After The Fire: Seal Fire Damaged Wood

Following a fire there is a lingering odor that serves as a constant reminder of the disaster. It is an unpleasant smell that sits in every pore of the hard surfaces of the house. A complete fire restoration operation can only remove a certain amount of the smoke and soot odor but there is inevitably a residual smell remaining.

Paint products are available for the walls that will seal fire damaged wood that has maintained a strong odor even after the most rigorous treatment. These products are sealers and primers that contain the smell and also covers stains too.

A fast dry alkyd is an oil based sealer that can be used as part of a fire damage restoration. It is an oil-based product that can be applied using a roller or sprayer. It is an inexpensive option but it comes with a few problems such as its smell which, while it replaces the smell of the smoke, can be unpleasant in its own right. It also isn’t particularly effective and can require multiple coats before the smoke odor is removed.

Another option when looking to seal fire damaged wood is to use shellac which is an alcohol-based resin product and comes in either a clear or pigmented version. It can be brushed on or applied with a roller and, through the small particle size of the grains within the liquid, gives good coverage that effectively seals the odors. Once it dries the odor of the shellac dissipates quickly leaving it virtually odorless. This is the more expensive option but it will give you a better result and the application time will be shorter.

Before you use a product like shellac you should first prime it with an oil-based primer. Following that you can use the shellac to seal in the smoke odor.

This type of treatment should only be considered for fire damage that is not of a significant nature. If there is structural damage to the wood surfaces after a fire a fire restoration expert will be able to help you with advice on whether or not the surface can be saved or whether it should be replaced.

The primary aim of the work done following the fire is to make the building safe again, then it must be fit for human habitation. All safety aspects should be followed and that includes the dangers of introducing new chemicals and their accompanying smells. When performing a fire damage restoration, you want to be sure that you are improving the situation and not introducing new and unexpected dangers.