Is It Possible To Remove All Traces Of Soot Damage From Trusses?

2/3/2022 (Permalink)

You can contact our professionals 24/7. Our fire damage experts are trained in fire & smoke restoration, odor control, upholstery and fabric cleaning.

SERVPRO Understands the Unique Challenges of Cleaning Smoke Damage in Chicago Properties If It Involves Unfinished Wood.

As fire burns, smoke drifts upwards, depositing layers of soot and other smoke residues on elevated sections of your property, such as the ceiling. Some smoke might also find a way into the ceiling void, thus soiling trusses and other structural supports. SERVPRO can help remove the soot and odor, restoring your Chicago property to its pre-damaged state.

Why is it Challenging to Clean Smoke Damage Affecting Trusses in Chicago Properties? 

• Most trusses are made of unfinished wood
• They are located in elevated and hard-to-reach areas
• Cleaning must address odor

Cleaning smoke residues from your Chicago properties surfaces will require various procedures such as chemical agents and thorough agitation of the surfaces. However, the effectiveness of these processes is affected by the state of the surface involved. Structural supports such as frames and trusses mostly involve rough, unfinished wood, making agitation less effective in loosening residues. The materials are also porous, so cleaning agents do not strip away soils as expected. However, our SERVPRO technicians have various resources that counter these problems.

Which Resources Help When Cleaning Smoke Residue From Trusses?

• Specialized cleaning processes such as soda blasting
• Cherry pickers to ease access
• Sealing agents to manage odor

Since the difficulties in cleaning trusses and other structural support are multifaceted, the solutions must also tackle different angles. Our SERVPRO technicians look for ways to ease access to the affected surfaces. We bring cherry pickers or portable ladders to improve access. 

We also use advanced cleaning techniques that help strip away residues and manage odor. For instance, soda blasting, a cleaning technique in which sodium bicarbonate particles are blown onto a soiled surface using compressed air, is mildly abrasive, removing all traces of soot. It also has deodorizing properties. 

It is possible to remove smoke residues from unfinished surfaces with the proper approaches. Call SERVPRO of Hyde Park / E. Bridgeport / Bronzeville at (312) 509-5000 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.