It's the worst thing most people can imagine having happen to their homes: a five-alarm blaze, eating up their houses and their cherished belongings. Even accepting the blessing that everyone got out safely doesn't make the pill any easier to swallow. Even if the destruction from the flames wasn't as disastrous as it could have been, much of the lingering property damage comes from the smoke. Smoke is no friend to a beautiful home and its after-effects can last for years if they aren't cleaned up. The best solution in such a situation is to contact a company that specializes in this kind of disaster restoration. If you can't afford that, however, you'll have to make do on your own. Here are some methods you can try. Replacement One of the primary effects of smoke is the smell it leaves behind. This smell will be embedded into the fabrics of your home, but those are easy enough -- if expensive -- to replace. The problem comes in the areas where replacement can be difficult, like the drywall and the ceiling tiles. These materials will soak up the fumes as well and they can cause your house to smell like a barbecue long after the flames have been extinguished. If this is the case in your home, you may need to rip out and replace any of the structural elements that have absorbed this odor. Soot One of the other big elements of property damage that can occur after a fire is the blackened soot left behind on the walls. If you have glossy paint on the walls, you're in luck. Soot won't stick well to that gloss and can usually be removed quite easily with a Trisodium Phosphate cleaner. This can be done on flat paint surfaces as well, but the going won't be easy. Most experts advise using the TSP cleaner at a ratio of one tablespoon of the cleaner with a gallon of water. Scrub down the walls with this solution and you should see progress soon. Protect your skin and eyes with gloves and goggles before beginning this work. Blisters The heat generated by the smoke and flames can cause the walls to bubble and blister, artifacts that remain long after the fire department has left. This is unsightly, but it isn't irreparable by any means. With a putty knife, you can scrape off the bubbles and then use sandpaper to smooth out the areas where the property damage occurred. Then you can use spackle to fill in the holes left by your scraping. Sand again and get some touch up paint to restore everything back to normal. After dealing with severe property damage Rhode Island residents need professionals who can help them clean up and return to their normal lives again. For a company that won't disappoint, go to: http://www.puroclean.com/office/595/us/rhode-island/warwick/02887/puroclean-disaster-restoration-services .
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