Wildfires have become a year-round worry in Santa Barbara County and across California. If you notice ashes and the strong odor of smoke affecting your home or business, Castro's of Santa Barbara is here to help. Our team of fire restoration specialists is trained and certified to handle any size damage as a result of wildfires.
Our fire & smoke damage process includes...
Smoke and soot can quickly corrode even hard surfaces. We use equipment and products made especially for thorough smoke and soot cleanup and removal.
The walls, ceilings, and floors get completely wiped down and washed. From your appliances being cleaned off to wiping down paintings or photos on the wall, we work to make everything look as good as new.
We use state-of-the-art air scrubbers and HEPA filters to remove all odor-causing particulates from the air. We make sure that the home is 100% soot and smoke-free by the time we are finished cleaning it.
We cover all unaffected areas before getting to work on the damaged areas in order to prevent any further discoloration or damage. Areas of the home that need to be repainted due to the fire will be painted to match the color of the surrounding walls.
It's never a quick fix, though we've gathered together a multi-discipline team of contractors and technicians to work in tandem to complete the work as soon as possible. From structural repairs to sand/soda-blasting to odor removal to contents cleaning, our fire damage restoration crew begin as soon as the project scope is determined, and we don't stop until the job is done and both you and the insurance company are satisfied with the results.
Most often, yes. You'll need to check your specific policy for the full scope of coverage, but in general, if the damage was caused by a flame, it's covered. Your best bet is to hire a professional restoration to help you through the claims process. We know how to avoid some common missteps when it comes to making sure the entire loss is documented and covered. Many homeowners and insurance companies forget, for instance, to consider that your HVAC system will need to be cleaned of soot, and, since fires are extinguished using water, many areas of your home may need to be restored due to water damage even if they weren't directly affected by the fire.
Depending on the extent or location of the fire damage, some homeowners can move back in a few days or longer. The fire department will usually turn off electricity and gas to the property right away, and that won’t be restored until a building inspector says that it’s safe to turn those utilities back on. If you experienced significant smoke damage and the home’s occupants include elderly persons, young children, or those with chronic health conditions, you may be wise to stay until the smoke cleanup is complete. Contracting with a company experienced in fire damage restoration can often get you back home sooner, because they’ll have the resources to hire and manage the many tradespeople who will need to work together to make the home liveable again.
Depending on the extent or location of the fire damage, some homeowners can move back in a few days or longer. The fire department will usually turn off electricity and gas to the property right away, and that won’t be restored until a building inspector says that it’s safe to turn those utilities back on. If you experienced significant smoke damage and the home’s occupants include elderly persons, young children, or those with chronic health conditions, you may be wise to stay until the smoke cleanup is complete. Contracting with a company experienced in fire damage restoration can often get you back home sooner, because they’ll have the resources to hire and manage the many tradespeople who will need to work together to make the home liveable again.
Smoke damage is rarely limited to one area of the house, and it leaves behind residue that can hide in crevices and out-of-reach areas, and a simple "airing out" may not be sufficient. We recommend consulting with a smoke damage technician who can help you troubleshoot the next steps.