Smoke damage in a condo unit
A fire in one unit can leave residue next door. We focus on the kitchen we're hired for and record what we see beyond it.
Serving Arlington Heights & nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Arlington Heights, IL
Stovetop fire or smoke damage in your Arlington Heights kitchen? We clean soot, remove smoke odor and rebuild what burned.
- Serving Arlington Heights ZIP 60004, 60005
- Containment so the damage doesn't spread
- One team from cleanup to rebuild
Fire and smoke damage we restore in Arlington Heights kitchens
After a grease fire, the cabinets above the range may be charred while the rest of the kitchen is coated in a greasy film you can smell for weeks. Our Arlington Heights crew sorts out what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced, then does both.
Melted outlets, wiring or switches
Any electrical device near a fire gets checked. Damaged wiring is replaced by an electrician before rebuilding.
Grease fire on the stovetop
A pan fire can scorch the cabinets and hood above the range and spray greasy soot across the room. We remove the burned parts and clean the rest with methods meant for oily residue.
Yellowed walls and protein residue
Burned food leaves a different kind of residue than a grease fire: less visible, stronger odor. We clean it and seal the surfaces.
Black soot on the ceiling and upper cabinets
Dark stains spreading across the ceiling above the stove are soot, and they need dry cleaning before any wet cleaning. Then the ceiling gets a stain-blocking primer and paint.
Smoke residue in the rest of the house
Even a small fire can leave a film in the dining room and hallway. We look at the adjoining areas, not just the stove wall.
Damaged range hood or microwave above the range
The hood or over-the-range microwave usually takes the worst of a stovetop fire. We remove it, clean or replace the duct and install a new unit.
Water and extinguisher residue
Dry chemical extinguisher powder spreads everywhere and can be corrosive. We clean it from surfaces, appliances and inside cabinets.
From cleanup to rebuild
- Electrical checkCircuits near the fire are checked by a licensed electrician before power is relied on in the kitchen.
- Protecting the rest of the houseWe keep the cleanup contained to the affected area.
- Removing burned materialsEverything that burned comes out first.
- Soot cleaningCeilings, walls, cabinets and appliances are cleaned with methods suited to the type of soot.
- Odor removalAfter cleaning, odor treatment like thermal fogging or ozone or hydroxyl equipment is used when needed, with the house unoccupied where the method requires.
- Sealing and paintingWe seal cleaned surfaces so stains and smell don't come back through the paint.
- RebuildWe replace what was removed and put the kitchen back into use.
Tools of the job
Odor treatment equipmentDeodorization equipment used once residue has been removed.
HEPA vacuums and air scrubbersFiltration that keeps loose particles from spreading.
Odor-sealing primerShellac-based or similar sealers that block stains and smoke odor before paint.
Degreasing cleanersCleaners suited to oily grease-fire residue on cabinets and walls.
Dry soot spongesChemical sponges that lift dry soot before any wet cleaning.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration before and after — Arlington Heights homes
Problem
Fixed
DetailBefore and after: a 1980s two-story in Arlington Heights
The site: a 1980s two-story in Arlington Heights. Before: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and two hanging glass pendants. The main complaint was smoke-blackened wood cabinets above the range. After: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. On site this meant protecting the rest of the house, removing burned materials, plus odor removal.
Before
AfterKitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in a 1990s two-story colonial, Mount Prospect
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Mount Prospect. The kitchen as it was: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. What bothered the owners most: smoke-blackened wood cabinets above the range. After: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. The job covered electrical check, odor removal, plus sealing and painting.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Mount Prospect →
Before
AfterKitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Buffalo Grove
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Buffalo Grove. Before: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and a brass chandelier over the nook. What bothered the owners most: smoke-blackened wood cabinets above the range. Finished kitchen: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. The job covered protecting the rest of the house, soot cleaning, plus sealing and painting.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterAn Arlington Heights postwar bi-level: before and after
What changed: cabinets in dark teal with brushed nickel bar pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Arlington Heights →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a 1960s ranch, Arlington Heights
The same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Arlington Heights →How restoration goes
- Call us after the fire is outWhen it's safe to go back in, call; we'll give you a realistic arrival time.
- Assess and protectA walkthrough, photos for your insurer and protection for the rest of the house.
- Clean and deodorizeWe remove residue from every surface and treat the remaining smell.
- RebuildWe replace what burned and repaint so the kitchen is usable again.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration questions from Arlington Heights homeowners
How do I get a fire report in Arlington Heights?
The fire department that came to your home handles report requests. Keep the incident number for your claim.
Can I clean smoke damage myself?
Use dry soot sponges first, not water. If the soot is widespread or the smell persists, it's a professional job.
Should cabinets be cleaned or replaced after a fire?
Charred or heat-warped cabinets are replaced. Those with only soot can often be cleaned and refinished.
Does insurance cover kitchen fire damage?
That's between you and your insurance company. We provide photos, a written scope and meet with the adjuster if you want.
Do I need a board-up after a kitchen fire?
If no windows or doors were broken, generally no. We check when we arrive.
Arlington Heights building permit for kitchen fire and smoke restoration: where do I apply?
Permits go through Building & Life Safety Department, phone (847) 368-5560. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do Arlington Heights condo associations need to approve kitchen fire and smoke restoration?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for kitchen fire and smoke restoration in Arlington Heights?
It depends on the scope. Arlington Heights's rule in short: Remodel permit applications (shown here via a basement remodel checklist dated 2020) require a building permit application, plans and a contractor proposal; plumbing and electrical permit applications are added if applicable. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building & Life Safety Department.
Do you work in my part of Arlington Heights?
Yes. Our crews work across Arlington Heights — ZIP 60004, 60005 — and nearby Mount Prospect, Palatine, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Arlington Heights
- A lot of Arlington Heights kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- We know how Building & Life Safety Department handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60004ZIP 60005
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration nearby
Other kitchen services in Arlington Heights
Kitchen Water Damage RestorationLeaks stopped, water extracted, cabinets and floors dried and rebuilt.
Kitchen Mold RemediationMoisture source fixed, mold contained and removed, kitchen rebuilt.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.
Cabinet RefacingNew doors and fronts on your existing cabinet boxes.