Fire Damage

We understand how devastating fire damage is. We are
here to help your property to get it back to normal.

XactBuilds Emergency Services and Remediation:
Fire Damage

Serving Commercial and Residential Customers in Southern California

We understand how devastating fire damage is. Not only because of the traumatic experience of the fire itself but the loss of property and the severe damage it can cause to your home. We are here to help and provide professional services to remove/clean and reconstruct your property to get it back to normal as quickly as possible.

Every property emergency is assigned a Project Manager. They are dedicated to restoring your property from the beginning to the final punch list. They will schedule the necessary trade subcontractors to begin restoring your property. XactBuilds list of subcontractors are thoroughly screened and are required to carry a high level of insurance, certification, and skill set to ensure that every job meets XactBuilds standards.

In the wake of a fire that has covered homes with smoke and ash, it’s important to begin cleaning up as soon as possible in order to prevent permanent damage or discoloration from soot residue.

XactBuilds provides the following tips for fire victims facing clean up:

Practice safety first. Use a dust mask (like painters use) and gloves as you work.
Ventilate the home. Place a box fan in an open window to draw the air and dust out.
Clean from top to bottom. Start with the ceilings, walls and fixtures, and work your way down to the contents of the room, then to the floor.
Vacuum floors and upholstery. Make sure your vacuum cleaner has a high-efficiency filter. Otherwise, you risk blowing soot back into the air.
Some draperies, clothing and machine-washable items may be laundered. Use a mild alkaline cleaner to neutralize the acid in the soot. Fine clothing should be dry cleaned.
Most exterior walls (brick, stone, wood, paint, siding) and eaves can be cleaned by spraying with a detergent, agitating soot with a soft-bristled brush, pressure washing from bottom to top, then rinsing from top to bottom.
If the damage and residue are heavy, it may be best to hire a professional to thoroughly restore your home and belongings.
Check with your insurance company to see if smoke damage from outdoor sources is covered by your policy.
If the fire has warped or distorted the structure, consult a licensed general contractor.

Professional restoration technicians know that damage increases and restoration costs escalate the longer neutralization, corrosion control, and cleaning is delayed. When homeowners prolong the restoration of their home, they extend the effects brought on by the smoke exposure. The following is a timeline of the effects of fire and smoke on a home.

Within Minutes: Acid soot residues cause plastics to yellow; small appliances located close to the source of combustion discolor; highly porous materials (marble, alabaster) discolor permanently.

Within Hours: Acid residues stain grout in bathrooms; fiberglass bath fixtures may yellow; uncoated metals tarnish, counter tops may yellow; finishes on appliances, particularly refrigerators, may yellow; furniture finishes may discolor.

Within Days: In time, acid residues cause painted walls to yellow permanently; metal corrodes, pits, and rusts; wood furniture requires refinishing; vinyl flooring requires refinishing or replacement; clothing becomes soot-stained; upholstery stains permanently.

Within Weeks: Restoration costs escalate tremendously. Synthetic carpet fibers may yellow or discolor permanently; silver plate is corroded permanently; glass, crystal, and china may require replacement due to severe etching and pitting caused by prolonged exposure to acid soot residues. Cleaning up soot residue must be done as quickly as possible. During combustion, soot residue and volatile vapors are carried by rising and expanding air to surfaces throughout a structure and are deposited. This process occurs repeatedly until combustion ends, with soot residue building up on surfaces layer by layer. By the time restoration technicians arrive, lacquer-like soot residue may be quite difficult to dissolve and remove. In addition to removing residue, ridding your home of its smoky odor is necessary. Professionals use this four-step process to remove odors:

Our technicians are highly trained and use top-of-the-range equipment to get you back to living a safe and healthy life as quickly as possible. We are here to keep your family safe and help you breathe easily.

Remove the source of the odor, as possible, including unsalvageable debris that contributes to odor generation and recontamination of cleaned and deodorized areas.
Clean salvageable surfaces and items to physically remove odor-causing residue.
Chase remaining odor with an odor counteractant. In the case of smoke, create a deodorizing fog or gas that seeks out and combines with odor-causing substances.
Seal salvageable surfaces that are inaccessible or slightly scorched, not only for aesthetic purposes, but primarily to encapsulate odor and prevent progressive recontamination.

Understanding the effects of a fire can help homeowners evaluate the damage to their home. By learning more about residue clean-up and deodorization after a fire, you can minimize the need for costly repair. Fire and smoke restoration experts can help you return your home and furnishings to a “pre-loss” condition.

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