Walls that have been damaged in a fire or stained by smoke are a big challenge to clean and paint over effectively.
However, while you are in for a lot of hard work, the job can certainly be done.
Here is a step-by-step guide to cleaning and painting over fire damaged walls.
What You’ll Need
- The following tools and products are needed to clean, prep, and paint a fire damaged wall:
- Trisodium Phosphate solution
- Towels and Rags
- Sponges and Magic Sponges
- Zinsser primer or Kilz primer (or anything shellac based)
- Paint and painting tools
- Protective gear (mask, gloves, safety glasses)
- Proper ventilation
Essentially, you will be scrubbing and wiping the walls continuously to get out fire and smoke stains with a TSP solution.
This is a lot of work, and it may feel hopeless at times! Consider reaching out to a professional fire damage restoration service for the peace of mind and expert guidance.
Here are some tips as you begin scrubbing the fire stains from the walls:
Start from the Bottom
By cleaning the walls from the bottom and working your way up, you can avoid creating streaks.
Create TSP Solution with Hot Water
By having a hot water TSP solution, you have a better chance at getting out the toughest smoke stains.
For particularly tough areas, you can increase the ratio of TSP used in your cleaning solution.
Use Magic Sponges to Finish the Job
After tons of elbow grease and multiple wipe downs, some smoke stains may seem impossible to get out of the wall.
In these cases, use a magic sponge to get out the remaining stains. It’s surprisingly effective.
Make Sure Walls are Completely Rinsed
TSP is an incredible formula for cleaning fire damaged walls and stains. However, TSP can cause paint adhesion issues if it’s not completely washed off.
Be sure that you rinse the walls several times to ensure all TSP is removed.
Use a Paint Gun
When you begin to apply the primer (we recommend either Zinsser or Kilz primers for smoke damage), the ceilings will give you the most trouble.
To get more coverage and quicken the job, consider renting a paint gun from your local Home Depot or Lowes.
Contact a Professional to Clean and Paint Fire Damaged Walls
Whether the wall stains occurred from years of indoor cigarette smoking, or because of a small house fire, a fire restoration professional will be able to deal with the repair and cleaning.
While you can certainly attempt to clean and paint a fire damaged wall, it may be impossible to get the last of the stains out with professional help.
ServiceMaster by Timeless provides fire damage restoration services in Morris and Union County.
We are available 24/7 at (973) 554-3002 to respond to smoke damage or fire damage emergencies.
