The right order, the right tools, and proof at every step.
Fire restoration is chemistry and physics, not just cleaning. This is the method behind every SootSpec job.
Six rules every job follows
People first
Structure, electricity, gas, air quality and asbestos are checked before any work starts.
Stop the damage before repairing it
Water, corrosion and soot migration are stopped in the first hours, not after the estimate.
Document before touching
Every room is photographed and measured before cleaning. The insurer pays for what can be shown.
Dry before wet, top to bottom
Loose soot is removed dry first. Wet cleaning too early smears soot into surfaces for good.
Remove the source, then treat the odour
Deodorising over contaminated material only masks the smell. It returns when the room warms up.
Nothing is closed until verified
No wall is closed and no floor is laid until it is measured dry and tested clean.
Fire damage keeps working after the fire is out
Problems our process is built to prevent
| Problem | Why it happens | How we prevent it |
|---|---|---|
| Smell returns weeks later | Smoke compounds left in porous materials are released by warmth | Source removal, fogging, shellac sealing, warm retest |
| Soot smeared into surfaces | Wet cleaning used on greasy soot too early | Dry pass first, soot-type testing |
| Corrosion after cleanup | Acidic soot left on metal and electronics in humid air | Corrosion first aid in the first days, low humidity, testing |
| Mould behind new surfaces | Structures closed before they were dry | Drying from day one, daily logs, verification |
| Stains bleeding through paint | Residue painted over with normal paint | Shellac-based sealing primer |
| Soot spread to other units | Ducts and open doors carry fine particles | Sealed vents, negative air, zoning |
| Disputed extra costs | Scope grew without approval | Itemised estimate, written change orders |
Equipment
Sized to the job: a single-room smoke job and a multi-unit fire get different drying capacity and air handling.
Protection
P3 and combination filter respirators, coveralls, double nitrile gloves, goggles, decontamination kit.
Air and containment
H-class HEPA vacuums, HEPA negative air units with ducting, poly zip-walls, tack mats.
Soot cleaning
Dry chemical soot sponges, degreasers matched to the soot type, pH strips, colour-coded buckets, microfibre.
Moisture and drying
Pin and pinless moisture meters, thermo-hygrometers, RH probes, thermal camera, condensing and desiccant dehumidifiers, air movers.
Odour control
Thermal fogger, ozone and hydroxyl generators, shellac-based sealing primer, carbon filters.
Char and structure
Dry-ice and soda blasting, sanders and planers, demolition tools with dust extraction.
Safety on site
- Respiratory protection matched to the hazard, with gas filters where chemicals or odour treatment are used
- Decontamination routine at every exit from the work zone
- Ozone only in empty, sealed spaces, aired out before re-entry
- Dry-ice blasting only with ventilation, because of CO₂ build-up
- Residents, neighbours and the housing association informed about working times and access
Licensed work
| Work | Done by |
|---|---|
| Asbestos survey and removal | Qualified surveyor; licensed asbestos contractor |
| Electrical isolation, testing, repair | Registered electrical contractor |
| Structural assessment | Structural engineer |
| Ventilation duct cleaning | Duct cleaning specialist |
| Plumbing, wet-room waterproofing | Qualified installers |
Tell us what happened.
Send us photos and the address. We confirm the scope, the price basis and the start date before anyone goes on site.