Is Fire And Soot Damage Permanent?

6/14/2021 (Permalink)

Can I remove soot damage from a fire?

After a fire is put out in your Charlotte, NC, home, it can be overwhelming to deal with the next steps in restoring your living space. The effects of smoke and soot are often unrealized after a fire. However, homeowners should be aware that smoke and soot can cause more damage than the fire itself. After the fire is out, smoke and soot will settle onto the floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, and other surfaces. This can cause severe tarnishing to your home and the belongings in it. Without immediate fire damage restoration following a home fire, these effects can become permanent. 

The Different Types of Fire Damage

Wet Smoke

Homes that experienced a smoldering fire burning at low heat may find wet smoke residue. Wet smoke residue is clammy and sticky, unlike dry soot found in other fast-burning fires. Wet smoke is more difficult to clean because it can easily smear without the right cleaning products. If you notice wet smoke in your home, do not enter the area as you can spread this hard-to-clean soot throughout your home. 

Soot Spreading 

As materials burn, chemical combustion occurs, resulting in soot. Soot is a powdery, black substance that is produced when a fire doesn’t completely burn its fuel source. When the fire occurs, the soot ionizes and becomes attracted to many different surfaces and can also enter your HVAC system and be distributed throughout your home. When the soot enters your air ducts, it is easily spread throughout your house, leading to soot damage in rooms where the fire may not have reached. 

Staining and Odors

After a fire, smoke damage will be visible, but other damage may initially be challenging to see. It is common for smoke-damaged walls to turn yellow after a few days. Marble and granite countertops and exposed wood can also become permanently discolored if not treated right away. Metal can also become tarnished as a result of smoke damage. Clothing and furniture may have residue of smoke and smell like fire because smoke particles settle on these fabrics. Many of these items can be restored if a professional fire restoration company can begin the restoration process immediately. 

When damage is found in your home after a fire, action must be taken quickly. SERVPRO of South Mecklenburg County can assure you that an experienced team of fire restoration technicians can respond to your situation as soon as possible and assess the fire damage properly. 

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