Free inspection · Insurance billed directly
Smoke & Soot Cleanup After a Fire
Acidic soot residue cleaned off surfaces and out of ductwork before it stains.
Serving Passaic, Bergen, Essex, Morris, Sussex & Hudson counties in Northern New Jersey.
At a glance
Soot residue is acidic, and the longer it sits on metal fixtures and painted surfaces, the harder it is to remove. We clean it off room by room with methods matched to each surface, including duct interiors, so the HVAC system doesn't spread residue back into finished rooms. Call (551) 414-6202 to schedule a free inspection.
Content reviewed August 2026.
The inspection is free, and you get a written scope before any work starts. If the job is smaller than you expected, we'll tell you that.
The work
What's included
Smoke and soot residue cleanup after a fire. Soot residue is acidic and can stain finishes if it isn't removed early, so we clean walls, ceilings, furniture, and duct interiors with methods matched to each surface, and remove what's too far gone to clean.
- Soot residue removed from walls, ceilings, trim, and furniture
- Duct interiors cleaned so the HVAC system doesn't recirculate residue
- Cleaning method matched to the surface and the residue type
- Acidic residue treated early, before it stains metal and finished surfaces
- Materials too damaged to clean are removed, photographed, and listed
- When a claim covers the work, we bill your carrier directly. A claim isn't required, though; plenty of our jobs are paid by the homeowner.
Process
How the job goes.
- 01
Inspection
A technician traces where residue traveled, room by room, and checks whether it reached the ductwork. The residue type depends on what burned, and it determines which cleaning method works on each surface.
- 02
Removal of unsalvageable material
Charred material and items saturated with residue come out first. Everything removed is photographed and listed, so the record reflects the full loss.
- 03
Surface cleaning
We clean walls, ceilings, trim, and furniture, working top down. The wrong method can smear residue or push it into the finish, so each surface gets a cleaning approach suited to it.
- 04
HVAC and duct interiors
If the system ran while smoke was in the building, residue is inside the ducts. We clean the duct interiors so the system doesn't redistribute soot after the rooms are done.
- 05
Walkthrough and documentation
You walk the space with us and check the results. Photos of the work and the list of removed materials go into your file, ready for the adjuster if there's a claim.
Insurance
We work with your insurance, and we bill them directly
- 01
Call us
We answer, ask what happened, and get a crew moving. Same-day emergency response on active water.
- 02
We document everything
We take moisture readings and photos and write up a scope of work before drying starts, so your adjuster has the file from day one.
- 03
We bill your insurer directly
We work directly with your insurance company on covered water and mold claims, so you're not fronting the full cost and chasing reimbursement.
Your deductible is still yours to cover, and we'll tell you that number before any work starts rather than after. You also don't need a claim to hire us. Plenty of our jobs are paid directly by the homeowner, and after the free inspection we'll say which way makes more sense for the damage you have.
Common problems
What we get called about most.
Black film that reappears after wiping
Household cleaning tends to smear soot rather than lift it, and some residues get pushed deeper into the finish by scrubbing. We match the cleaning method to the residue so the surface comes clean instead of gray.
Soot far from where the fire was
Residue rides air currents and ductwork, so it turns up on shelves, closets, and upper floors that the fire never touched. We inspect the whole property instead of assuming the damage stopped at the burn room.
Stains setting in on metal and finished surfaces
Soot residue is acidic. Left on countertops, fixtures, or painted walls, it can discolor them past the point of cleaning. Removing the residue early keeps the discoloration from becoming permanent.
A soot smell whenever the heat runs
That usually means residue inside the duct runs or on the air handler. Cleaning the rooms alone won't fix it; the duct interiors need the same attention as the walls.
Who's showing up
Local and independent, based in Totowa, NJ.
The person on the phone is the one planning your job, and the scope and moisture readings come from the crew that does the work.
- IICRC Certified
- Licensed
- Bonded
- Insured
Related services
More of our fire damage services.
Part of our Fire Damage Restoration service — see the full picture →
Smoke Odor Removal →
Odor removed at its source instead of covered with deodorizer.
Emergency Board-Up →
Broken windows and doors boarded the same day after a fire or storm.
Helpful guides
FAQ
Questions we get most.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?
Usually, when the cause was sudden and accidental: a burst pipe, a failed water heater, an appliance hose that let go. Policies generally exclude damage that happened gradually, like a slow leak that ran for months, and outside flooding needs a separate flood policy. When we inspect, we document the cause of loss carefully, because that is the first thing the adjuster reviews.
Do you bill my insurance company directly?
Yes. On covered water, mold, and fire claims we bill the carrier directly, so you are not fronting the cost and waiting for reimbursement. You pay your deductible and we settle the rest with the insurer, supported by the photos, moisture readings, and drying logs adjusters ask for. A claim is not required to hire us — many of our residential jobs are paid by the homeowner.
What documentation does an insurance claim need?
Photos of the damage before work starts, moisture readings from every affected material, drying logs while equipment runs, and an itemized scope of what was removed and why. We produce all of it as we work, and you get a copy whether or not you file. If a failed part caused the loss — a supply line, a fitting — keep it, because adjusters often want to see it.
Will the smoke smell ever come out?
Yes, if the source is removed. Smoke odor lives in the residue coating surfaces and absorbed into porous materials, so spraying air freshener over it fails. The fix is cleaning or removing what holds the residue, then scrubbing the air. Masking the smell is not part of our process; removing its source is.
Our work
Free inspection
Start with a free inspection and a written scope.
Call or send the form. We come out, look at what you have, and put the scope in writing so you know what the work involves. If it can wait, we'll say so.
Office hours: Mon–Fri 8am–6pm · Sun 8am–6pm · Closed Saturdays.