How to Clean Fire-Damaged Bricks

CONTENTS

• How does fire damage brick?
• The dangers of fire damage
• Why you should not attempt to clean up after fire damage
• The benefits of professional fire damage restoration
• Get in touch

Fire damage can be devastating, not just because of the initial blaze but also due to the lasting impact it leaves on your property. Your bricks, once strong and resilient, are now scarred with soot and char. 

Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer fast, thorough fire damage cleaning services. Our fully trained technicians can remove all of the soot and ash in your home, collect waste, and eliminate any lingering odours. If its an emergency, they can be on site in a matter of hours. 

Keep reading to find out how to clean fire damage off brick walls. 

How does fire damage brick?

Although bricks can't catch on fire or burn, they can still suffer from serious damage. A layer of soot will form on the bricks, leaving behind dark, unsightly stains. 

The thermal expansion of the brick can also cause them to crack. If the damage spreads to the wythe, the structural integrity of the brick wall could be affected. 

Another problem is spalling which usually occurs when water gets into brick. In a fire, the water in the brick will vaporise, opening up the brick. Spalling can go on to threaten the structural integrity of the property. 

The dangers of fire damage

The residue left by fire is more than an eyesore; it's a health hazard, too. The thick layer of soot particles on your brick when inhaled can lead to a range of health problems, including coronary heart disease, asthma, and cancer.  

Any ash in your home can contain toxic substances which may irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. Some people are particularly vulnerable to it, such as people with asthma, and it may trigger asthma attacks. Inhaling smoke damage is dangerous, as well, as it can cause respiratory issues like cancer. 

You must have fire and smoke damage in your home cleaned up immediately to protect your health and restore the physical appearance of your home. You can learn more about the hazards of fire damage in this blog. 

Why you should not attempt to clean up after fire damage 

Cleaning fire-damaged bricks is not as straightforward as you might think. Regular household cleaners or products like vinegar or dish soap will not be effective on stubborn, greasy soot stains. Any traces left behind can continue to put people's health at risk. 

Soot is particularly challenging to clean from bricks as there are lots of little holes for it to hide in, and getting into these nooks and crannies without specialist tools is near impossible. Additionally, scrubbing hard with abrasive tools and strong detergents could cause further damage to the bricks, particularly if they are older or fragile. 

Cleaning fire damage requires laborious processes that might need to be repeated several times until the damage is gone. This can take a long time, particularly if any soot is in a difficult-to-reach area, like high up a wall. You could even fall and get injured trying to reach these stains. 

Most importantly, fire damage cleaning is dangerous without professional expertise and personal protective equipment (PPE). As you will come in close contact with the soot, ash, and smoke damage, you could be putting your health at risk. Professional cleaners, on the other hand, have the training, PPE, and specialist cleaning equipment to carry out a safe, effective clean. 

The benefits of professional fire damage restoration

Professional cleaners have lots of experience cleaning fire damage in different properties and from different surfaces. They will know exactly how to clean your fire-damaged bricks without causing further harm.

Our technicians have plenty of experience providing brick cleaning surfaces, too, and will be able to gently and thoroughly clean your brickwork. 

Beyond this surface-level clean up, they also look out for hidden issues which could become big problems like structural weaknesses or potential mould growth which occurs as a result of fire extinguishing methods. They can even save you spending on new, expensive cleaning equipment as they will already have access to state-of-the-art technology required for fire damage cleaning

Professional cleaners can give you peace of mind that your property will be clean and safe, again, and quickly return your property to pristine condition. 

Get in touch

Our comprehensive fire damage restoration service can take care of the entire aftermath of a fire. We also offer fire smoke odour removal and mould remediation services should they be required. We operate nationwide, around the clock, 365 days a year. 

To book our technicians for fire damage cleaning, contact our friendly team on 0208 066 0360 or at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk.