Fire Damage Restoration San Diego

Smoke odor removal from burned structures with water damage is a multiphase process. Ideally it must begin within hours after the loss and continue from tear-out to dry-in and finishing. There are two types of odor with which you are dealing: smoke and biological (fungi, bacteria). Of course, the fire is the source of the smoke odor, while the biological are caused by the water used in extinguishing the fire, coupled with time. If anything, the water exacerbated the fire contamination and odor.

Fire Damage Restoration San Diego

The procedures to remove the smoke damage include: :

Remove all structural components that are charred, or which seal smoke or moisture within pockets of saturation. In extensive losses, blown or bat insulation must be removed and replaced.

Remove floor coverings after they collect the fallout of ceiling and wall demolition.

Once removed, structural framing and subfloor materials must be carefully evaluated for damage (charring, warping, etc.). Remove and plan to replace IT as required.

Salvable wall framing should be treated with appropriate odor counteractants, which in some cases, may include an appropriate biocide, depending on the extent of microbial contamination.

As close to the beginning of restoration procedures as possible, the HVAC must be either removed or thoroughly restored. This is particularly critical to prevent smoke particles, which range from 0.1-4 microns, from being released into the air. Ciliated surfaces on bronchial passages are able to filter particles down to 10 microns. Others have the potential to penetrate deeply into lung tissues where, at best, they cause irritation, and at worst, they could result in scarring of the alveoli.

Framing materials must be allowed to dry to within 4 percent of normal moisture content, which generally is around 10% in the San Diego area.

While the home is unoccupied, and as successive areas are dried in, I would not hesitate to use a combination of ozone deodorization and wet or dry fogging, to oxidize or otherwise neutralize odor. Both processes must be applied by trained professionals to avoid health risks, or the potential for damage from the process itself.

Framing materials should be sealed with an appropriate sealer, before replacing drywall, paneling, decking, etc. Otherwise, odor will leach out of structural materials for months, if not years to come. Simply putting up new drywall and taping and mudding joints will not seal in untreated odor.

As individual rooms are completely reconstructed, deodorization efforts should continue, progressing from least damaged areas back to the source. Usually, source areas are that last to be dried in and reconstructed.

10.Savable drywall, if any, should be sealed carefully and painted (two coats).

Fire Damage Restoration San Diego