5 Important Steps to take after Smoke Damage

Smoke Damage

When you have a fire in your home, it can often cause smoke damage in Portland, OR. Even a small fire can cause smoke damage, releasing toxic gases from the burning of flammable household materials. There are some steps you can take in the event of smoke damage that will protect both you and your loved ones.

5 Steps to take after Smoke Damage

1. Before you begin cleaning, it is important that you contact your home insurance agency and a certified smoke damage restoration company. They can determine the best way to clean and restore your property. If you perform the cleaning yourself it likely will not be covered by your insurance.
2. After receiving permission from a fire marshal to re-enter your home, wear protective breathing masks. There may still be toxins and particulate matter in the air that can be harmful to your lungs.
3. Do not attempt to clean on your own. A smoke damage restoration professional will know exactly how to clean your property. Homeowners often don’t realize that the residue left from smoke damage is oily. It require specific cleaning. Attempting to do so without the proper methods or equipment can irreparably damage furniture, carpets, and drapes.
4. A restorer has the proper chemicals to successfully remove smoke and soot. Even something that seems simple, like wiping off the walls, can cause damage. This is because professionals use specially made chemical sponges that remove soot while preventing further damage.
5. Smoke can get into your walls. You won’t see it, but without proper restoration and deodorizing the smell from smoke damage will return over and over again. A full service restoration company can remove and repair smoke damaged sections of wall. This step is necessary to get your house back to it’s pre-smoke damaged state.

Follow these tips if you’ve suffered from smoke damage in Portland, OR, and make sure to Call (503) 822-6827 or Contact your trusted smoke damage restoration company as soon as possible.