How to Remove Smoke from Outdoor Bricks?

3/15/2022 (Permalink)

After a major house fire, it’s vital to call in professionals who have the necessary equipment and experience in fire damage restoration.

Getting rid of soot and smoke are some of the toughest stains and odors to tackle after a house fire. Having a fire in your home is stressful. However, after the dust has settled and your home was almost destroyed, you notice something – the rancid smell of smoke is everywhere. Even though the fire has been extinguished, the stench of smoke persists.

Of course, the need to remove smoke from outdoor bricks doesn’t have to be due to a catastrophic house fire. Maybe your outdoor grill went wild, or burning garden debris got out of control and blackened a brick wall. Regardless of the reason, removing smoke damage from blackened bricks is necessary to restore your property’s aesthetics. 

4 Ways to Remove Smoke Damage from Bricks

Several steps are necessary to clean the effects of smoke on bricks. You can often clean damaged brickwork on the ground floor if the fire was relatively small. However, for large jobs and cleaning bricks above head height, it’s best to call in professionals who specialize in Richardson fire damage restoration. 

Before tackling any cleaning job that involves soot removal and chemicals, it’s crucial to wear protective gear. Use a respirator, protective rubber gloves, goggles, and clothing to cover your skin. It’s also a good idea to cover any garden furniture and other surfaces from soot contamination.

Here are some handy tips on removing smoke stains and soot damage from outdoor bricks. 

1. Loosen the soot 

First, remove as much black soot as possible from the outdoor brick surface with a stiff brush or vacuum cleaner. Soot tends to smudge easily and cling to brickwork, especially because bricks have a rough, slightly porous surface.

2. Use a chemical cleaning sponge to clean brick

The second step is to remove more of the soot residue before using liquid solutions. A dry chemical sponge is ideal for getting rid of nasty black stains on bricks. For best results, always use a wiping motion with the dry cleaning sponge rather than a scrubbing motion to avoid pushing soot deeper into the bricks.

3. Use a soap solution to clean smoke damage

After removing as much smoke residue as possible, you should use a degreasing agent or dish detergent solution. Many hardware stores have special degreasing chemicals for tough fire restoration jobs. These cleaning solutions will also remove the unpleasant smoke odors from bricks.  

Always remember to rinse cleaning cloths regularly to prevent smearing sooty residue further. It’s also advisable to avoid harsh chemicals as they could damage brick facades. 

4. Rinse brickwork to remove smoke damage

The last step in removing smoke exterior wall brickwork is to rinse the cleaned bricks. You can use clothes and clean water to do this. However, a power washer is easier to rinse the last residues of smoke from brickwork.

After a major house fire, it’s vital to call in professionals who have the necessary equipment and experience in fire damage restoration. Call SERVPRO of Richardson at (972) 690-1414 to find out how we can help restore the exterior of your property to its former glory.