Here's what most people don't understand about fires: the fire itself might damage one room, but the smoke can damage your entire house. I've worked fire restoration jobs where the flames were contained to a kitchen, but every ceiling, wall, and piece of clothing in the home reeked of smoke and was coated in soot. The restoration bill was six figures.
Types of Smoke Damage
Not all smoke is the same. The type of fire determines the type of smoke residue, which determines the cleanup approach:
| Smoke Type | Cause | Characteristics | Cleanup Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry smoke | Fast-burning, high-temperature fires (wood, paper) | Powdery, dry residue. Doesn't smear | Moderate |
| Wet smoke | Slow-burning, low-temperature fires (plastics, rubber) | Sticky, thick, foul-smelling residue. Smears when cleaned | Difficult |
| Protein smoke | Kitchen fires (organic materials, food) | Nearly invisible but extremely pungent. Discolors paints and varnishes | Difficult |
| Fuel/oil smoke | Petroleum products, furnace malfunctions | Dense, black, sticky residue. Worst odor | Very difficult |
Immediate Steps After a Fire
- Wait for fire department clearance — do not enter until the structure is declared safe
- Call your insurance company — report the fire within 24 hours. Ask about emergency board-up and temporary housing coverage
- Document everything — photograph and video every room, every damaged item. Do this BEFORE any cleanup begins
- Board up and secure — broken windows and doors create security risks and allow weather damage
- Turn off HVAC — if the system ran during or after the fire, it distributed smoke throughout the ductwork
- Don't attempt DIY cleanup — improper cleaning techniques can permanently set smoke stains and drive soot deeper into materials
- Remove perishable food — any food exposed to smoke or heat is unsafe
What Professional Smoke Restoration Involves
Assessment
A restoration company will conduct a detailed walkthrough, documenting the type of smoke residue, affected areas, and the scope of restoration needed. They should provide a written estimate before starting work.
Content Pack-Out
Salvageable belongings (clothing, electronics, documents, furniture) are packed, inventoried, and transported to a climate-controlled facility for off-site cleaning. This sounds invasive, but it's necessary — items can't be properly cleaned in a smoke-contaminated environment.
Structural Cleaning
- Soda blasting or dry ice blasting — for removing soot from structural elements without water
- Chemical sponge cleaning — for walls and ceilings with dry smoke
- Wet cleaning — for wet smoke residue using specialized degreasers
- HEPA vacuuming — all surfaces before wet cleaning to remove loose soot
HVAC Cleaning
Critical and often overlooked. If the HVAC system ran during or after the fire, smoke is in every duct. Professional duct cleaning with sanitization is essential, or the system will redistribute smoke particles every time it runs.
Odor Elimination
- Ozone generators — break down smoke odor molecules. Effective but the area must be unoccupied during treatment
- Thermal fogging — mimics smoke behavior to reach all the same places smoke reached
- Hydroxyl generators — safe for occupied spaces, slower but effective for lingering odors
- Sealing — some surfaces (subfloor, studs, concrete) may need to be sealed with shellac-based primer to permanently lock in odor
Restoration
Painting, drywall replacement, flooring replacement, cabinet refinishing or replacement. This is typically the most expensive phase.
Costs
| Severity | Restoration Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (single room, contained fire) | $2,500 — $7,500 | 3–7 days |
| Moderate (smoke throughout, limited structural damage) | $7,500 — $25,000 | 2–4 weeks |
| Severe (extensive fire + smoke, structural damage) | $25,000 — $75,000+ | 1–3 months |
| Total loss (rebuild required) | $100,000+ | 6–12 months |
Insurance Coverage
Homeowner's insurance covers smoke damage from accidental fires. Important details:
- Actual Cash Value (ACV) vs. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) — RCV policies pay to replace items at current prices; ACV deducts depreciation. Check your policy
- Additional Living Expenses (ALE) — covers hotel, meals, and temporary housing while your home is uninhabitable. Typically 20% of your dwelling coverage limit
- Content coverage — personal belongings damaged by smoke. Create a detailed inventory with photos and estimated values
- Public adjuster — consider hiring one for claims over $20,000. They work for you (not the insurance company) and typically increase settlements by 30–50%. Fee is 10–15% of the settlement
For more on working with insurance, see our fire damage insurance claims guide.
What You Can Lose by Waiting
Smoke damage gets worse every day:
- 24–48 hours: Soot begins to permanently stain surfaces. Metals begin to tarnish and corrode
- 3–7 days: Wood finishes yellow permanently. Drywall absorbs odor deeply
- 1–2 weeks: Metal fixtures pit and corrode beyond restoration. Fiberglass yellows permanently
- 30+ days: Many surfaces can no longer be cleaned — they must be replaced entirely, dramatically increasing costs
Smoke Damage in Neighboring Units
If you live in a condo, apartment, or townhouse and a neighbor's fire caused smoke damage to your unit:
- Your own renter's/condo insurance covers your personal property and living expenses
- The neighbor's insurance may cover structural damage to your unit
- The building/HOA insurance may cover shared structural elements
- Document everything and file claims with your own insurance first
Dealing with smoke damage? Time is critical. Call (855) 566-2405 for immediate help or find a vetted restoration professional near you.