When a fire takes over a home or a commercial building, the primary concern for the firefighters is to put it out as quickly as possible and prevent structural damage to the premises. Once the fire has been extinguished, you’ll be faced with major restoration work.
One area of fire restoration, usually not considered as important as others by homeowners, revolves around smoke damage. Even after the property has been restored, smoke damage from the fire might still linger. This type of damage can cause health issues and affect the quality of life. This is why it is so important to deal with smoke damage as quickly as possible.
The type of smoke damage determines which restoration option will work best. Each type of smoke damage requires a different treatment plan as each is different from the other. Let us take a look at types of smoke damage to understand how they are different from one another.
1.Wet Smoke
Wet smoke starts building up on surfaces after a fire and leaves behind a thick and sticky layer of residue. It is the most difficult kind of smoke damage to remove from belongings and structures of the building that survived the fire. Wet smoke damage is usually caused by slow-burning fires with a relatively low temperature. A strong odor is emitted by wet smoke; this odor can cause a number of health problems including headaches.
2.Dry Smoke
A fire with a high temperature can often cause dry smoke damage. Dry smoke can be easily cleaned from solid surfaces as it has a powdery texture that can be wiped away. However, when this smoke comes in contact with porous surfaces or gets trapped in cracks or grooves, it becomes very difficult to remove and may create musty odors.
3.Protein Smoke
Fires that burned plants, food, or any other organic matter can emit protein smoke. Protein smoke has a light color which is why it is usually difficult to see. However, you can easily feel it on surfaces. When protein damage isn’t removed from the wood, it can lead to permanent discoloration of the wooden object. It also creates an overwhelming odor.
4.Petroleum Smoke
Fires that burn any type of oil or oily substances can create petroleum smoke. Due to its oily nature, a degreasing agent can be used to easily clean petroleum smoke. Unfortunately, petroleum smoke is very dark in color and it will discolor the materials with which it come in contact.
Smoke damage spreads widely after a fire. If the fire isn’t extinguished quickly, it can cause significant smoke damage. A different cleaning and restoration approach is used for each type of smoke damage. This is why we recommend that you call STOP Restoration (S.T.O.P.) for restoring the damage caused by a fire. We offer our fire and smoke damage restoration services in the areas of Philadelphia, Bucks County and Montgomery County. We have certified technicians ready to help you put your home and life back to normal. Please call us at (215) 631-3298 for immediate emergency service or to schedule an estimate.
