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1.Remove all structural components that are charred, or which seal smoke or moisture within pockets of saturation. In extensive losses, blown insulation must be removed and replaced. Do not be too conservative here, if in question “Discard It”.
2.Remove floorcoverings second after they collect the fallout of ceiling and wall demolition.
3.Once removed, structural framing and subfloor materials must be carefully evaluated for damage (charring, warping, etc.). Plan to remove and or replace as required.
4.Salvable wall framing should be treated with appropriate odor counteractants, which in some cases, may include an appropriate biocide, depending on the extent of microbial contamination.
5.The HVAC must be either removed or thoroughly restored. This is particularly critical to prevent smoke particles, which range from 0.1-4 microns, from being released into respirable air. Where the potential to penetrate deeply into lung tissues where, at best, can cause irritation, and at worst, they could result in scarring of the lungs.
6.Framing materials must be allowed to dry to within 4 percent of normal moisture content, which generally is around 10% in the Chicago area.
7.While the home is unoccupied, and as areas are dried in, I would not hesitate to use a combination of ozone deodorization and wet or dry fogging, to oxidize or otherwise neutralize odor. Either process must be applied by trained professionals to avoid health risks, or the potential for damage from the process itself.
8.Framing materials should be sealed with an appropriate sealer, before replacing drywall, paneling, decking, etc. Otherwise, odor will leach out of structural materials for months, if not years to come. Simply putting up new drywall and taping and mudding joints will not seal in untreated odor.
9.As individual rooms are completely reconstructed, deodorization efforts should continue, progressing from least damaged areas back to the source. Usually, source areas are that last to be dried in and reconstructed.
10.Savable drywall, if any, should be sealed carefully and painted (two coats).
11.Airing out the structure both during and for several days after each phase of construction helps minimize VOCs that off-gas from new materials, adhesives, and coatings.
12.All salvable furnishings, contents, and removable fixtures should be processed meticulously in a restoration facility, before being returned to the fully restored home.
THE FOUR MAJOR STEPS:
1.Remove the source of the odor as practical
2.Clean all surfaces subjected to significant contamination
3.Recreate the conditions of odor penetration with an appropriate odor counteractant
4.Seal malodorous surfaces as required
Thermal fogging is not a cure-all for resolving all odor problems in your structure. It’s merely a band-aid for a compound problem. Proper procedures start at the beginning
of the loss and continue throughout.
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