Cleaning Helena Properties as Part of Fire Restoration

2/16/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO uses much more than just window cleaner for cleanup and restoration of fire damaged homes in Helena. Here To Help®

Why the Repainting Question Matters After Fire Damage

Helena is the capital of Montana, founded as a gold camp during the state's gold rush. For visitors and its 32,091 residents, various points of interest around the city are worth checking out. On Last Chance Gulch, its main street, one can explore 19th-century architecture while browsing shops, restaurants, and art galleries. The Cathedral of Saint Helena, constructed between 1908 and 1924, is a prominent landmark in the city known for its Gothic Revival architecture. Other places of interest include Bill Roberts Golf Course and Holter Museum of Art.

Cleaning is one of the standard fire restoration processes for Helena properties. However, each fire incident may require different cleaning approaches based on the damage involved. Another factor influencing cleaning is whether the walls and ceilings need repainting. SERVPRO® technicians evaluate the soot residues deposited on the surfaces to determine whether cleaning can restore them to their preloss condition.

Other essential evaluation

• The type of surface covered in soot
• Whether the paint is cracked, bubbling, or peeling
• Whether the surfaces are discolored

If the fire left any of the above issues, cleaning is not the ideal solution. Other procedures, including a fresh paint coat, may be necessary. Cleaning in such a situation is only required to remove the loose residues. Any visual signs of smoke residues left are okay since the paint covers them. Our SERVPRO crews clean the surfaces with an alkaline solution to neutralize the acids left by smoke deposits to ensure the new paint job's uniform appearance and longevity. A deodorizing agent in the cleaning solution may also be necessary to neutralize the pungent odors that smoke residues emit.

Fires might also leave moderate soot and smoke residues. Alternatively, the surface might be impervious, such as tiles. Dry sponge-cleaning and wet cleaning are practical solutions to remove fire residues, restoring a surface to its preloss condition. Unique cleaning approaches such as Peroxide Active Cleaning help restore special surfaces, such as acoustic ceiling tiles, retaining their outstanding appearance.

Tools necessary to facilitate cleaning

• Agitation tools like soft bristle brushes and sponges 
• Vacuums
• Respirators with organic filter cartridges
• Extension poles

SERVPRO of Helena & Great Falls reliably handles fire restoration on any property. Call us at (406) 458-6008. We can make it "Like it never even happened."