Fire & smoke damage
Soot cleanup in Boulder, CO
Soot cleanup removes the oily or dry carbon residue left by fire, furnace puffbacks or candles, using dry chemical sponges and HEPA vacuums before any wet cleaning. Wiping soot with water smears it into surfaces and can make stains permanent.
Soot cleanup in Boulder: local conditions
Partner coverage for fire and smoke damage in Boulder currently includes 9 ZIP codes: 80301, 80302, 80303, 80304, 80305, 80307, 80309, 80310, 80314. If your ZIP is on this list, a call connects you with a company that serves it.
The Marshall Fire left smoke damage in homes across the area.
Mapleton Hill and Chautauqua have early-1900s homes with basements and aging plumbing. Table Mesa and North Boulder have mostly 1960s–1980s homes with finished basements. Many Boulder homes have finished basements, and older homes in Mapleton Hill and near the university sit on stone foundations. Homes near creeks face flood risk, and homes near open space face wildfire smoke, so restoration needs vary widely across the city.
What you can expect
- One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
- Fast call-back during business hours
- Serving Boulder, CO
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Soot cleanup at a glance
- Category
- Fire & smoke damage
- Emergency service
- Scheduled visit
- Typical first step
- Test
- Area
- Boulder, CO
Other risks in Boulder
Creek flooding
Boulder Creek and its tributaries flood quickly in heavy rain, as in 2013.
Frozen pipes
Cold snaps freeze pipes in exterior walls and basements.
Ice dams
Snow and freeze-thaw cycles cause ice dams that leak into ceilings.
Hail damage
Summer hail damages roofs and gutters.
Signs you need soot cleanup
- Black webbing in corners (soot tags)
- Gray film on walls and ceilings
- Black streaks around vents
How the work is done
Test, then Dry removal, then Wet cleaning, then Seal and paint. See the full soot cleanup process.
What affects the cost
Prices depend on the job, so restoration companies in Boulder quote after an assessment. The main drivers are how much area is affected, how long it stayed wet, and what has to be removed or rebuilt. See the full list of soot cleanup cost factors.
Soot cleanup questions
Do I need a permit for repairs in Boulder?
Cleanup and drying don't. Structural, plumbing and electrical repairs need permits from the City of Boulder Planning and Development Services.
Is my Boulder home in a flood zone?
Check the City of Boulder floodplain maps. Homeowners policies exclude flood, and many 2013 claims came from outside mapped zones.
Can I clean soot myself?
Small, dry soot spots can be lifted with a dry chemical sponge. Larger or greasy soot needs professional cleaning to avoid smearing it permanently.
Related pages
Other services in Boulder
Soot cleanup in nearby cities
More about water and storm damage in Boulder, or see soot cleanup nationwide.
Related services
Fire damage restoration
Fire damage restoration secures the property, removes debris, cleans soot from surfaces and contents, removes smoke odor, dries water left by firefighting, and repairs the structure.
Learn more
Smoke odor removal
Smoke odor removal works by cleaning the residue that causes the smell, then neutralizing what's left with thermal fogging, hydroxyl generators or ozone, and sealing surfaces that still hold odor.
Learn moreWater, mold or fire damage? Get the right crew on it.
One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. Fast call-back during business hours.