Whether smoke and soot damage occurs because of a brush fire outside the home, an electrical issue behind the walls, or a fire in the home, it is invasive and harmful. First of all, it stinks, and the smell doesn’t go away on its own. The smoke itself acts as an acid and will eat at materials if left too long. Soot can lead to the permanent yellowing of walls and ceilings, including wood and vinyl. Porous stones like marble or granite countertops can be permanently damaged. The ash can cause any exposed metal within your home to start corroding, leading to blemishes, and possibly structural integrity.
- Smoke: Visible suspension of carbon or other particles in the air, usually one emitted from a burning substance.
- Soot: A black powdery or flaky substance consisting largely of amorphous carbon, produced by the incomplete burning of organic matter.
Smoke and soot cause damage by seeping into small cracks and crevices, as the particles are so fine. This can go undetected for an extended period of time, with a lingering smell of smoke that can last for months. The only way to remove the smell from your home is to remove or clean the affect items.
Smoke damage is considered anything that is has a detrimental effect when it is covered by smoke and soot. It will pool throughout the home, cling to walls, seep into furniture, sink onto clothing, damage electronics, and fill in any available space within the ductwork.
Smoke and soot damage:
- Adversely affect the color of walls, as well as ceilings as smoke rises.
- Corrosion of metals, meaning pipes as well as any exposed metal. This includes smoke and soot getting into an HVAC system.
- Can affect breathing as particles get into the lungs.
Smoke damage is most noticeable by its smell. If you can sniff out the lingering smoky smell in certain parts of your home or office, you have smoke damage. Electronics will be affected with smoke damage are more likely to overheat. Soot gets into the inner workings of electronics often with a black film, affecting the insulation as well as any moving parts. Depending on the extent of the damage and as well as what structural there may be a need for replacement of damaged walls or flooring.
After assessing the damages, you want to talk to a company that knows how to make your home whole. You want a company that knows how to talk to your insurance company about reconstruction services as well as a company that will listen to YOU for how you want the remodel to go. Green Restoration and Reconstruction is the company for you. They have years of experience in remodeling and expertise in dealing with the parameters of what is your insurance and staying within budget.
Being prepared for the worst is being proactive against it. Having the right insurance coverage and the right team to assist in making things right again is peace of mind worth having. Green Reconstruction and Remodeling is the right company for your family to make the worst of times better.