How Smoke Damage Affects Your Property

Smoke damage is devastating. It not only affects the appearance of your property but also the material it is made from. It may seem like you need to replace everything that has been damaged by smoke, but that's not always the case. The following sections explain how smoke affects different types of items in your home and what to do about each one. Here is how smoke damage affects your property:

How Does Smoke Damage Affect Your Property?

A fire causes smoke damage to your property. Smoke is created during fires and enters and spreads throughout your home through the windows, doors, vents, and any cracks in walls. Once inside the property, it becomes trapped there until you find a way to remove it. Smoke damages a property in a number of ways, such as:

• Discoloring walls, furniture, and other items in the home.
• Ruining surfaces that come into contact with smoke. 
• Creating a strong odor that is difficult to get rid of. 
• Damaging electrical appliances and other electronics. 

Smoke damage affects the structural integrity of your home by weakening its foundation or compromising its load-bearing capacity. This renders your house unsafe for use and requires expensive repairs. The effects may also be more subtle than outright destruction. Possible damages include increased energy costs because of poor insulation, reduced resale value, and difficulty finding tenants willing to rent a property with such issues. 

Smoke Damage to Walls

Damage from smoke causes paint to peel, bubble, crack, and flake. Smoke contains a variety of chemicals that discolor the paint in your home. The stains are difficult to remove and may require professional assistance. The damage caused by smoke is different from that caused by other kinds of fire damage. It doesn't cause as much heat as flames do; instead, it affects the surface layers of a wall's finish rather than burning them away completely.

Upholstery and Carpet Damage

Upholstery and carpets are very susceptible to smoke damage, so it's important that you take action as quickly as possible. The sooner you address any smoke damage, the better. The longer you wait, the more likely it is your upholstery and carpets are permanently stained.  

Appliances, Electronics, and Other Items

Smoke damage affects virtually everything in your home, including appliances and electronics. The odor is difficult to remove from fabrics and other materials, which make it even more challenging to return your home to its pre-fire condition.

When there's smoke damage in your home, you are also likely to experience electrical failures because of overheating of wires or outlets. These electrical failures result in fires later on down the road if they're not repaired properly or fixed immediately.

The Odor of Smoke Damage

One of the most common questions we get from our customers is “How do I remove the smell of smoke damage?” It’s an understandable question considering how strong and pungent it is. The good news is that there are ways to eliminate the odor from your property.

Remember, time is not on your side when it comes to getting rid of that lingering fire smoke. The longer an area has been exposed to smoke, then the harder it will be for someone to completely remove these offensive smells completely.

It is important to realize that the effects of smoke damage are wide-ranging. The odor of smoke may permeate your home and linger for months after the fire is extinguished. If you're concerned about the safety of your property or  have questions about how to handle specific items, please contact our Rocky Top team today!