Smoke and soot cleanup
Soot cleaned from the walls, ceilings, cabinets and surfaces that can be saved, before it sets in for good.
Home · Fire Damage
Fire and smoke damage restoration in McKinney.
Even a small kitchen fire can send smoke and soot through the whole house, and the water used to put it out does damage of its own. SJ4 Construction cleans it up, tears out what can't be saved and rebuilds, working alongside your insurance adjuster. You deal with the same two people the whole way.
Water damage instead? See water damage restoration
Right after a fire
What to do first
- Wait for the all-clear. Don't go back in until the fire department says it's safe.
- Call your insurance company to report it, and ask what they need from you.
- Take photos and video of every room before you clean or throw anything out.
- Leave the soot alone. Wiping it smears it deeper into paint, cabinets and fabric, and makes the cleanup harder.
- Keep the heat and air conditioning off until the system has been checked. Running it can carry soot and smoke to rooms the fire never reached.
Cleanup and restoration
From the smoke and soot to the rebuild
SJ4 Construction is a family-owned builder in McKinney, Texas. After kitchen fires, electrical fires and garage fires, we clean up and restore homes in McKinney, Frisco, Plano, Lucas, Fairview and The Colony.
Odor removal
The smoke smell treated where it lives, in the drywall, insulation and cabinets, so it isn't sealed in behind new paint.
Water from the firefight
The water used to put the fire out is removed and the house dried, the same way as a water damage job.
Tear-out
Burned and smoke-damaged drywall, insulation, cabinets and flooring come out, photographed and measured for your insurance company.
The rebuild
Walls, ceilings, kitchens, baths and floors put back, textured and painted to match the rest of the house.
Repair it, or remodel it
We are remodelers first, so a fire repair can also be the moment to change what you never liked. Anything beyond what your insurance covers is priced separately, in writing, before the work starts.
How it works with your insurance
Five steps, from the fire to the last coat of paint.
Your adjuster works for your insurance company and decides what your policy covers. We are your contractor: we document the damage, write the repair scope, clean up and do the rebuild.
Walk-through
We see the damage with you, and with your adjuster when they visit, and photograph and measure everything.
Repair scope
A written, line-by-line list of what gets cleaned, what comes out and what goes back, for you and your insurance company to review.
Cleanup and tear-out
Soot and smoke cleaned, water dried, and what can't be saved taken out, so the rebuild starts on a clean, dry house.
The rebuild
Walls, floors and finishes put back, with photos and dated updates as the work goes, so you always know what is next.
Final walk-through
We go room by room with you, finish the last details, and stand behind the work with our warranty.
Good questions
Before you call
Do you work with my insurance company?
Yes. We meet your adjuster, document the damage and write a detailed repair scope. Your insurance company decides what your policy covers. We are your contractor, not your adjuster: Texas law does not let a contractor adjust or negotiate a claim on a home they are repairing, so we do not.
Can you get the smoke smell out?
Smoke gets into drywall, insulation and cabinets, not just the air. We clean what can be cleaned, replace what can't, and treat the house for odor before the walls are closed up, so the smell isn't sealed in behind new paint.
What about the water used to put the fire out?
We dry it out the same way as any water damage job, so the rebuild starts on a dry house.
Can you pay or waive my deductible?
No. Texas law does not allow a contractor to pay, waive or rebate your insurance deductible without your insurance company's consent, and we do not offer it.
Can I change things while the walls are open?
Yes. Many homeowners use a fire repair to update the kitchen or the floors. Anything beyond what your insurance covers is priced separately, in writing, before the work starts.
How long does it take?
It depends on how far the smoke traveled, how much has to be replaced and how long materials take to arrive. You get a schedule with the written scope, and dated updates as the work goes.
Where do you work?
McKinney, Frisco, Plano, Lucas, Fairview and The Colony, with select projects across Collin County.
Dealing with fire or smoke damage?
Call us, or send the form with what happened and whether a claim is filed. A real person replies within one to three business days.