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.
Serving Oak Brook & nearby Villa Park, Lombard
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Oak Brook, IL
Stovetop fire or smoke damage in your Oak Brook kitchen? We clean soot, remove smoke odor and rebuild what burned.
- Crews covering Oak Brook ZIP 60523
- 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 Oak Brook 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 Oak Brook crew sorts out what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced, then does both.
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.
Smoke smell that won't go away
Smoke odor soaks into drywall, cabinet interiors and insulation. Cleaning surfaces alone often isn't enough; we clean the hidden areas and use odor treatment once the residue is gone.
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.
Melted outlets, wiring or switches
Any electrical device near a fire gets checked. Damaged wiring is replaced by an electrician before rebuilding.
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.
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.
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.
From cleanup to rebuild
- AssessmentWe walk the kitchen and nearby rooms to separate burned materials from soot-covered ones.
- Electrical checkWe have heat-exposed wiring and outlets inspected before rebuilding.
- Protecting the rest of the houseUnaffected rooms are closed off and floors covered so soot isn't tracked through.
- Soot cleaningDry soot sponges, HEPA vacuums and the right cleaners for grease or protein residue on every surface.
- 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.
How we dry, clean and rebuild
Degreasing cleanersCleaners suited to oily grease-fire residue on cabinets and walls.
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.
Odor-sealing primerA primer coat that locks in what cleaning can't fully reach.
Replacement cabinets and hoodMatching boxes and doors for the burned section and a new ventilation hood.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration before and after — Oak Brook homes
Problem
Fixed
DetailKitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in a 1990s two-story colonial, Oak Brook
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Oak Brook. Before: white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim and a brass chandelier over the nook. The reason for the call: smoke-blackened wood cabinets above the range. The result: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. On site this meant electrical check, protecting the rest of the house, plus cabinet interiors and contents.
Before
AfterVilla Park kitchen, 1980s two-story: kitchen fire & smoke restoration
This one is a 1980s two-story in Villa Park. 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. Finished kitchen: the ceiling cleaned, sealed and repainted, new upper cabinets and a new range hood above the stove. On site this meant soot cleaning, cabinet interiors and contents, plus sealing and painting.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Villa Park →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1970s tract home in Oak Brook
What changed: cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with satin brass pulls, white quartz with soft gray veining counters, a white 2x8 tile in a vertical stack backsplash, hickory luxury vinyl plank flooring and a flush drum fixture and under-cabinet lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterAn Oak Brook raised ranch: before and after
Finished: the same doors sprayed in sage green, new matte black pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Oak Brook →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a raised ranch in Oak Brook
Finished: new flat slab doors with a thin edge in warm white on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and brushed nickel bar pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in Oak Brook →Step by step after damage
- 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 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 Oak Brook homeowners
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.
Should cabinets be cleaned or replaced after a fire?
It depends on heat exposure. Doors with blistered finish or charring go; smoke-stained ones are cleaned.
Does insurance cover kitchen fire damage?
Check your policy. We don't decide coverage; we provide the documentation and estimate.
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.
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.
Oak Brook building permit for kitchen fire and smoke restoration: where do I apply?
Permits go through Development Services (Building), phone (630) 368-5101. 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 Oak Brook?
It depends on the scope. Oak Brook's rule in short: Village publishes a Residential Permit Requirement Listing; its Residential Alteration category requires contract/scope of work, architectural plans and plat of survey. We handle the permit when one is needed with Development Services (Building).
Do you work in my part of Oak Brook?
Yes. Our crews work across Oak Brook — ZIP 60523 — and nearby Villa Park, Lombard, Elmhurst.
Working in Oak Brook
- A lot of Oak Brook kitchens date from the 1970s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Oak Brook homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- We know how Development Services (Building) handles kitchen permits and pull them for you.
ZIP 60523
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration nearby
Other kitchen services in Oak Brook
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.