How Much Does Fire and Smoke Remediation Cost?

Fire Damage Restoration Cost

The type of damage that requires cleanup impacts the price, and you may find you need multiple types of cleanup to get your home back to a habitable condition. 

Water or Fire Extinguisher Cleanup

Repairing damage from water or fire extinguishers costs between $3,000 and $6,000. This includes the cost of drywall repair; drying walls, flooring, and foundations; and removing excess water or fire extinguisher material. This price also covers the cost of dehumidification, which is similar to flood restoration. 

Soot Removal and Cleanup

Removing and cleaning up soot costs between $400 and $1,700, with most people paying around $1,050. Soot removal and cleanup services also include air duct cleaning and deodorizing. Dry soot cleanup prices typically fall on the lower end of the range since it's easier to clean up, while oily soot removal costs more since it smears, adheres to surfaces, and is more time-consuming to remove.

An important note is that soot removal and cleanup don't include stain removal or repairs to drywall, flooring, or furnishings.

Major Repairs

Major repairs cost anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000 per room and consist of fixing structural damage rather than cosmetic issues. You'll need to hire a local structural engineer to assess the damage and devise an action plan to make your home structurally sound and safe. 

Major repairs include replacing windows to repairing foundations, which we list below.

• Cost to replace windows: $300–$2,100

• Cost to repair walls: $360–$1,240

• Cost to repair ceilings: $420–$1,340

• Cost to repair flooring: $200–$580

• Cost of foundation repairs: $2,100–$8,000

• Cost of roof repairs: $400–$1,800

• Cost of HVAC repair: $200–$600

• Cost of rewiring: $12,000–$20,000

• Cost of a kitchen remodel: $13,000–$38,000

• Cost of a bathroom remodel: $7,000–$17,000

Smoke Damage Restoration Costs

Smoke damage restoration costs between $200 and $1,200 per room. Like soot, smoke damage gets worse the longer it's left untreated. Its odor can penetrate clothing, furniture, carpets, and many other items in your home. Removing it requires furniture deodorizing, ozone smoke removal, and a thorough evaluation of your HVAC system.

Furniture and Textile Deodorizing 

Expect to pay between $200 and $1,000 for professional deodorizing of furniture or textiles. Only professional deodorizing can help to get smoke damage—including the smell—out of furniture, carpets, clothing, and other home textiles. 

Thermal fogging is an effective way to eradicate odors. This technique uses chemicals that can reliably remove any odors for good. The size of your home will affect the cost, typically between $200 and $600.

Ozone Smoke Removal

An alternative to thermal fogging is ozone treatment, allowing you to remove and clean the smell even as your fabrics are still drying. Materials can runaround$500 or more, but depending on the extent of the damage, you may only have to pay around$200 to $400 for a full treatment.

Ozone removal requires either purchasing the right equipment or chemical or hiring a cleaner who can go through the process for you. This involves breaking up the smoke molecules, which in turn eliminates the odors. Like thermal fogging, it consists of a machine best used by professionals.

Cigarette Smoke Remediation

Cigarette smoke remediation typically costs about $600 to $2,000 per property. The more rooms requiring odor removal, the more you'll pay. The most common method of cigarette smoke remediation is ozone treatment.

Fire Safety and Preparedness

Add up the costs mentioned above, and the price of repairing your home after a fire can quickly become expensive. However, you can mitigate some of this by preparing in case a fire should arise.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors are available at home improvement stores for less than $10 per unit. On the other hand, a more complex detector can cost between $650 and $950, with additional ongoing fees. 

The earlier you know about a potential fire in your home, the faster you can react—and the more you can prevent significant damage. A fire alarm system can be as simple as a smoke detector or as complex as a connected system that's monitored externally so you can contact the local fire department as soon as you detect danger.

Fire Extinguisher

Expect to pay between $35 and $100 for a home fire extinguisher. Think of a fire extinguisher in your home as your first aid. Ideally, you can use it to curb the fire before it escalates, and you can choose between a wide range of fire extinguishers for your needs. 

Bigger isn’t necessarily better, especially in smaller houses where an industrial-size extinguisher may be difficult to handle. Pay special attention to the chemicals used, some of which may be corrosive and actually increase the damage. Also, proper placement of the extinguisher is vital.

Sprinkler System

On average, U.S. homeowners pay about $1.50 per square foot of coverage for the cost of a home fire sprinkler system. When shopping around, specify that your sprinkler system should be in-house, which differs significantly from its similarly named lawn alternatives.

According to some estimates, a sprinkler system can reduce the destruction a house fire causes by up to 90%. This is because you can immediately spray a budding fire, preventing it from spreading. In short, preparation is the most effective way to save money and your property should it be exposed to a fire. Review our fire preparedness guide for more information.

DIY Fire or Smoke Remediation vs. Hiring a Pro

You need a local fire restoration pro for this job. There are plenty of health hazards left behind in the debris and remnants after a fire, including in the air from the smoke residue. Additionally, structural repair is never a DIY job because it's an extreme risk if done incorrectly. 

On top of being dangerous, attempting fire or smoke restoration yourself will void your home insurance or warranty coverage. Appropriately licensed fire remediation specialists must carry out any fire remediation work.