Professional Sandy Springs Fire Damage Cleanup

Managing fire damage cleanup in Sandy Springs is unlike any other housekeeping or commercial building upkeep task. The aftermath of a blaze presents unique challenges best addressed by AdvantaClean’s Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-prepared technicians. Frequently, extraction of water remaining from extinguishing efforts followed by structural drying is a first step, an endeavor at which our team excels. Specialized equipment, tools, and EPA-registered products ensure effective soot residue soiling removal and deodorization of lingering smoky smells. If the contents of your property would benefit from a professional pack-out, we offer that as well.

We Cleanup Smoke and Soot Residue 

The various building materials feeding the flames affect the fire damage cleanup challenges Sandy Springs properties present. As structures and contents ignite and combust, they create smoke with particulates (soot) that coat surfaces and sift into cracks and crevices. The fuel differences divide soot into three main types, which respond to specific and very different interventions. AdvantaClean technicians learn how to differentiate among the different kinds of soiling and match cleaning methods, tools, and products research proves are most effective in mitigating and remediating the harm done by the residues.

● Dry Soot

Ashy and friable, paper and wood-based materials create a loose dusting of residues. AdvantaClean technicians avoid liquid cleaners for dry soot because they smear the debris. Gentle agitation such as that provided by feather dusters and soft brushes loosens the soot, preparing it for sweeping, vacuuming, or dry sponging.

● Wet Soot  

Darker and sticky, rubber and plastics melt and vaporize into a closely adhered coating. Wet soot usually needs chemical action to dissolve or emulsify the residues, typically delivered through spraying or immersion of soiled surfaces in water (soap) or oil-based (solvent) cleaning solutions. Some cleansers, such as detergents, work on both oil and water-based residues. AdvantaClean technicians evaluate the burnt building materials and contents and perform spot tests to choose the most effective cleaner.

● Protein-Based Soot

One of the most common and challenging soots in residential and commercial settings forms from the dehydrated organic matter superheated during a kitchen fire. Foods, oils, and grease create a nearly transparent, lacquer-like soiling that clings tenaciously to surfaces. As the foodstuffs endure high temperatures during the blaze, they undergo chemical changes, including becoming rancid, causing this type of residue to emit a strong malodor. Protein-based soot sometimes is tricky to find as it spreads widely through a building on superheated air currents, nearly invisible but capable of discoloring and eroding surfaces. Because of its oil-based beginnings, solvents are necessary to break the bond between residues and building materials, appliances, and fixtures.

Preventing Surface Damage During Cleaning

Skill in and familiarity with applying powerful chemical cleaning agents and different intensities of agitation during Sandy Springs fire damage cleanup is essential. AdvantaClean uses cleaning techniques mastered through IICRC training, matching the tools, products, and strategies for safe and effective dislodging of fire residues to achieve the desired remediation. Under the control of our highly qualified crews, scientifically based cleaning elements obtain desired results while avoiding unintended harm to the underlying surfaces. Elements our technicians apply and adapt include:

● Chemical Action

AdvantaClean technicians choose among products that dissolve, emulsify, bleach, change pH, oxidize, or digest residues, depending on the soot characteristics. Different spaces in a Sandy Springs building can exhibit different types of residues, thus needing adjustments to the products used.

● Temperature

Heating a cleaning solution increases the speed of the above chemical action, but not all surfaces can handle higher temperatures.

● Agitation

Technicians consider gentle to very aggressive agitation techniques, always striking a balance between surface preservation and residue removal. Towels, dusters, sponges, water and air pressure, and ultrasonic waves are all agitation delivery agents. Sometimes grit is added to cleaning solutions, or rougher cleaning implements (scrapers, steel wool) stand in for particularly hard-to-remove residues.

● Dwell time

Spreading or soaking surfaces in cleaning solutions for varying amounts of time can work to loosen the residue bond. Excessive dwell time can adversely impact (warp, breakdown) the building materials or contents struggling with soot coverage. 

Property owners can rest assured that AdvantaClean of Sandy Springs can manage all aspects of fire damage cleanup, whether residential or commercial. One call to (404) 474-8443 schedules an expert assessment and crafting of a plan for efficient mitigation, remediation, and restoration of water, heat, smoke, and soot damage.

Schedule an Appointment or Call (404) 474-8443

To request a service call, please fill out the form below and we will contact you via phone, email or text as soon as possible to confirm an appointment time. You will receive an email confirming your service request. 

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