My Den in Olean Caught on Fire – Can It Be Restored?

8/17/2020 (Permalink)

Our fire damage experts can have your home back to its original state, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Technicians Have the Knowledge and Training to Help You Decide What Gets Restored.

Olean is the entertainment, financial, business, and transportation center of Cattaraugus County in New York. There are thousands of homes inside the city, and anyone could be impacted by fire at any moment. When that happens, our technicians can mitigate the damage and restore the residence to preloss condition. 

 Can My Paneling Be Saved?

 A den is typically office and personal space, often for men. You decorate it and make it as comfortable as you can. It may have mementos, books, and expensive furniture. It’s one of your favorite rooms in the house. You even had a fireplace put in to add to the cozy atmosphere. Then one afternoon, a spark from the fireplace lands on a stack of papers. The papers ignite and then catch the drapes. Thankfully you are near and grab the fire extinguisher, and the fire damage in your Olean den is contained. 

Soot and smoke damage can spread quickly beyond the room where the blaze occurred. Your walls are paneled and have smoke damage and possible charring. The entire content of the room has smoke residue. SERVPRO has fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) that can do a scope of your home and determine, alongside you and your insurance adjuster (if present), what can be repaired and restored. The type of paneling, and the material composition, has an impact on whether or not it needs disposed of and replaced. Paneling that may be salvageable includes:

• Decorative 
• Acoustic
• Utility
• Tileboard

It may not be cost-effective to restore your paneling, but if it is something that holds special value to you may wish for restoration. Slight charring and smoke residue are what technicians often deal with in this situation. Because of the ridges that are a characteristic of paneling, the soils can be challenging to clean. Chemical sponges may use, and vacuuming can lift the soot off. Acoustic paneling can be cleaned with peroxide active cleaning. Soda blasting may work as well as spraying and wiping with specific agents.

Draperies & Carpeting

Draperies may be salvageable, but there are many factors involved. The type of smoke residue on them makes a difference as different ones require different cleaning methods. To determine the best cleaning method, our SERVPRO techs check the type of fiber, dye stability, and backing material. Pre-existing problems such as age, weakened fibers and loose seams add to the situation. Dry cleaning and hot water extraction are methods often used for restoring drapes.

Since heat rises, carpets and flooring may be the least affected, especially with contained fires. The type of carpet and the fibers involved determine which cleaning method is appropriate. If the heat damage has changed the texture of the carpet, the damage is irreversible. As the soot settles, it can bond with the carpet fibers darkening your rugs. Cleaning doesn’t always remove that discoloration.

My Desk Has Minor Damage

A desk is often the focal point of a den. It was carefully chosen and may be an heirloom. The good news is that hardwood furniture is something that has a good track record of being saved. The type of finish and the intensity of the fire damage affect the outcome.  Unfinished wood is porous and quickly absorbs moisture, odors, and smoke film. The safest method for cleaning your desk may be dry cleaning. Finished furniture such as desks have unfinished areas such as on the bottom and inside the drawers. Wet cleaning can be used on certain types of finishes and may be required for moderate levels of residue. Semi-refinishing is a solution to restoration if needed. Other items in your den that it is possible to restore are:

• Documents, books and photographs
• Personal items and mementos
• Clothing that was in the room
• File cabinets
• Upholstered furniture

Fire Damage and Restoration Services

SERVPRO is a comprehensive water and fire damage restoration company. Whether the blaze that affected your home was small and contained or more extensive requiring firefighter intervention, we can provide emergency mitigation within hours. Our Green Team is available around the clock. Disaster does not wait for a convenient time, and we understand that. Because of this, we work seven days a week, including holidays. We have homes and family, too, and can relate to how even a minor disaster can reshape your world. 

Our purpose is to clean and restore your den, so when you walk back in, it is, “Like it never even happened.” We have been restoring homes in the Olean and Jamestown area for years. Our satisfied customers can attest to our commitment to restoring your home. Contact SERVPRO of Jamestown / Olean at (716) 338-4901 for professional fire damage service. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.