What is Soot and Why Does It Form?

1/4/2022 (Permalink)

Clean-Up from Fire & Smoke Damage Calls for Professional Help

Dealing with soot is one of the most time-consuming parts of fire damage restoration. Residue quickly settles on surfaces after fire damage, and the cleanup is a genuine struggle for homeowners in Vermilion County who are dealing with the aftermath. However, what is soot, why does it form after the fire?

Soot Damage

Soot is the fine brown or black powder that clings to and discolors surfaces in the home after fire damage in Vermilion County. Soot is what gives items that charred and blackened look. Smoke is a by-product of the incomplete combustion of materials; as wood, paper, plastic, and other materials burn during a house fire, they produce residues and release particles into the atmosphere.

The composition of soot makes it slightly sticky, which means it clings to surfaces and is difficult to remove. As well as looking unsightly, this residue reduces air quality, and a smoke-damaged house does not feel like a home. SERVPRO is on hand to help with fire damage cleanup and restore your home “Like it never even happened.”

Whether or not an item is salvageable after smoke damage depends on how porous the material is. It is far harder to clean residue from a weathered and aged wooden table than to clean it from a smooth glass or polished metal surface.

Trained Fire Damage Restoration Technicians

Our IICRC-certified technicians arrive ready to thoroughly assess your property and devise the best cleaning plan for you. We advise you on which items are salvageable from soot damage and which are not. SERVPRO trains our technicians in a range of cleaning techniques and equips them with everything they need to scrub, scrape, and wipe soot from the surfaces in your home.

After cleaning, we set to work deodorizing your home as well. We understand that it is hard to settle back into your house when it smells of smoke. We have thermal foggers, ozone generators, and air scrubbers on hand to rid your home of smoky smells and leave it fresh once more.

For help with soot and smells in Vermilion County, call SERVPRO of Vermilion County at 217-443-0077