Even the smallest fire that has been put out relatively quickly can still cause smoke damage to your possessions. Not only that, but it can even affect the very structure of your home. This is why cleaning up smoke and soot quickly after a fire is so important. Smoke can act like an acid, and will eat away at different materials if left too long. It’s best to say that if a fire strikes your home, or if you live near an area where a wildfires has occurred, it’s crucial to act fast to reduce damages.

What Can Be Salvaged?

Depending on the extent of the damage and materials of the item, it may not be salvageable. Cost is a factor that should also be taken into consideration as some items will cost significantly more to salvage as it is to replace. A smoke damage specialist can determine what items should be cleaned, discarded or replaced.

How Does Smoke Affect Your Home?

Smoke affects various materials in different ways. Not only that, but the temperature and type of the fire will cause different variations of smoke damage throughout your home. One of the worst ways that smoke can causes damage is by sneaking into small cracks and crevices, since the particles are so fine. They can often go undetected for long periods of time, leaving a lingering smell that can last for months. The only way to remove the smell from your home is to remove or clean affected items and to clean your homes building materials with agents designed to remove the smell.

After a fire, your home needs to be properly and thoroughly ventilated, as this will allow some smoke particles to leave your home and prevent them from settling onto other items. Remove as much debris as possible, and clean areas where the damage occurred. Odor neutralizing products can help rid the building of the smell of smoke, and remove the very particles that cause the smell.  Getting this done as quickly as possible reduce the chances of cross-contamination.

How Fast Do You Need To Act?

Time is always of the essence when it comes to smoke damage. The sooner you act, the more likely you are to prevent permanent damage. For example, some materials, such as synthetic fibers and porous items need intervention within minutes to be effectively saved. The components of your house, such as painted walls and flooring, need to be addressed in no more than a day or two, and in some cases hours. In addition, painted walls and wood furniture can become permanently stained if not addressed quickly. Metal surfaces can rust and corrode when smoke and soot particle are left sitting too long. The longer you leave your smoke damaged home untreated, the more extensive the damage will become and the cost to mitigate will continue to rise.

The best action you can take to mitigate the effects of smoke damage is to call a professional right away. They can assess the damage, mitigate your house and turn it into a home again.

Grammatico R is a full-service, family-owned restoration company proudly providing services to cleanup and repair damage to residential and commercial properties due to water, fire, mold, storm, or other disasters. Call us today!

The post Where There’s Smoke appeared first on Grammatico Restoration.