Burned or charred cabinets
Cabinets with scorched faces or charred wood are replaced. Neighboring cabinets with only soot can often be cleaned and refinished to match.
Serving Elgin & nearby St. Charles, Bartlett
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Elgin, IL
Stovetop fire or smoke damage in your Elgin kitchen? We clean soot, remove smoke odor and rebuild what burned.
- Crews covering Elgin ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140
- 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 Elgin 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 Elgin crew sorts out what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced, then does both.
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.
Discolored or scorched countertops
Counters next to a burner fire can be stained by soot or damaged by heat. We tell you which is which.
Damaged range hood or microwave above the range
A melted or soot-filled hood is replaced, and the duct is checked for grease and damage before the new one goes up.
Black soot on the ceiling and upper cabinets
Soot rises and collects on the ceiling and the tops of upper cabinets. We clean it carefully first, since scrubbing the wrong way can push it deeper, then seal and repaint as needed.
Smoke smell that won't go away
Lingering smoke smell means residue is still in the room. Masking sprays don't fix it; cleaning and deodorizing do.
Appliances covered in soot
We clean the outside of the fridge and dishwasher; the range and hood near the fire are evaluated separately.
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
- AssessmentWe walk the kitchen and nearby rooms to separate burned materials from soot-covered ones.
- 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 materialsCharred cabinets, the hood, damaged drywall and countertop sections are removed.
- Cabinet interiors and contentsInside the cabinets and drawers, shelves are cleaned since smoke gets in behind closed doors.
- Odor removalRemaining smoke odor is treated once the residue is gone.
- RebuildWe replace what was removed and put the kitchen back into use.
Tools of the job
HEPA vacuums and air scrubbersEquipment to capture fine soot from surfaces and the air during cleanup.
Replacement cabinets and hoodNew cabinets matched to the existing kitchen where possible, plus a new range hood.
Degreasing cleanersCleaners suited to oily grease-fire residue on cabinets and walls.
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.
What the work looks like in Elgin homes
Problem
Fixed
DetailKitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in a 1980s two-story, Elgin
A 1980s two-story near West Side, a typical kitchen for Elgin. The kitchen as it was: 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. On site this meant assessment, removing burned materials, plus rebuild.
Before
AfterA St. Charles two-story colonial from the 1990s: before and after
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s in St. Charles. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and a fluorescent box light in the ceiling. The reason for the call: 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, removing burned materials, plus cabinet interiors and contents.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in St. Charles →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Elgin
What changed: cabinets in white uppers and deep green lowers with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, warm walnut butcher block counters, a green zellige-look tile backsplash, warm oak luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Elgin →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Elgin
The same doors sprayed in pale mint green, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Elgin →
Before
AfterCabinet Refacing in a 1990s two-story colonial, Elgin
What changed: new five-piece shaker doors in warm white on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Elgin →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 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 Elgin homeowners
What should I do if I have a kitchen fire?
General safety guidance: smother a stovetop grease fire with a lid, never water, and call 911 if it isn't quickly out. Call us once the fire department says it's safe.
Can a kitchen with fire damage be repaired?
Yes, most kitchen fires are contained to the stove area. Burned cabinets and the hood are replaced, and the rest is cleaned, sealed and repainted.
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.
Can I clean smoke damage myself?
Light film on a small area can sometimes be cleaned. Wiping soot with a wet cloth can smear it, so start dry. For widespread residue or strong odor, call us.
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.
Which Elgin office signs off on hood work?
Fire Prevention Bureau, 550 Summit St. We schedule the inspection and have the paperwork ready.
Does kitchen fire and smoke restoration need a Elgin building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department (Building permits), City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court, phone 847-931-6001. 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 Elgin?
It depends on the scope. Elgin's rule in short: No kitchen-specific rule; interior remodeling (including kitchens) uses the general Remodeling Permit Application. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department (Building permits), City of Elgin, 150 Dexter Court.
Do you work in my part of Elgin?
Yes. Our crews work across Elgin, including Gifford Park, West Side, Downtown — ZIP 60123, 60124, 60120, 60140 — and nearby St. Charles, Bartlett, Hoffman Estates.
Working in Elgin
- A lot of Elgin kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Elgin homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Live in the Spring-Douglas Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Gifford ParkWest SideDowntown
ZIP 60123ZIP 60124ZIP 60120ZIP 60140
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration nearby
Other kitchen services in Elgin
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.