What To Do If Your Business Has Smoke Damage

10/7/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke damage in a building in Boston, MA.

What to Do If Smoke Damage Occurs in Your Business

Smoke damage is something that can be difficult to clean up. The truth is that the damage caused by smoke has the potential to spread over large portions of your home and office building. That’s why it’s important to get help from professional cleaners, like our SERVPRO of Boston Downtown team, as soon as possible after a fire occurs. We know how overwhelming it can be when tragedy strikes in your home or business in Boston, but there are steps you can take right away that will make things easier down the road.

The process of cleaning up after a fire can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. 

When a fire occurs, there are a few things that you need to do right away. The first thing is to make sure everyone is out of harm’s way, and then call the fire department. It’s also important to shut off any sources of power in your building so that they don’t reignite the fire or cause you other problems while you wait for help.

Next up: after the emergency services have come through, it’s time to start cleaning up the mess! How do we know when smoke damage has been done? There are two signs—soot damage on walls and ceiling surfaces as well as visible smoke residue on surfaces like floors, walls, ceilings, and carpets. When these elements combine with bacteria from dirty hands and feet (even shoes left outside), it can create an environment where mold can form rapidly—causing further damage to your property.

Smoke damage and soot damage will quickly spread throughout your property

Smoke damage will be present in your building no matter where the fire occurred. Soot damage is damage that has sunk into porous materials, such as carpet and upholstery, wallboard, and drywall.

Your building will likely require professional cleaning of soot and smoke-damaged areas before they can be reoccupied. Soot can also cause problems if it turns out to be toxic or if it contains asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers need special handling to prevent health problems for future occupants. The process of cleaning and restoring these areas requires highly trained and experienced professionals.

Time is of the essence

Smoke damage is a serious problem, as it can cause permanent discoloration and odor. The soot that you see on walls and ceilings is a fine black dust that can be seen by the naked eye. Smoke particles are extremely small, making them far more difficult to remove than other household dust.

Smoke particles tend to stick to the surfaces in your building more than they would otherwise, including vents and air conditioning ducts. Therefore, it’s important not just to clean up smoke damage quickly before it sinks into more porous materials like drywall or wood; but also, because removing these particles requires specialized equipment that isn’t as readily available as a vacuum cleaner would be!

We are here to help with the process of smoke damage restoration.

We are here to help with the process of smoke damage restoration. Smoke is a very difficult substance to remove and can cause serious harm to your building. Don't worry, though; we've seen it all before. Our technicians will be there for you during this difficult time, including after hours and on weekends and holidays. 

We hope this article answers some of your questions about smoke damage in buildings. We understand that the process of cleaning up after a fire can be stressful, but we want you to know that we are here for you when tragedy strikes. If disaster strikes, don’t hesitate and give our SERVPRO of Boston Downtown team a call today!