Soot Damage Cleanup and Removal Services

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Soot Removal and Restoration Services

Fires produce soot that leaves stains on nearly any surface in your home. Soot is usually either a fine, powdery dust or a sticky, oily coating. Soot can spread much further than flames, staining surfaces throughout your home.

Limit the soot damage and get fast reliable cleanup services now. Call 1-888-443-3110 for a free, on-site estimate from a certified soot removal specialist in your area.

fire damage cleanup - soot removal and smoke cleanup

What is Soot Damage Cleanup?

Soot cleanup is the process of removing stains after a fire. Stains may range from thick black soot to a fine greasy or sticky film. Soot removal involves removing the stains, cleaning the film and restoring your home to the condition it was in before the fire.

Table of Contents

What are the Main Causes of Soot Damage?

Soot is the fine particles of carbon, tar and other materials produced during a fire. These particles will settle out of the air, coating surfaces throughout your home or business.

Soot damage can happen all at once, as is the case with a major fire. However, it can also happen slowly over time as with smoking or using a fireplace or candles.

  • Cigarette Smoke – Cigarettes and other smoking materials produce a very fine, sticky soot that can coat walls and other surfaces. Prolonged smoking in a specific area can result in significant soot damage. This often appears as yellowish, brown stains. Soot stains from smoking materials are often oily or greasy, which makes them difficult to remove.
  • Fireplace and Chimney Fires – As long as your fireplace and chimneys are well maintained and in proper working order, they have a low risk for causing soot damage. However, the wood and kindling used in more fireplaces have the potential to create a large amount of soot. If there is a problem with your chimney, soot can easily spread throughout your home.
  • Grease and Oil Fires – Cooking oils and fats can produce thick, black soot even without catching fire. Regardless of whether flames form, the oil is a significant source of fuel that can produce soot. This can result in heavy soot stains in the kitchen. It can also enter HVAC vents and spread throughout your property easily.
  • Other Kitchen Fires – The average kitchen has plenty of appliances that can produce soot as a result of burning food. The most likely cause of soot is your stovetop and oven, but toasters, toaster ovens, waffle makers, and even microwaves can start fires too.
  • Candle Fires – Due to the size of most candles, they usually burn cleanly. This limits the production of soot. However, larger candles or candles with perfumes or other additives are more likely to create higher amounts of soot. Another cause of soot damage from candles is burning them too long.
  • Electrical or Wiring Fires – Most electrical systems are completely safe and unlikely to start a fire. The biggest risk of soot damage due to an electrical fire is by overloading outlets or circuits.

How Does Soot Cause Damage?

Soot will leave a light grey to thick black stain on surfaces throughout your home. Because soot is highly acidic, it will stain most surfaces in as little as a few hours. 

Porous materials like drywall, paint, wood, carpeting, and fabric are most susceptible to soot damage. While more resistant to stains, soot can still damage non-porous materials like metal, stone, and glass.

Depending on the materials that burned in the fire, soot can be either a fine dust or a sticky oil. Soot can still settle on surfaces even if the fire didn’t produce a large amount of smoke.

Because it can travel much further than flames, soot may spread to other rooms not impacted by the fire itself. Soot may also settle in the ductwork of your HVAC system, which can spread it even further.

What is the Difference Between Soot and Smoke?

Soot and smoke are produced during a fire and both can damage your home. Soot is the solid particles of carbon, tar, and other byproducts from the fire. On the other hand, smoke is visible vapor and gases produced during the fire.

The easiest way to distinguish soot and smoke is to think in terms of your senses. Soot is the visual component, often appearing any color from grey to brown to black. Smoke is the gaseous component that produces the odor.

Soot Removal and Cleanup Services

Due to the acidic nature of soot, it can cause significant damage to property and structures if not properly cleaned in a timely manner. Residue from fires can settle on surfaces throughout your property and will begin to permanently stain within hours. Our fire and soot cleanup technicians will start with an assessment of the damage and provide a detailed estimate.

How do you Clean Up Soot Damage?

Depending on the cause of the fire, removing soot stains will often take several cleaning methods. Due to the risk of permanent stains, it’s important to begin soot cleanup as soon as possible.

  1. Clean Soot Stains

    The soot removal process begins with cleaning surfaces with dry chemical sponges, before moving on to wet cleaning methods. Surfaces through your home are cleaned to prevent or limit stains and remove greasy or sticky soot. Soot is also likely to settle in the ductwork for your HVAC system. If not properly cleaned, it may continue to blow soot throughout your property long after the fire. Soot stained fabrics and carpeting may be able to be cleaned, but they may need to be replaced in some circumstances.
  2. Seal and Paint Walls and Ceilings Against Soot Stains

    Even after a thorough cleaning, walls and ceiling may still have severe soot damage stains. These are sealed with stain blockers to prevent them from showing through. Depending on the severity of the damage, several coats of sealer are required before applying the final coat of paint. In rare cases, you may need to replace portions of drywall.
  3. Refinish or Replace Soot Stained Wooden Items

    Wood is extremely porous and prone to absorbing soot. Even repeated cleanings may leave wooden surfaces permanently stained. Removing soot stains from hardwood floors and wooden cabinets and furniture may require refinishing. It may not be possible to refinish items made from pressed wood, like many modern cabinets and furniture. The only option is to replace these items entirely.

How Much Does It Cost to Clean Up Soot Damage?

The average cost of soot removal and cleanup ranges from $1,800 to $6,000. The cost of cleanup varies depending on the cause of the fire, the material involved, and the size of the area. 

Additionally, fire damage restoration may include other costs like replacing charred materials. We provide a detailed estimate of all costs before beginning soot cleanup and your soot removal technician can answer any questions.

Soot damage cleanup and fire restoration are usually covered by homeowners’ insurance. Our soot removal crews work with all insurance companies and can even bill them directly.

Why Hire a Soot Cleanup and Removal Company?

Since soot can stain in less than an hour, it’s important to start cleanup immediately. Our soot removal technicians are trained and certified in cleanup methods that limit damage and restore your home quickly after a fire. Call 1-888-443-3110 for a free, on-site estimate on soot damage cleanup. Our crew can begin work as soon as you approve the estimate.
  • Always Free Estimates Let our experienced professionals assess your soot damage and provide a free, no-obligation estimate on restoring your home to its pre-fire condition.
  • 24-Hour Emergency Service Fires and the soot damage they cause can happen at any time, so we offer round-the-clock emergency services and can begin cleanup immediately in most cases.
  • 30-Minute Response Time Since it’s highly acidic, soot will cause permanent stains within hours. We offer a 30-minute rapid response to limit the damage and reduce the cost of soot removal.
  • Licensed and Insured Our professionals are licensed and insured to ensure you are protected throughout the restoration process.
  • Professional Equipment and Techniques Our restoration crews use professional-grade equipment and advanced techniques to restore your home or business.
  • We Work With Your Insurance Company Navigating what is covered by insurance can be difficult. Our technicians understand insurance terms and can help you with your claim.
  • Local Professionals Our crews are local, trained professionals with years of experience in soot cleanup and fire damage restoration.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Soot Cleanup

It’s not uncommon to have questions about the soot removal process. Here are some of the most common questions but if you still have concerns, call us now to talk with a fire damage restoration technician in your area.

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