Fire & Smoke Damage - Effective clean up & restoration

The damage fires inflict on businesses and homes is often devastating and can leave businesses out of action for an extended period of time.

The initial visual damage caused by a fire can be distressing enough without the secondary effects such as:

• Soot odour 
• Health problems 
• Corrosion

Soot or odour can be absorbed into porous surfaces and if not removed may migrate back to the surface, months or even years later. It is therefore very important to ensure that any absorbed soot or residual chemicals are removed prior to attending to the aesthetic cleaning.

The most damaging components of any fire are the fuel, available oxygen and time. Fuel can be anything from chip pan oil to upholstery and construction fabrics; in fact food fires are one of the hardest cleans. Low oxygen fires where fire occurred in a closed environment often leave soot particles that are wet or greasy and difficult to remove due to incomplete combustion.

High oxygen fires usually result in little soot, which is relatively easy to remove. There is usually a fall out when the soot reaches cooler, lower or different pressure areas. 

When a fire occurs, porous surfaces expand and allow the soot and odours to enter. Once the surface begins to cool, the pores will then close, trapping in the soot and odours. If cleaning and decorating is not carried out correctly, when the air temperature rises, odours may again be released from the opening pores.

Smoke usually goes from hot to cold areas, high pressure to low pressure areas meaning soot can travel far from where the initial fire began. It is worth checking cupboards, corners and drawers.