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.
Serving St. Charles & nearby Geneva, West Chicago
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in St. Charles, IL
Stovetop fire or smoke damage in your St. Charles kitchen? We clean soot, remove smoke odor and rebuild what burned.
- Serving St. Charles ZIP 60174, 60175
- Containment so the damage doesn't spread
- One team from cleanup to rebuild
Fire and smoke damage we restore in St. Charles 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 St. Charles crew sorts out what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced, then does both.
Black soot on the ceiling and upper cabinets
Dark stains spreading across the ceiling above the stove are soot, and they need dry cleaning before any wet cleaning. Then the ceiling gets a stain-blocking primer and paint.
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.
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
We clean the outside of the fridge and dishwasher; the range and hood near the fire are evaluated separately.
Water and extinguisher residue
Extinguisher dust and firefighting water add their own cleanup. We handle both with the soot.
Damaged range hood or microwave above the range
The hood or over-the-range microwave usually takes the worst of a stovetop fire. We remove it, clean or replace the duct and install a new unit.
Melted outlets, wiring or switches
Heat near the range can damage outlets, switches and wiring. A licensed electrician checks the circuits before the kitchen is used again.
What the restoration covers
- AssessmentFirst we decide what can be cleaned and what has to be replaced.
- Electrical checkWe have heat-exposed wiring and outlets inspected before rebuilding.
- Protecting the rest of the houseWe keep the cleanup contained to the affected area.
- Soot cleaningDry soot sponges, HEPA vacuums and the right cleaners for grease or protein residue on every surface.
- 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.
How we dry, clean and rebuild
Odor treatment equipmentThermal foggers, ozone or hydroxyl units used after cleaning when odor remains.
Dry soot spongesChemical sponges that lift dry soot before any wet cleaning.
Degreasing cleanersCleaners suited to oily grease-fire residue on cabinets and walls.
Odor-sealing primerA primer coat that locks in what cleaning can't fully reach.
HEPA vacuums and air scrubbersEquipment to capture fine soot from surfaces and the air during cleanup.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration before and after — St. Charles homes
Problem
Fixed
DetailBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in St. Charles
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in St. Charles. 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 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. Work included assessment, electrical check, plus cabinet interiors and contents.
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1990s two-story colonial in Geneva
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near Mill Creek. What we started with: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and two hanging glass pendants. The main complaint was 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. On site this meant electrical check, protecting the rest of the house, plus odor removal.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration in Geneva →
Before
AfterKitchen Remodeling in a 1990s two-story colonial, St. Charles
Finished: cabinets in deep olive with unlacquered brass knobs and cup pulls, charcoal concrete-look quartz counters, a white 3x12 tile in a stacked pattern backsplash, gray wood-look porcelain plank flooring and black cage pendants and slim recessed lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in St. Charles →
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1980s two-story: before and after
The same doors sprayed in light butter yellow, new brushed nickel bar pulls; counters and floor stayed as they were.
Kitchen Cabinet Painting in St. Charles →
Before
AfterA St. Charles 1980s two-story: before and after
New five-piece shaker doors in sage green on the existing boxes, matching face-frame veneer and satin brass pulls.
Cabinet Refacing in St. Charles →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 protectA walkthrough, photos for your insurer and protection for the rest of the house.
- Clean and deodorizeWe remove residue from every surface and treat the remaining smell.
- RebuildNew cabinets, hood, paint and finishes put the kitchen back together.
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration questions from St. Charles homeowners
How do you get rid of smoke smell after a kitchen fire?
Cleaning comes before odor treatment. Sprays mask it; removing soot and sealing surfaces solve it.
Can I clean smoke damage myself?
Small spots, maybe. Large areas, ceilings and smell need equipment and the right cleaners.
What should I do if I have a kitchen fire?
For a grease fire, turn off the burner and smother it with a lid or baking sheet; never use water. If it isn't out right away, leave and call 911.
Do I need a board-up after a kitchen fire?
Board-up is for securing openings after bigger fires. A stovetop fire typically doesn't need it.
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.
What is the St. Charles building department phone number?
Permits go through Building Division, Community Development, 2 E. Main St., phone (630) 377-4406. When your scope needs one, we prepare the application and schedule the inspections.
Who inspects kitchen hoods and fire safety in St. Charles?
Fire Prevention Bureau, (630) 377-4457, [email protected]. We schedule the inspection and have the paperwork ready.
Do I need a permit for kitchen fire and smoke restoration in St. Charles?
It depends on the scope. St. Charles's rule in short: Permits required for construction, alteration, repair or demolition of any structure; major residential projects including remodels require 5 sets of drawings. We handle the permit when one is needed with Building Division, Community Development, 2 E. Main St..
Do you work in my part of St. Charles?
Yes. Our crews work across St. Charles — ZIP 60174, 60175 — and nearby Geneva, West Chicago, Batavia.
Working in St. Charles
- A lot of St. Charles kitchens date from the 2000s. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most St. Charles 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.
ZIP 60174ZIP 60175
Kitchen Fire & Smoke Restoration nearby
Other kitchen services in St. Charles
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.