Smoke remediation is the specialized process of removing smoke residue, soot particles, and odor compounds from a structure after a fire, wildfire smoke infiltration, or chronic tobacco or cannabis exposure. Unlike surface cleaning, true smoke remediation requires equipment and techniques that neutralize odor compounds at a molecular level — not just mask them. Allied Restoration's IICRC FSRT-certified technicians provide complete smoke remediation across the San Francisco Bay Area.

What Is Smoke Remediation?

Smoke remediation encompasses three distinct but related processes:

  • Soot removal — physical removal of smoke residue from all surfaces using HEPA vacuuming, dry-cleaning sponges, and dry-ice blasting for structural surfaces
  • Surface cleaning — chemical cleaning of non-porous surfaces including walls, ceilings, floors, and contents
  • Odor elimination — neutralizing smoke odor compounds embedded in porous materials using hydroxyl generation and thermal fogging

All three components must be addressed for effective smoke remediation. Surface cleaning without odor treatment leaves embedded compounds that continue to off-gas for months. Odor treatment without thorough soot removal is equally ineffective.

Smoke Remediation Services

Dry-Ice Blasting

Non-toxic CO2 pellets remove soot from structural surfaces including wood framing, concrete, and brick without chemicals or moisture. Ideal for historic SF properties where chemical cleaning could damage original materials.

Hydroxyl Generation

Hydroxyl generators produce hydroxyl radicals (OH) that react with and destroy odor compounds — the same process that occurs naturally in the atmosphere. Safe for occupied buildings and effective on all odor types including fire, tobacco, and cannabis.

Thermal Fogging

A deodorizing chemical fog heated to the same temperature as smoke penetrates the same pathways smoke traveled — wall cavities, HVAC systems, attic spaces. Neutralizes odor compounds where surface cleaning cannot reach.

HVAC System Cleaning

Smoke infiltrates HVAC ductwork and can recirculate throughout a building indefinitely unless the system is cleaned. Allied Restoration cleans and treats ductwork, air handlers, and coils as part of the remediation scope.

Ozone Treatment

For severe smoke contamination in unoccupied structures, ozone (O3) treatment provides the most aggressive odor elimination available. Requires evacuation during treatment — effective for heavily contaminated properties.

Encapsulation & Sealing

For surfaces where odor compounds have deeply penetrated (unfinished wood framing, concrete), specialized sealers encapsulate remaining compounds and prevent off-gassing. Applied before reconstruction.

Types of Smoke Remediation We Perform

  • Post-fire smoke remediation — following structure fires, kitchen fires, and electrical fires
  • Wildfire smoke infiltration — Bay Area properties affected by distant wildfire events. Smoke enters through HVAC systems, gaps in building envelope, and window/door seals during high-AQI events.
  • Cannabis smoke remediation — rental property turnovers, unit sales, and commercial property remediation. Common in San Francisco's liberal cannabis culture.
  • Tobacco smoke remediation — decades of tobacco smoke embedded in walls, ceilings, and HVAC requires systematic remediation before re-occupancy or sale.
  • Neighbor fire smoke damage — smoke from an adjacent unit's fire traveling through shared walls, HVAC, and building openings.

Why Won't Smoke Smell Go Away on Its Own?

Smoke odor persists because smoke particles — primarily aldehydes, phenols, and other volatile organic compounds — penetrate porous building materials including drywall, wood framing, insulation, carpet, and upholstery. These compounds continue to off-gas from the material over time, which is why properties that have experienced smoke damage often smell worse weeks after the event than they did immediately after.

Air fresheners and ventilation temporarily reduce odor concentration in the air but do nothing to address the source compounds embedded in building materials. Only processes that chemically alter or remove the odor compounds — hydroxyl generation, thermal fogging, or physical removal of affected materials — will permanently eliminate smoke odor.