If you have deal with the consequences of smoke or fire damage at home, you know it’s quite an overwhelming endeavor. Paint peels and chips away, thick oily clings that are residue the walls like permanent marker, and there seems to be a layer of film on everything.
Years that are few, my husband place a cooking pot of water on the stove to make lunch. A few minutes later he remembered it done that he needed to mow the lawn and ran out the door to quickly get. The water evaporated. The pot burned. The house almost went up in flames, but luckily he remembered the pot moments before flames erupted. We lucked out. The consequence that is only a house covered in smoke and soot, and a charred kitchen ceiling that seemed beyond repair.
After taking the “If I don’t have a look at the ceiling and acknowledge the problem, it does not exist” approach, I’ve made a decision to take a breath, apply some elbow grease and acquire that kitchen back to shape.
Below are a few tips that are helpful reclaiming the walls of your property from smoke and fire damage:
Assess the Situation
First and foremost, take a look that is good the walls and ceiling to see if the fire damage goes beyond something you can handle. Search for any issues that are underlying may cause issues for you as time goes on.
Gather Your Materials
Just as drastic times necessitate drastic actions, so goes your approach to cleaning up that pesky soot. Tri-Sodium Phosphate (TSP) is really a good way to get through that tough grime in your walls and ceiling, but you will need to take some precautions as it can irritate your eyes and skin. Be sure to wear gloves that are long a mask and goggles while scrubbing down. You’ll also need a sponge that is large.
Attack!
- Give the walls and roof a wipe that is quick to have rid of any surface residue that is easily removed.
- Next, dissolve one tablespoon of TSP per one gallon of hot water. Again, be sure you have those rubber gloves and goggles on! You’ll be able to utilize the sponge to wipe down the damaged areas, little sections at any given time.
- You will need to go over the walls again with water to rinse it away after you use the cleaner. If you’ve drywall, be cautious not to over saturate with water because this can damage the wall along with encourage the growth of mold.
- Repair damages, such as chipped and paint that is peeling bubbled wallpaper, as needed. You may need to remove it and re-paper if you have wallpaper.
Start Anew
Experienced most of the steps that are above still not satisfied with the results? Don’t worry about it!
Me, you now have an excuse to do that room makeover you’ve always talked about if you’re like. Your first step in this transformation would be to prime the walls with an oil-based, stain-blocking primer. You might need a couple of coats, depending on the extent of the discoloration. When the primer has dried out, you can apply the color that is paint of choice. Examine the walls after each coat to create yes no smoke is bleeding through. Once you have accomplished the appearance you want, let it dry while you shop around your living space and bask within the glory of job done well.