How to Apply a New Coat of Paint After Fire Damage

A fire in your home or office is a devastating experience. Even if the structure of the building is safe and secure, smoke damage can be an expensive problem to clean up. In addition, soot, odor, and debris move through the building, leaving lasting effects that require extensive renovation services.

Have you found that the smoke damage left stains behind on your walls? It might seem like a simple solution to paint over the stains and move on to the next project. But you need to understand that stains and odors will seep through, leaving you with ongoing problems in the future.

Here are a few tips for painting after fire damage. These suggestions also apply to homeowners working on renovations to clean up the smell of lingering cigarette smoke in the house.

Clean the Walls First

A dry cleaning process is an effective way to soak up residue and pick up soot in the pores of a special type of sponge. Soot has an oily nature, so it’s essential to use the right cleaning tools. Look for products that are labeled as “dry cleaning sponges.”

Lay down a plastic sheet to protect the floors. Then, start at the top of the wall and work your way down with the sponge. Don’t scour the surface. Instead, use parallel, straight movements with slightly overlapping lines. Refresh the sponge as often as needed to avoid spreading the soot.

Next, you’ll follow up with wet cleaning. The most effective product for this step is trisodium phosphate (TSP). Always wear protective gear and follow the label instructions when mixing the ratio of TSP with water.

Prime Before Painting

Most of the soot and odor will be gone after following the dry cleaning and wet cleaning methods listed above. Once the walls are dry, it’s time to add a layer of primer. Choose a stain-blocking primer to prevent odors and stains from seeping through.

After the primer is dry, you can add the final layer of paint. At this point, you’ve cleaned the walls and blocked the stain with primer, setting the optimal conditions for the surface paint that will be visible. Always take time to do the necessary prep work, such as patching the walls if needed.

Call the Paint Experts

One of the simplest solutions for repainting your home after a fire or cigarette smoke damage is to call our expert team. We are here to help with both commercial and residential painting projects. Vivify Painting is here to help. Contact us to learn more about available services: (951) 775-7522.