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What Happens When The Smoke Clears?

To refurbish a smoke or fire damaged home and return it to its original condition, the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) recommends that you contact a professional who is certified in fire and smoke damage restoration. Homeowners may be tempted to perform complete clean up on their own, but many times this can make conditions worse.

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 appliancĀ­es, 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 replaceĀ­ment; 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.

About IICRC

The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is an ANSI accredited non-profit certifying body for the flooring inspection, floor covering and specialized fabric cleaning and disaster restoration industries. Organized in 1972, the IICRC currently represents more than 4,300 Certified Firms and more than 41,000 Certified Technicians in 30 countries. The IICRC, with participation from the entire industry, sets standards for inspection, cleaning and disaster restoration. IICRC does not own schools, employ certified firm, produce training materials, or promote specific product brands, cleaning methods or systems. It approves schools and certified firm that meet the criteria established by the IICRC. IICRC also serves as a consumer referral source for Certified Firms and Inspectors.


If you are looking for a Virginia fire damage contractor, please call us today at 804-435-1065 or complete our online request form.

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