What Happens After 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 appliances, 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 replacement; 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 instructors,
produce training materials, or promote
specific product brands, cleaning methods or
systems. It approves schools and instructors
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 professional
cleaning and restoration company please call us
today at 800.828.4398 or complete
our
online request form.
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