Yellowed walls and protein residue
A pot left burning leaves an almost invisible, yellow, very smelly residue. It needs specific cleaning and often sealing before paint.
Serving Elmhurst & nearby Villa Park, Lombard
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Elmhurst, IL
Stovetop fire or smoke damage in your Elmhurst kitchen? We clean soot, remove smoke odor and rebuild what burned.
- Serving Elmhurst ZIP 60126
- Containment so the damage doesn't spread
- One team from cleanup to rebuild
Fire and smoke damage we restore in Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst crew sorts out what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced, then does both.
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.
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.
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.
Appliances covered in soot
We clean the outside of the fridge and dishwasher; the range and hood near the fire are evaluated separately.
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.
Melted outlets, wiring or switches
Any electrical device near a fire gets checked. Damaged wiring is replaced by an electrician before rebuilding.
Smoke residue in the rest of the house
Residue goes where the air goes. We inspect adjoining rooms and recommend duct cleaning when the system ran during the fire.
What the restoration covers
- AssessmentWe walk the kitchen and nearby rooms to separate burned materials from soot-covered ones.
- 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.
- Soot cleaningCeilings, walls, cabinets and appliances are cleaned with methods suited to the type of soot.
- Odor removalRemaining smoke odor is treated once the residue is gone.
- 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
Dry soot spongesChemical sponges that lift dry soot before any wet cleaning.
HEPA vacuums and air scrubbersEquipment to capture fine soot from surfaces and the air during cleanup.
Replacement cabinets and hoodMatching boxes and doors for the burned section and a new ventilation hood.
Degreasing cleanersProducts made for sticky soot from cooking oil.
Odor-sealing primerA primer coat that locks in what cleaning can't fully reach.
Before and after: kitchens near Elmhurst
Problem
Fixed
DetailBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Elmhurst
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial in Elmhurst. What we started with: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and a brass chandelier over the nook. What bothered the owners most: 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. Work included assessment, soot cleaning, plus sealing and painting.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Villa Park
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Villa Park. What we started with: 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 soot cleaning, odor removal, plus rebuild.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Villa Park →
Before
AfterAn Elmhurst postwar Cape Cod: before and after
What changed: 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 Elmhurst →
Before
AfterElmhurst kitchen, 1950s ranch: kitchen cabinet painting
What changed: the same doors sprayed in creamy white uppers and navy lowers, new brushed nickel bar pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Elmhurst →
Before
AfterCabinet Refacing in a postwar bi-level, Elmhurst
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 Elmhurst →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 protectA walkthrough, photos for your insurer and protection for the rest of the house.
- Clean and deodorizeBurned materials come out, soot is cleaned and odor is treated.
- RebuildNew cabinets, hood, paint and finishes put the kitchen back together.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration questions from Elmhurst homeowners
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.
How long does fire restoration take?
Cleanup is relatively quick; replacing cabinets, counters and the hood takes longer. We give you a schedule after the assessment.
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.
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.
Does kitchen fire and smoke restoration need a Elmhurst building permit, and who files it?
Permits go through Community Development Department (Building), phone 630-530-3030. 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 Elmhurst?
It depends on the scope. Elmhurst's rule in short: Elmhurst requires permits for building and construction projects; all permits are applied for through the City's Citizen Self-Service Portal. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department (Building).
Do you work in my part of Elmhurst?
Yes. Our crews work across Elmhurst — ZIP 60126 — and nearby Villa Park, Lombard, Addison.
Working in Elmhurst
- A lot of Elmhurst kitchens date from the 1950s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Elmhurst homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Community Development Department (Building) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60126
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration nearby
Other kitchen services in Elmhurst
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.