Fire Damage Restoration

How does smoke damage a house?

After the fire has taken place, smoke will settle on any surface that it touches, leaving behind an acidic film. If not dealt with promptly, this smoke may cause permanent damage.

If the necessary actions aren’t taken, the smoke will soon penetrate your furniture, walls and carpets, causing discolouration. You may also notice a lingering odour.

Removing the smoke smell can be difficult – you’ll likely need professional help. Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer a specialist fire smoke odour removal service to neutralise unwanted smells in your home.

Is it safe to stay in a house with smoke damage?

The health effects of fire smoke should not be underestimated. Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in the UK, with 75% of house fire victims passing from the effects of smoke rather than the fire itself.

The same goes for soot and ash. The average soot particle is 2.5 microns – small enough to enter your lungs without you even knowing. You should take strict measures to avoid contact with soot at all costs, or else you may develop skin irritation or even skin cancer (Science Learning Hub).

If soot particles manage to enter your body, they can cause severe breathing difficulties. Those with asthma should take extra precautions to protect their health.

Ash particles are bigger than soot particles, so they’re unlikely to reach your lungs. However, exposure to ash may still lead to respiratory issues. Similarly, ash particles present an imminent threat for those with existing conditions, including bronchitis.

What’s the difference between soot and ash?

Ash refers to the solid remains of a fire. Ash particles are dense, meaning they’re too heavy to be moved around by the smoke, so you’ll find it where the actual fire took place.

Soot, on the other hand, is an oily, lightweight, substance that can be moved, therefore it’s likely to have spread around different rooms within the property. Soot is the build-up of black or dull brown particles of carbon and tar.

What to do before professional cleaners arrive

Whilst waiting for our team of experts to begin the fire clean up services, there are several steps you can take to stop the situation from getting worse. These include:

• Removing all unwanted curtains and furniture

While we may be able to salvage certain belongings, we’d recommend throwing out any items – such as clothes, fabric curtains or furniture – which can be easily replaced.

• Wiping over solid surfaces

You can run a damp cloth over solid surfaces, like your kitchen table or worktops, to remove excess smoke particles. However, you’ll still need specialist equipment to eliminate the smoke damage.

• Ventilating the property

Open any windows and doors for regular intervals during the day to allow fresh air to circulate. This will force the contaminated smoke particles out of your home, creating a clean environment.

If you are allowed to re-enter the property, here are some ways to protect your health

• Avoid skin contact

If you can, remove yourself from the property until it’s safe to re-enter. If you must enter your home, avoid skin contact where possible. Make sure to wash your body immediately should contact arise.

• Wear a mask

You should wear a proper face covering whilst on the property to avoid inhaling or ingesting dangerous soot or ash particles.

• Cover your body

The same applies to your body. Wear gloves and long-sleeved clothes to avoid contamination if required to enter the building.

Our 3-stage cleaning method for fire-damaged properties

We take pride in our cleaning methods and processes that ensure your property is smoke and odour free, scrubbed of dangerous soot particles, and ready for refurbishment. Our 3-step process is incredibly thorough, utilising our best equipment and solutions to get it done right.

1. We sanitise the area with air treatment equipment and remove all surface contaminants.
2. The affected property is cleaned with industrial-grade solutions and tools, eliminating all smoke residue.
3. We compile a document of the work conducted and carry out a moisture survey before providing you with a decontamination certificate. 

We will safely restore your home as close to its original condition as possible

From odour neutralisation to the removal of debris, our fire cleaning services provide an all-in-one solution for all levels of fire damage.

We will not enter your home or business until the local authorities have confirmed that the property is structurally safe. Once we have the go-ahead, we’ll carry out a full risk assessment to determine the extent of the fire damage and develop a plan of action.

During the fire damage restoration process, we may ask you to evacuate the site. This ensures all parties remain safe and protected throughout the clean. Any technicians that enter the property will be dressed in full PPE.

Get in touch with a member of our professional support team

To find out more about our fire damage clean-up process or discuss your options with one of our experts, give us a call at 0203 870 1067 or send an email to contactus@icedrainage.co.uk. 

If you require fire damage cleaning in London, click here.