Fire and smoke damage
Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration in Philadelphia
The fire is out. Now there is soot on every surface, smoke in every soft material, water from the hoses, and an open building. Onyx secures it, cleans it, dries it and rebuilds it.
- Insured
- Free estimates
- 17 years in restoration
- Residential and commercial
A fire loss is really three losses. The burn itself, which is usually limited to one area. The smoke and soot, which travel through the whole structure, into the HVAC and into every closet and drawer. And the water from the fire department, which soaks floors and ceilings two rooms away from the flames.
Onyx handles all three in the right order: secure the building, remove water, remove debris and soot, treat odor, then rebuild. We have worked kitchen fires in rowhomes and large commercial fires where the ceiling had to be cleaned from a lift. The approach scales; the discipline is the same.
The first 24 hours after a fire
What you do in the first day affects both the outcome and the claim. Here is the order that works.
- Do not re-enter until the fire department says the structure is safe. Ceilings, stairs and floors can fail after a fire
- Call your insurer and open the claim. Get the claim number and adjuster contact
- Call Onyx. Board-up and roof tarping close the building against weather and entry before anything else
- Do not wipe soot, run the HVAC, or turn on ceiling fans. Wiping smears soot into surfaces; the HVAC pushes it through the whole house
- Do not throw anything away yet. Damaged contents are part of the claim and need to be photographed and listed
- Photograph every room, including ones that look untouched. Smoke damage shows up later
- Arrange somewhere to stay. Most insurance policies include loss-of-use coverage; ask your adjuster
What fire damage restoration includes
Every fire is different, but the scope usually covers the following.
- Emergency board-up of windows and doors, roof tarping over burn-throughs
- Water extraction and structural drying from firefighting water
- Removal of charred framing, drywall, insulation and cabinetry
- Soot removal from walls, ceilings, ductwork and hard contents using methods matched to the soot type
- Smoke odor treatment of the structure and cavities, not just the air
- Contents inventory: what can be cleaned, what is a loss, all documented for the adjuster
- Full rebuild: framing, electrical and plumbing coordination, drywall, flooring, kitchen and bath
Smoke damage restoration and odor removal
Smoke damage is the part people underestimate. Soot is acidic and keeps etching metal, glass and finishes the longer it sits. Different fires leave different residue: a grease fire, a protein fire and a burning sofa all need different cleaning chemistry. Using the wrong one sets the stain.
Odor lives in porous materials and wall cavities. Air fresheners and ozone alone do not fix it. We remove or seal the materials holding the odor, clean the HVAC path, and treat the structure so the smell does not return on the first humid day.
Commercial fire cleanup
Onyx has cleaned fire and smoke damage in large retail and warehouse spaces, working from lifts to clean ceilings and deck, containing affected areas so unaffected sections could stay in use where it was safe. If you run a business, tell us your hours and what has to keep operating. We plan the work around it.
What you may be seeing
- Soot film on walls, ceilings and inside cabinets
- Smoke smell that gets stronger in humid weather
- Discolored or etched glass, metal and finishes
- Water stains and sagging ceilings from firefighting water
- Open windows, doors or roof after the fire department left
How it goes
What happens after you call.
Secure the building
Board-up, tarping and, where needed, temporary fencing. The building is closed to weather and entry the same day where possible.
Assess and document
We walk every room, photograph, and write a scope covering burn, smoke and water damage. This is the file your adjuster works from.
Water removal and drying
Firefighting water gets extracted and the structure dried before soot cleaning begins, or the soot turns to paste.
Debris removal and soot cleaning
Charred material comes out. Every surface is cleaned with the method matched to the residue.
Odor treatment
Structure, cavities and HVAC path are treated. Materials that cannot be cleaned are removed or sealed.
Rebuild
Onyx rebuilds the damaged area and blends it into the rest of the house or building.
FAQ
Questions we get on this work
What do I do in the first 24 hours after a house fire?
Stay out until cleared, open your insurance claim, call Onyx for board-up and tarping, do not clean or run the HVAC, do not discard anything, and photograph every room. Arrange lodging through your policy's loss-of-use coverage if you have it.
What is the fire damage restoration process?
Secure the building, document the loss, extract and dry firefighting water, remove debris, clean soot, treat odor, then rebuild. Each step is photographed for your file.
How much does fire damage restoration cost?
It ranges widely because a contained kitchen fire and a fire that ran through the roof are not the same job. The size of the burn area, how far smoke traveled, how much water was used, and the rebuild scope drive the number. Onyx gives a free written estimate after walking the loss.
Can smoke smell be fully removed?
Yes, when the source is dealt with. Odor that comes back was left in a wall cavity, insulation, subfloor or the ductwork. We remove or seal those materials and treat the structure. Spraying deodorizer in the air does not solve it.
Do you board up after a fire?
Yes. Board-up of openings and roof tarping are the first things we do on a fire loss so the building is secure against weather and entry.
Does insurance cover fire damage?
Fire is one of the most consistently covered perils in standard homeowner and commercial policies. Smoke damage and firefighting water damage are usually part of the same claim. We document all three so nothing is missed. Coverage decisions are your insurer's.
Can you rebuild after the cleanup?
Yes. Onyx does the cleanup and the reconstruction, so you are not hiring a second contractor to finish what the first one started.
Next step
The building is open and the soot is setting. Call now.
Board-up, cleanup and rebuild by one insured crew. Free estimate. (267) 353-7953.
Call (267) 353-7953