry, and restore items damaged by smoke and soot. Many of the articles you fear destroyed can be brought back to function and appearance using our training and state-of-the-art equipment.

SERVPRO of West Somerset County is ready to help you recover from the devastation of a fire. Call us at (732) 805-9944 day or night to set up an assessment. 

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