FIRE DAMAGE RESTORATION

Rainbow International Restoration - Gloucester, GL1

Client's Challenge

Rainbow International Restoration contacted APT ICC following an insurance instruction to remediate fire damage staining to the external elevations of a residential property in Gloucester.

The building exterior had been affected by soot, smoke staining and fire-related contamination, which required removal to restore the property’s appearance and allow reinstatement works to proceed.

The cleaning method needed to be:

• Effective at removing soot and smoke contamination
• Safe for external façade materials
• Suitable for high-level access where required
• Delivered efficiently to support insurance programme timescales

Assessment & Planning  

APT ICC attended site to assess the extent of fire-related contamination and confirm the most appropriate cleaning methodology.

The assessment focused on:

• Distribution and severity of soot staining across external elevations
• Suitability of soda blasting as a non-aggressive fire damage cleaning method
• Substrate sensitivity and risk of surface damage
• High-level access requirements for safe and effective coverage
• Sequencing to ensure a consistent finish across all affected areas

A controlled soda blasting approach was confirmed as the safest and most effective solution to remove fire contamination without damaging the underlying façade material.

    Methodology

    Step 1: Access set-up and safety controls
    APT ICC positioned MEWP access equipment to safely reach high-level and
    difficult-to-access façade sections. Work zones were established to protect occupants and surrounding areas.

    Step 2: Controlled soda blasting for soot removal
    Specialist soda blasting equipment was used to project sodium bicarbonate media via compressed air. Pressure and delivery were carefully controlled to suit the façade material and fire damage severity.

    Step 3: Systematic elevation cleaning
    Soot and smoke contamination were removed methodically across each elevation, ensuring even coverage and a consistent finish without aggressive abrasion.

    Step 4: Final inspection and quality check
    All treated areas were inspected to confirm complete removal of fire staining and readiness for onward insurance reinstatement works.

    Site Access & Logistics

    Equipment
    • Soda blasting system (soda blast cleaning equipment)
    • Cherry picker / MEWP access platform for high-level works

    Chemicals
    • No additional chemical cleaning products were required. Soda blasting provided the necessary fire damage cleanup and soot removal.

    The Results
    APT ICC successfully completed the external fire damage cleanup works, restoring the affected elevations to a clean, presentable condition.

    Key outcomes included:
    • Complete removal of soot and smoke staining from exterior façades
    • No damage to the underlying substrate materials
    • High-level areas safely accessed and cleaned
    • Property exterior returned to a pre-fire visual standard

    The client was highly satisfied with the results, enabling the insurance-led reinstatement programme to proceed without delay.