In the aftermath of a
house fire, it is critical to have disaster restoration services on the scene
as quickly as possible. Your first call
should be to us. At Giordano Restoration, our team of professionals will walk you
through filing your insurance claims and advocate for you throughout the entire
process of getting your home and your life back to normal. Burned surfaces are
not the only damages to be considered after the fire trucks leave. In
addition to mitigating any water left behind by firefighting efforts, we will
work quickly to counteract damage by ash and soot. We will also rid your home
of the smoke odor that is extremely pervasive after a structure fire. The first
hours and days are critical in salvaging your precious belongings.
DAMAGE FROM SOOT
Cleaning up soot residue must be done as
quickly as possible. During combustion, soot residue and volatile vapors are
carried by rising and expanding air to surfaces throughout a structure, and are
deposited. This process occurs repeatedly until combustion ends, with soot
residue building up on surfaces layer by layer. In time, this hardens to a
lacquer-like consistency and may be impossible to dissolve and remove.
-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 may yellow; uncoated metals tarnish, counter tops may
yellow; finishes on appliances, particularly refrigerators, 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.
Drywall may be stained under the paint and need to be replaced, 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.
At Giordano
Restoration, our trained restoration experts may use any or all of the
following methods to clean soot and ash from your home’s contents, depending on
the material and the extent of the damage:
·
Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to wet
cleaning
·
Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing heavier residues
·
Spray and Wipe -Effective for items that can’t withstand wet cleaning
·
Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned
·
Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product
Special considerations need to be taken for items such as
clothing, upholstered furniture, and draperies. If these items are considered
salvageable, we use commercial laundry and dry cleaning professionals who
specialize in ridding these items of both residue and smoke odor.
Electronic equipment must also be handled with special
attention. The corrosive nature of soot will quickly and irrevocably damage
sensitive metals within an electronic component. Do not attempt to turn on any
of these devices after a fire. A specialist will assess the damage and
professionally restore any salvageable electronics in your home.
SMOKE ODORS
The odor of smoke, after a fire in your home or business, can be
extremely persistent. Even a very small fire, which causes little other damage,
can leave behind a significant smell of smoke.
Simply masking odors with sprays or fogs is usually not enough to
eradicate odors permanently. At Giordano Restoration, we have the experience
and expertise to rid your space of the lingering odor of smoke. We employ
specialized methods and equipment to eradicate smoke odors at a molecular
level.
PACK OUTS
If your home or business requires extensive
restoration or cleaning due to fire damage, it may be necessary to remove all
of the contents. Giordano Restoration professionals will clean, wrap, pack, and
inventory every salvageable item in your space. If your disaster requires a
pack out, your contents will be stored appropriately, taking into account
humidity and temperature control. Your inventory list will be organized and
detailed to help you quickly get back to your normal life after restoration is
complete.
A
fire in your home or business can be one of the most devastating events you
ever have to endure. Let our team help you get back to your pre-loss condition
as quickly and efficiently as possible. We will do so with sensitivity and
professionalism.