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.
Serving Downers Grove & nearby Lisle, Woodridge
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Downers Grove, IL
Stovetop fire or smoke damage in your Downers Grove kitchen? We clean soot, remove smoke odor and rebuild what burned.
- Serving Downers Grove ZIP 60515, 60516
- Containment so the damage doesn't spread
- One team from cleanup to rebuild
Fire and smoke damage we restore in Downers Grove 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 Downers Grove crew sorts out what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced, then does both.
Water and extinguisher residue
Extinguisher dust and firefighting water add their own cleanup. We handle both with the soot.
Smoke residue in the rest of the house
Smoke from a kitchen fire often drifts into nearby rooms, the HVAC returns and closets. We check and clean beyond the kitchen where it's needed.
Smoke smell that won't go away
If the kitchen still smells weeks later, residue is left somewhere, often inside cabinets, the hood ductwork or wall cavities. We find it and remove it.
Discolored or scorched countertops
Heat-damaged countertop sections are replaced; soot-stained ones are often cleaned.
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.
Appliances covered in soot
Most appliances away from the flames come back with cleaning. The ones next to it often need replacement.
Grease fire on the stovetop
After a stovetop flare-up, the damage is usually concentrated above the burner. We rebuild that area and clean the residue that spread beyond it.
What we handle after the damage
- AssessmentFirst we decide what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced.
- Electrical checkCircuits near the fire are checked by a licensed electrician before power is relied on in the kitchen.
- Protecting the rest of the houseUnaffected rooms are closed off and floors covered so soot isn't tracked through.
- Removing burned materialsEverything that burned comes out first.
- Cabinet interiors and contentsWe clean cabinet interiors, not just the fronts.
- Sealing and paintingWe seal cleaned surfaces so stains and smell don't come back through the paint.
- RebuildNew cabinets, hood, counters, drywall and fixtures are installed to match or update the kitchen.
Methods and equipment
Degreasing cleanersCleaners suited to oily grease-fire residue on cabinets and walls.
Replacement cabinets and hoodNew cabinets matched to the existing kitchen where possible, plus a new range hood.
Odor-sealing primerShellac-based or similar sealers that block stains and smoke odor before paint.
Odor treatment equipmentDeodorization equipment used once residue has been removed.
Dry soot spongesThe first pass on ceilings and walls, so residue isn't smeared.
Kitchens like yours in Downers Grove: before and after
Problem
Fixed
DetailA Downers Grove two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s near E.H. Prince Subdivision. What we started with: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and a brass chandelier over the nook. The reason for the call: 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. The job covered protecting the rest of the house, removing burned materials, plus rebuild.
Before
AfterLisle kitchen, two-story colonial from the 1990s: kitchen fire & smoke restoration
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Lisle. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. 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. The job covered assessment, protecting the rest of the house, plus removing burned materials.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Lisle →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a postwar Cape Cod, Downers Grove
Cabinets in light butter yellow with satin brass pulls, creamy quartzite-look quartz counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Downers Grove →
Before
AfterA Downers Grove postwar bi-level: before and after
Finished: the same doors sprayed in pale sage, new polished nickel pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Downers Grove →
Before
AfterA Downers Grove 1950s ranch: before and after
Finished: new five-piece shaker doors in creamy white uppers and navy lowers on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Downers Grove →What happens after you call
- 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 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 Downers Grove homeowners
How do you get rid of smoke smell after a kitchen fire?
Odor sits in the residue. We clean it off, treat the air and seal walls and ceilings.
Does insurance cover kitchen fire damage?
Many homeowner policies cover fire, but your insurer decides. We document the damage and can work with your adjuster on the scope.
Can I clean smoke damage myself?
Small spots, maybe. Large areas, ceilings and smell need equipment and the right cleaners.
Can a kitchen with fire damage be repaired?
In most cases, yes. We replace what burned and restore the smoke-damaged parts.
What affects the cost of fire and smoke restoration?
Cleaning a smoky kitchen costs less than replacing burned cabinets and the hood. The scope drives the price, in writing.
Which Downers Grove office signs off on hood work?
Downers Grove Fire Department, Fire Prevention Division, 630-434-5983. We schedule the inspection and have the paperwork ready.
Does kitchen fire and smoke restoration need a Downers Grove building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department, Building Division (https://cvportal.downers.us), phone 630-434-5515. 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 Downers Grove?
It depends on the scope. Downers Grove's rule in short: Village states most projects require a permit and applications are submitted online; First review about 10 business days. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building Division.
Do you work in my part of Downers Grove?
Yes. Our crews work across Downers Grove, including Denburn Woods, Shady Lane Estates, E.H. Prince Subdivision — ZIP 60515, 60516 — and nearby Lisle, Woodridge, Oak Brook.
Working in Downers Grove
- A lot of Downers Grove kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Downers Grove homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Denburn WoodsShady Lane EstatesE.H. Prince Subdivision
ZIP 60515ZIP 60516
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration nearby
Other kitchen services in Downers Grove
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.