How SERVPRO Remediates Smoke Damage in Los Gatos

3/23/2020 (Permalink)

We are equipped and always on call to remediate your fire damage emergency.

The Biggest Problem in This Los Gatos Home Was Not Fire Damage 

Sometimes the most significant challenge after a fire damage event in a home is not the charring but the smoke residues left behind. Unless they get cleaned properly, the potential spread or ruin structure or contents remains.  

When working on fire damage in a Los Gatos home, SERVPRO techs pay special attention to the scope of the loss, including where the residues and soot landed.  

Testing and Cleaning 

After a fire loss in a home, the techs remove items too charred for restoration. This assists in limiting the spread of soot and lowering the odors in the house. The techs test the smoke residues and choose cleaning agents contingent on the types of smoke and surfaces getting cleaned, which ensures that additional damage from incorrect cleaning methods does not occur.  

Typical Residue Cleaning Situations

There are two primary types of smoke damage left behind after a fire. The first is dry smoke, and it requires careful cleaning. Any wet cleaning product can drive this type of residue deeper into surfaces, so special care gets taken to lift it using dry cleaning sponges before the surfaces undergo further measures. Wet smoke tends to have a grip on whatever it is on and often requires the use of a solvent-based cleaner to lift it away. During the previously done testing, the techs choose the appropriate methods so the residues get lifted away without any marring of surfaces. 

Residues on Contents

Smoke residues on contents in the fire loss area get handled on a case by case basis. Several different methods are depending on the construction materials of the object. Non-porous items routinely get cleaned using the immersion method. This application immerses the item in a cleaning solution to remove the smoke and restore it to its pre-fire condition. Upholstery and fabric items such as window treatments get addressed on an individual basis due to the diversity of fabric types and dye methods. 

SERVPRO of Los Gatos / Monte Sereno at (408) 600-2020 brings professionalism, knowledge, and experience to local properties with fire damage. Using their advanced restoration methods, they make the fire loss, "Like it never even happened." 

More about Los Gatos.