Smoke Damage Restoration in West Los Angeles
Smoke damage restoration removes soot, smoke residue and smoke odor from a home after a fire. It’s one part of our fire damage restoration work in West Los Angeles, Culver City and nearby communities.
Call (310) 678-4345 to schedule a smoke damage inspection.
Licensed California contractor, CSLB #998184 · IICRC-certified firm · 4.8 stars, 180+ reviews across Google, Yelp, and BBB
Quick links: What it covers Signs Our process Cost FAQs
Smell smoke or see soot? Book a smoke damage inspection this week.
What Smoke Damage Restoration Covers
Smoke damage restoration covers three jobs: cleaning soot, removing smoke odor and dealing with smoke from a nearby wildfire.
Soot Cleanup
Soot cleanup removes the black, oily residue smoke leaves on walls, ceilings, cabinets and fixtures. Soot is acidic, so the longer it sits, the more it stains paint, grout and metal finishes, and the less can be cleaned instead of replaced. Smoldering fires leave a sticky film and hot, fast fires a dry powder, so each needs its own cleaning method.
Smoke Odor Removal
Smoke odor removal means cleaning or removing the porous materials that hold the smell: insulation, carpet pad, upholstery and unfinished wood. Airing out a house clears smoke from the air, but odor soaked into those materials keeps coming back. Taking out the source is the most reliable way to end it.
Wildfire Smoke Damage
Wildfire smoke damage is soot and odor that get into a home from a nearby fire, even when the flames never reach it. Smoke and ash come in through attic vents, gaps around windows and doors, and the HVAC system. On the Westside, homes near the brush-covered hillsides of Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Bel Air are the most exposed.
Signs You Need Smoke Damage Restoration
You need smoke damage restoration when a smoke smell or soot is still there after the house has aired out. Look for:
- A smoke smell that comes back on warm days or when the heat or air conditioning runs
- A gray or black film on walls, ceilings or window sills
- Yellow or brown stains on paint, especially above the stove after a kitchen fire
- Ash near vents or on sills after a nearby wildfire
Soot that survives airing out won't clear on its own. Get it inspected.
Our Smoke Damage Restoration Process
Our smoke damage restoration process has six steps: inspect, protect, lift loose soot, clean, remove what can’t be cleaned, then dry and rebuild.
1. Inspect
We inspect every room, not just the one that burned, including the attic, closets and HVAC areas where smoke collects. Wet soot from firefighting water needs a different approach, so we check for that too.
2. Protect
Undamaged furniture and belongings get moved or covered so cleaning doesn’t spread soot onto them.
3. Lift Loose Soot
Dry soot removal comes before any liquid touches the surface. Water too early just smears soot in.
4. Clean
The remaining residue gets cleaned with products matched to the type of smoke and the surface.
5. Remove What Can't Be Cleaned
Insulation, carpet pad and drywall that absorbed heavy smoke come out. We show you what has to go before we remove it.
6. Dry and Rebuild
If firefighting water reached the area, we dry the structure first. Then we replace the drywall, insulation, trim and paint.
How long smoke damage restoration takes depends on how far the smoke spread and how much has to be replaced instead of cleaned.
How Much Does Smoke Damage Restoration Cost?
Smoke damage restoration is priced in a written estimate after an inspection, and the inspection for one home costs $375 to $775.
| Inspection | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Inspection | $375 to $575 | About 15 to 20 minutes with an infrared camera; price depends on size and time |
| Detailed Inspection | $575 to $775 | A more in-depth investigation of up to about 1 hour, for one household or unit up to 3,000 sq. ft. |
The estimate depends on how far the smoke spread, how much has to be replaced instead of cleaned and whether firefighting water needs drying too. Smoke damage from a covered fire is usually part of the fire claim, but your policy and your insurer decide coverage.
Water testing isn’t included in inspection prices. When we do the work, the fee for a Basic or Detailed Inspection is credited toward the cost of the work. Multi-Unit / Larger Property Inspection fees and water testing fees are not credited.
Call (310) 678-4345 to schedule an inspection and get a written estimate.
Your inspection fee counts toward the smoke damage work when you hire us.
Why Choose Absolute for Smoke Damage Restoration
Absolute cleans the smoke damage and dries the water in the same building, so one contractor handles the whole job.
We Handle the Water Too
We dry the firefighting water as well as cleaning the smoke, because water damage is our specialty. We’re an IICRC-certified firm (#70018676), and the water gets the same moisture mapping and drying we give any leak.
Licensed Contractor for the Rebuild
We hold CSLB license #998184, we’re a MICRO Certified Firm, and we’ve been in business for more than 30 years. We rebuild what the smoke and water ruined.
One licensed, IICRC-certified team for the smoke and the water.
Smoke Damage Restoration FAQs
Can you just paint over smoke damage?
No. Paint applied over soot often fails to stick, and smoke stains and odor can bleed through new paint. The residue has to be cleaned off first, and heavily damaged drywall may need to be replaced. Paint just hides it for a while, and then the job gets done twice.
Is it safe to run the air conditioning after a fire?
Not until the system has been checked. Running the heating or air conditioning after a fire can pull soot into the ducts and blow it into rooms the smoke never reached. Leave it off, replace the filter and have the system checked before you turn it back on.
Does a kitchen fire need professional smoke cleanup?
Yes, in most cases. Kitchen fires, especially grease and food fires, leave a thin, greasy residue that’s hard to see, yellows paint and cabinets and carries a strong smell. Household cleaners tend to smear it. If cabinets still feel tacky or the smell lingers after you’ve cleaned, have the kitchen inspected.
Can smoke damage cause health problems?
It can. Smoke and soot contain fine particles that can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and people with asthma or other breathing conditions are more sensitive to them. Stay out of heavily smoke-damaged rooms until they’ve been cleaned, and follow your doctor’s advice if you have symptoms.
Still have questions? Our experts are here to help.
Book a Smoke Damage Inspection
Call (310) 678-4345 or schedule an inspection online. Soot comes off more easily this week than it will next month.