Odor removal is a critical part of almost any restoration job. There are a variety of options available from masking agents to foggers to ozone and hydroxyl generators, and so on.

On a warm, sunny day back in June, I had the opportunity to check out some job sites with SunGlo Services Operations Manager Bob Graham. SunGlo is a large restoration company based in the Metro Detroit area.

Forensic cleaning is quickly becoming a high profit center into which restoration companies are looking to expand. Largely, no doubt, because profit margins range from 85-95%.

After a fire, there is a rush of activity in an effort to return the damaged spaces to pre-fire condition.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, it is estimated that some 370,000 home fires occur each year, costing close to $7 billion in total property damage. Many of these fires, however, start and are contained in a certain area of a home or business. Even though containment eliminates the necessity for complete demolition and reconstruction, it is still necessary for proper cleaning of soot and smoke in order to restore the property to a pre-loss condition.

There’s an old saying that when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. When it comes to restoring garments and other textiles involved with an insurance claim, a full tool box is required to successfully handle dozens of types of contaminants, hundreds of types of materials, and thousands of types of items.

It’s 5:30 a.m. on the morning of Mother’s Day 2015. While most people across the U.S. are fast asleep or pondering, making Mom breakfast in bed, Dana Jennings is answering a call for help from a local restaurant owner.

Cleaning the damage that is caused by a fire is the easy part.