When a fire strikes your home in Lake Forest, Winnetka, or Barrington, the physical damage is obvious. What often goes overlooked is the invisible, pervasive threat of smoke residue and odor—a threat that can silently devalue your property and make it unlivable if mishandled.
For homeowners in the North Shore, Lake County, and Northwest Cook County, protecting your investment requires a response from technicians who understand the chemistry of fire and smoke.
At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we specialize in the complex mitigation that high-value assets demand. We don't just clean surfaces; we scientifically neutralize the unseen damage.
The Threat to Your High-Value Asset
Smoke damage is an insidious problem that generic cleanup efforts simply cannot solve:
Pervasive Odor: Smoke particles are microscopic and penetrate deep into porous materials like drywall, cabinetry, upholstery, and attic insulation. If these particles aren't removed at the source, the odor will return, creating a permanent, damaging stigma on your property.
Corrosive Residue: Soot and smoke residue are often acidic and can cause irreversible etching and pitting on metal, glass, and appliance finishes if not expertly neutralized within hours.
Hidden Costs: When mitigation is rushed or performed improperly, hidden smoke residue leads to failed inspections, devalued appraisals, and expensive, late-stage reconstruction that could have been avoided.
Certified Expertise for Complex Fire Damage
Dealing with high-end properties in Wilmette, Glenview, and Highland Park requires more than standard cleaning—it requires certified, accountable expertise. Our standards ensure we protect your property asset and your peace of mind:
Master Restorer Oversight: Our field operations are guided by the expertise of Sam Simon, COO, an IICRC Master Fire & Smoke Restorer (in addition to Water and Textile). This highest-level certification ensures every step, from deodorization to structural cleaning, adheres to the industry's most rigorous protocols.
Local Knowledge: With over 40 years of local ServiceMaster experience in Chicagoland, we understand the local climate's effect on materials and the construction types common in Kenilworth, Deerfield, and Skokie.
Ethical Accountability: We maintain the highest ethical standards, evidenced by recognition like the BBB Torch Award for Ethics. We provide straight answers, and our job is to ensure you don't pay for unnecessary work while confirming all necessary work is done right the first time.
Our Strategic 5-Step Smoke & Odor Restoration Process
Our process is designed to return properties in Glencoe and Lake Forest to a pre-loss condition, eliminating the smoke odor at its source:
Detailed Assessment: We identify the type of smoke (wet, dry, protein, fuel oil) and the extent of the penetration, which dictates the precise cleaning agents and restoration methods required.
Structural Cleaning: Specialized techniques—like chemical sponges and HEPA vacuuming—are used to remove smoke residue from all structural surfaces, including walls, ceilings, and ductwork.
Content Restoration: Where appropriate, textiles, upholstery, and contents are cleaned and deodorized by our trained team. Sensitive electronics may require specialized coordination to avoid permanent damage.
Advanced Deodorization: Once the source of the odor is removed, we use advanced technology like thermal fogging, hydroxyl generation, or ozone treatments to neutralize the remaining odor-causing molecules, ensuring long-term odor elimination.
Documentation & Clearance: Every step is meticulously documented with photos and logs to facilitate a seamless insurance process and verify the thoroughness of the cleaning for asset protection.
If you own a home in Winnetka, Northbrook, or Lake Bluff and are dealing with the aftermath of a fire, trust the IICRC Master Restorers who know how to protect your investment from the invisible damage of smoke.
Need Immediate, Expert Fire & Smoke Restoration?
Contact the certified experts at ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons 24/7 for strategic fire and smoke damage mitigation.
RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset, by Nasutsa Mabwa and Sam Simon, provides homeowners with essential knowledge on fire, smoke, and water damage recovery. You can purchase the guide here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1952779529.
