Smoke in an older kitchen with plaster walls
Plaster walls in older Berwyn homes hold up to fire better than drywall but still absorb smoke. We clean, seal and paint them rather than replacing them.
Serving Berwyn & nearby Oak Park, Chicago
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Berwyn, IL
Stovetop fire or smoke damage in your Berwyn kitchen? We clean soot, remove smoke odor and rebuild what burned.
- Crews covering Berwyn ZIP 60402
- We stop the cause first, then dry, clean and rebuild
- Photos and notes you can share with your insurer
Fire and smoke damage we restore in Berwyn 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 Berwyn crew sorts out what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced, then does both.
Grease fire on the stovetop
Grease fires leave a sticky, dark film that ordinary cleaners smear. We use the right cleaning approach for that soot and replace what was charred.
Black soot on the ceiling and upper cabinets
Ceilings and cabinet tops catch most of the smoke. We clean, prime and paint so stains don't bleed through.
Damaged range hood or microwave above the range
After a fire, the range hood and its duct need attention. We replace the hood and clean or replace the duct run.
Melted outlets, wiring or switches
Discolored or melted plates near the stove mean heat reached the wiring. We have the electrical checked and repaired before closing walls.
Water and extinguisher residue
If the fire department put the fire out, water may be under cabinets and floors too. We dry that along with the smoke cleanup.
Burned or charred cabinets
Charring weakens wood and holds odor, so burned cabinets are replaced. Surrounding ones are judged one by one.
Appliances covered in soot
Soot on stainless steel and enamel can usually be cleaned. Appliances that were exposed to heat or have damaged controls are checked or replaced.
From cleanup to rebuild
- AssessmentFirst we decide what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced.
- Electrical checkWe have heat-exposed wiring and outlets inspected before rebuilding.
- Removing burned materialsCharred cabinets, the hood, damaged drywall and countertop sections are removed.
- 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.
Methods and equipment
Degreasing cleanersProducts made for sticky soot from cooking oil.
Replacement cabinets and hoodNew cabinets matched to the existing kitchen where possible, plus a new range hood.
Odor treatment equipmentThermal foggers, ozone or hydroxyl units used after cleaning when odor remains.
HEPA vacuums and air scrubbersEquipment to capture fine soot from surfaces and the air during cleanup.
Dry soot spongesThe first pass on ceilings and walls, so residue isn't smeared.
Before and after: kitchens near Berwyn
Problem
Fixed
DetailBerwyn kitchen, prewar brick bungalow: kitchen fire & smoke restoration
The site: a prewar brick bungalow near Depot District. The kitchen as it was: dark stained 1970s oak cabinets with heavy frames and a single pendant bowl light. 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 removing burned materials, soot cleaning, plus odor removal.
Before
AfterKitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in a 1980s two-story, Oak Brook
The site: a 1980s two-story in Oak Brook. The kitchen as it was: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and a brass chandelier over the nook. The main complaint was a grease fire that scorched the upper cabinets. The result: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. On site this meant odor removal, sealing and painting, plus rebuild.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a prewar brick bungalow in Berwyn
Finished: soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Berwyn →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet Painting in a prewar foursquare, Berwyn
The same doors sprayed in soft white, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Berwyn →
Before
AfterCabinet Refacing in a prewar foursquare, Berwyn
New five-piece shaker doors in charcoal gray on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and polished nickel pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Berwyn →Step by step after damage
- Call us after the fire is outOnce the fire department has cleared the house, call us and we'll tell you how fast we can be there.
- Assess and protectWe separate burned from smoke-damaged, check the electrical and contain the area.
- Clean and deodorizeBurned materials come out, soot is cleaned and odor is treated.
- RebuildWe replace what burned and repaint so the kitchen is usable again.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration questions from Berwyn homeowners
Is it safe to use the kitchen after a small fire?
Have the electrical and gas checked before cooking again.
Do I need a board-up after a kitchen fire?
Not usually for a small fire contained to the kitchen. Board-up is for broken windows, doors or openings, and we'll tell you if you need it.
What affects the cost of fire and smoke restoration?
How much burned, how far smoke spread, the type of soot, odor treatment and what has to be rebuilt. We give a written, itemized estimate after the visit.
How do I get a fire report in Berwyn?
Ask the responding fire department for the report process. Many insurance claims need the incident number.
Can a kitchen with fire damage be repaired?
In most cases, yes. We replace what burned and restore the smoke-damaged parts.
Who inspects kitchen hoods and fire safety in Berwyn?
Fire Prevention Bureau (Fire Marshal), (708) 749-6523. We schedule the inspection and have the paperwork ready.
What is the Berwyn building department phone number?
Permits go through Building Department, City of Berwyn, phone 708-788-2660. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Do I need a permit for kitchen fire and smoke restoration in Berwyn?
It depends on the scope. Berwyn's rule in short: City permit list includes any kitchen and bathroom remodeling, all electrical work, and plumbing/sewer work (faucet or toilet replacement excluded). We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Department, City of Berwyn.
Do you work in my part of Berwyn?
Yes. Our crews work across Berwyn, including South Berwyn, South Oak Park area, Depot District, LaVergne — ZIP 60402 — and nearby Oak Park, Chicago, Oak Brook.
Working in Berwyn
- Most Berwyn homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Most Berwyn homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Central Berwyn Bungalow Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
South BerwynSouth Oak Park areaDepot DistrictLaVergneOgden Avenue
ZIP 60402
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration nearby
Other kitchen services in Berwyn
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.