Structural Areas That Present Cleaning Difficulties After A Fire In Brigantine

9/23/2019 (Permalink)

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Structural Areas that Present Cleaning Difficulties after Fire Damage Affects a Brigantine Home

Cleaning up fire damage sites is a standard part of restoration efforts. Although such cleaning is generally challenging, some parts of the affected structure might prove tougher to clean than the rest. Knowing such parts in advance can help you make the necessary preparations. However, if a professional restorer such as SERVPRO is involved, every step of the cleaning process is handled correctly.

Lighting Fixtures
Some parts, such as ceilings bear the brunt of fire damage in affected Brigantine homes because smoke moves upwards. The ceiling, therefore, requires serious cleaning efforts to remove soot and other residues. Ceiling cleanup also involves cleaning lighting fixtures, which can present some challenges, including the risk of electric shock or the sanitizing agent ruining the finish of the fixture. Our SERVPRO technicians confirm that power is off and pre-test the cleaning solution before starting the process. For fixtures such as chandeliers, which include decorative trim, we use low-pressure steam cleaning or submerge the trim in an ultrasonic cleaner.

Concealed Areas
Flames from the fire might not reach every corner of your property. Smoke, on the other hand, spreads further through convectional currents leaving abundant deposits inside cabinets, attics and other concealed areas. In many cases, the interior parts of such areas are made of unfinished wood, which is difficult to clean. Access might also be limited in such areas. Our SERVPRO technicians use Dry Cleaning Sponge for residue removal. We also use denatured alcohol to deal with the remnants preventing the setting of residues into pores.

Windows
Cleaning the windows might seem easy, considering it is something done during regular house cleanups. However, after fire damage, the cleaning involves the frame and trims as well, and smoke residues tend to filter into every nook and cranny. The glass too can present problems, especially streaking. Our SERVPRO technicians spray specialized sanitizers containing ammonia on the glass and then use a squeegee to remove smoke residues. Once the ammonia evaporates, the remaining solution dries to a neutral pH, which eliminates streaking.

What may seem like a simple cleaning task can be difficult after fire incidents. Call SERVPRO of Atlantic City / Hamilton / Hammonton to help manage the process. You can reach us at (609) 965-0885 any time. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

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