Fire damage cleaning london can be a difficult task for the average person to manage. Often fire damage leads to corrosion that can be exacerbated if the correct steps are not taken.
Ash residue corrodes surfaces over time and if left untreated your possessions, walls, furniture etc will be permanently discoloured. It is also dangerous for people with breathing problems to be in a house with soot and smoke.
Smoke and soot removal
Leaving traces of smoke and soot on walls and surfaces after a fire damage event can cause further problems, such as discolouration and unpleasant odours. Soot residue contains a host of chemicals and toxins which can soak into fabrics, wood finishes, drywall and even walls if left untreated.
Firstly, you will need to ensure that you have full personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes a single-use apron, gloves and goggles/eye covers. It is also recommended to rent a powerful vacuum cleaner, preferably one with a HEPA filter.
Now that you have a suitable PPE, begin by wiping down the walls using the chemical dry cleaning sponge. Make sure to only wipe in the direction of the grain; scratching the surface can lodge the soot further into the wall. Once the walls are free of soot, wash them with a bucket of warm water and mild detergent. Be careful not to use too much detergent or it will leave a soapy residue on the walls.
Stains
As soon as a fire is extinguished, it leaves behind soot and ash particles which will cling to surfaces. These can be difficult to remove. They can also be acidic and corrode materials over time. If left untreated, precious metals and triaged metal appliances can become unsalvageable.
A professional restoration company will use a combination of dry and wet cleaning techniques to ensure the best results are achieved. This will include Hepa filtered vacuum cleaners, chemical sponges and detergent solutions depending on the material being cleaned.
A fire and smoke restoration company will decontaminate all areas of the property, not just those visibly affected by smoke damage. This will help to prevent further damage. It will also help to return the property back to its pre-incident condition as quickly, reliably and cost effectively as possible. This is because cutting corners may make things worse and can lead to further problems with moisture, structural integrity and odour removal.
Odour removal
Odour removal from fire damage is an important part of any effective clean up process. This is because the smell of smoke often penetrates deep into materials and building structures, lingering long after fire damage cleaning has been carried out. This can be particularly problematic in buildings that are still being used, such as flats, and where occupants have not yet moved out.
Using the Biosweep technology, we guarantee 100% odour removal as part of our Ideal Response fire damage cleaning service. This ensures that unpleasant odours are completely removed, while also decontaminating the air and surfaces within your property.
Unlike many home remedies or room sprays which merely mask bad smells, professional odour remediation actually neutralises the molecules responsible for the unpleasant odour. This means that the unpleasant smell cannot return, and the premises can be reoccupied as normal. For the best results, our team will carry out thermal fogging in smoke-damaged rooms, filling these with a non-toxic chemical vapour which helps to neutralise the odour and provide lasting protection against its return.
Deodorisation
Smoke damage can cause a wide range of problems from acidic residue that can corrode surfaces to smoke odours that can linger for weeks after the fire has burnt out. It’s important that odour removal is carried out quickly and effectively to minimise damage to items that may be salvageable.
Deodorisation is a process where air or surfaces are treated with an agent to remove unwanted odours. As one of the sole suppliers of patented Biosweep deodorisation technology Ideal Response is able to guarantee 100% odour removal as part of our fire damage cleaning service in Kent.
Soda blasting is a process that uses high pressured sodium bicarbonate to clean and deodorise charred wood surfaces such as logs and timber framing. This leaves the surface ready to accept a new stain and can greatly speed up restoration and repair work. The same technology can also be used in other areas of the building to remove odours from carpets and other surfaces.