What Is the Difference Between Smoke and Fire Damage?

Properties that suffer fires often end up with many signs of smoke and fire damage. But each type of damage must be properly addressed when restoring a home or commercial space. That’s why United Water Restoration Group of Toronto would like to discuss the difference between damage from smoke and fire so you know how to fix this damage fast.

Common Signs of Smoke Damage

Signs of smoke damage include:

Yellowing on walls, paint, and other surfaces, indicating protein residue
Discoloring on household items, cabinetry, and more
Strong odors of burning items
Soot on walls, ceilings, floors, and other surfaces
Respiratory symptoms, like congestion and coughing

Common Signs of Fire Damage

Since fire causes smoke, all of the signs of smoke damage are also signs of fire damage. However, here are a few other signs of fire damage:

Scorch marks
Ash or debris
Charred or melted items or surfaces
Significant holes, breaks, or burned areas resulting in structural damage

The severity of smoke and fire damage can depend on how the fire started, where the fire burned, and how long the fire burned. For instance, small fires may only leave a bit of soot, odor, and yellowing, but large fires can result in intense odors, thick soot coverage, and items that are damaged beyond repair.

How to Fix Smoke and Fire Damage

There are many steps you can take to restore your home or commercial property from damage caused by smoke and fire in Toronto:

Remove all damaged furniture household items.
Replace damaged appliances, cabinetry, and flooring.
Scrub all of the walls and other surfaces using a dry-cleaning sponge first and then water and soap.
Deodorize the entire area to remove foul odors.
Have an electrician check the integrity of the electrical systems.
Call in remediation professionals, like United Water Restoration Group of Toronto.

Saving your home or commercial space from damage caused by smoke and fire in Toronto can be a challenge, so trust our certified technicians to restore your space for you. We thoroughly assess the damage and do our best to restore your space to its original condition or better. Call our 24/7 phone line at (647) 931-4203 to speak with a technician right away.