Trusted Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration for Atlanta Homeowners
Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Atlanta typically costs between $2,500 and $12,000 depending on the size of the burn, smoke spread, and whether structural repair is needed. Most jobs in the metro area can get a crew on-site within 60 to 90 minutes of your call, and board-up happens the same day, often within hours. If you’re standing in a house that smells like an electrical fire or watching soot settle into your drywall, call Wade’s Restoration at (888) 690-3757 right now. Wade Ferris has been cleaning up after fires in Atlanta since 2007, and he still answers his own phone.
We’re not a national call center. We’re a local, owner-operated restoration company out of Atlanta, and that matters when your house smells like smoke at 11 o’clock on a Tuesday night. Wade Ferris put his name on the truck, published his address, and backs every single fire job with a written 90-Day Done Right Promise. If it isn’t done right, he makes it right. One call brings him back. That’s the deal, in writing, on every fire restoration contract we hand you.
What Our Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Service Includes
Every fire leaves behind more than what burned. Smoke drifts into rooms the flames never touched, soot packs into vents and carpets, and that smell settles into anything porous. Our job is to get your house back to where it was before the fire, not just patch the visible damage and call it done. Here’s what that means when we show up.
Fire Damage Cleanup
Fire damage cleanup starts with removing the debris the fire left behind: charred drywall, burned framing, ruined insulation, anything that’s too far gone to save. We also cut out wet materials if the fire department had to run water, because wet drywall behind a wall will grow mold inside a week. Wade’s Restoration of Atlanta brings commercial-grade air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums to pull fine ash out of the air while we work, so you’re not breathing that stuff while we clean. The goal is a house that’s structurally safe and clean enough to start rebuilding, not a cosmetic wipe-down.
Smoke & Soot Removal
Soot is acidic. Left on metal surfaces, it corrodes. Left on painted walls, it stains through new paint and shows up again months later as ghost marks. We clean soot from every surface it landed on using the right technique for each material, because scrubbing a painted wall wrong turns a stain into a permanent smear. Wade’s crew has removed soot from Atlanta homes where an oven fire left black residue across three rooms even though the flames never left the kitchen. This step matters more than most homeowners realize at first glance.
Odor Removal & Deodorization
Smoke odor lives in places you can’t see: inside ductwork, behind baseboards, in the fibers of your carpet and the pages of your books. Opening windows doesn’t touch it. We use thermal fogging, ozone treatment, and hydroxyl generators, the same professional-grade equipment used on hotel fires, to neutralize odor at the source instead of masking it with air freshener. In older Atlanta homes with plaster walls and real wood floors, we often find the smell trapped in the wall cavities themselves. Surface spray won’t fix that. We get into the cavities and treat them properly.
Contents Cleaning & Pack-Out
When a fire hits, the stuff you own is half the loss. Clothes, dishes, tools, photo albums, furniture. We pack out what’s salvageable, take it to our cleaning facility, and use ultrasonic cleaning and dry cleaning methods that get smoke out of things you’d assume were gone. That means your grandmother’s china, your kids’ stuffed animals, your work clothes. We document everything with photos and a written inventory before anything moves, because your adjuster will need that list. If the damage is severe enough that we need to take your belongings off-site, you’ll know exactly where everything is and when it’s coming back.
Emergency Board-Up & Tarping
If the fire burned through a wall or the fire department broke a window getting in, your house is open to Atlanta weather, animals, and anyone walking by. We board up openings with plywood and secure tarps over the roof the same day we get the call. This is time-sensitive work: an open roof after a fire means the next rainstorm turns a fire claim into a water damage claim on top of it. Wade has done board-up jobs across Atlanta where the homeowner called at 9 p.m. and the opening was sealed before midnight, part of our 24 Hour Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Atlanta, GA. Same-day board-up is standard for us, not a premium add-on.
Structural Fire Repair
After the cleanup and the pack-out, the actual rebuilding begins. That means framing, drywall, flooring, roof repair, electrical, plumbing, trim work, paint, the whole thing. We handle structural fire repair in-house with the same crew that did the cleanup, so there’s no handoff to a subcontractor you’ve never met. This is also where the written scope matters most: before any reconstruction starts, you get a line-by-line written scope of work and a price. You agree to it before we swing a hammer. No surprise change orders. No “we found more damage” phone call that doubles the bill. If we find something unexpected, we document it, we show you, and we put the updated scope in writing before proceeding.
What happens when you call
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A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
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You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
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A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
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You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service for Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration
We run Dri-Eaz and Phoenix equipment on every fire job we do in Atlanta. Dri-Eaz air scrubbers and HEPA filters are the workhorses for pulling soot and ash particulate out of the air, and their dehumidifiers handle the water that inevitably follows a fire department hose. Phoenix makes the thermal foggers and hydroxyl generators we rely on for odor removal, especially in tight attic spaces and crawlspaces where smoke loves to pool. We’ve run this gear across hundreds of fire restoration jobs, and we know how to set it up for Atlanta’s humidity, which changes how fast you can dry a structure and how aggressively you need to treat odor. XPOWER axial fans move air through burned rooms quickly, which matters when you’re pushing smoke out and pulling clean air in.
The point isn’t the brand name on the machine. The point is that the machine is commercial-grade and the person running it knows how to use it on a fire job, not just a water job. Whether you’ve got a smoke-damaged condo in Midtown or a kitchen fire in a historic Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration - Druid Hills bungalow, the equipment and the crew show up ready. If you own a system we didn’t mention, don’t worry. The restore process works the same way across every reasonable setup, and Wade’s crew is cross-trained on what’s current. Call us and we’ll tell you straight what we’d do.
Signs You Need Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Right Now
- You smell smoke days after the fire, even with the windows open. Smoke odor that lingers means soot particles and volatile compounds are trapped in porous materials: drywall, carpet pad, ductwork, ceiling insulation. If you can still smell it after a week of airing out the house, you’ve got a problem that surface cleaning won’t fix and the longer it sits, the harder it is to get out.
- There’s soot staining on walls or ceilings that won’t wipe off. Soot bonds to paint and drywall and turns into permanent staining when left alone. Wiping it with a damp rag can smear it and drive the stain deeper, which makes restoration more expensive later. Proper soot removal uses dry cleaning sponges and specific techniques per surface, not elbow grease.
- Metal surfaces are starting to corrode or tarnish. Soot is acidic, and when it lands on metal, like appliances, door hinges, light fixtures, or HVAC components, it starts eating into the finish fast. In Atlanta’s humid summers, that corrosion moves even faster. Corroded metal parts inside your HVAC system are a particularly expensive repair if you wait too long.
- Your insurance adjuster told you to get a restoration company out for an estimate. That’s not a suggestion. Adjusters often require a professional fire restoration assessment before they’ll release funds, and a delay between the fire and the assessment can complicate your claim. A written scope from a licensed restoration company is your documentation, and it protects you from lowball estimates that don’t cover the actual work needed.
- The fire department used water or foam inside the house. Anywhere water or firefighting foam soaked into drywall, insulation, or flooring, you’re now looking at a combined fire and water damage situation. Wet drywall left inside a wall cavity will grow mold within days, especially in Atlanta’s heat. You need fire restoration that also handles the water side, with moisture readings and drying logs, not a one-truck operation that only tackles the burned part.
Our Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Process - Step by Step
Here’s exactly how a typical fire restoration job goes with Wade’s Restoration of Atlanta, from the first call to the final walkthrough. We lay this out up front so you know what to expect before any work starts.
Step 1: Emergency Board-Up and Stabilization
We get to your house, assess what’s open to the elements, and board up windows, doors, and roof penetrations the same day. If the fire department had to cut a hole in the roof, we tarp it before the next rain. This step protects your house from weather, animals, and opportunistic break-ins while the restoration work gets organized. We photograph everything before we touch it, which protects your claim later.
Step 2: Damage Assessment and Written Scope
Wade walks every room with you, or with your adjuster on the phone, and points out exactly what he sees: what’s salvageable, what’s not, what needs testing, what needs replacing. You get a written scope of work with line items and pricing before anything else happens. If your insurance company has their own estimate, we’ll sit down with it and show you where it covers the real work and where it doesn’t. That’s the free second opinion we offer on any written estimate, no charge.
Step 3: Water Extraction and Structural Drying
If the fire was fought with water, we extract standing water and set up drying equipment, usually Dri-Eaz or Phoenix units, with moisture readings taken daily. You get the full moisture log at the end of the job. Almost nobody in this trade hands over the daily readings. Wade does, because you should see the evidence that your walls are actually dry and not just dry on the surface while mold grows behind them.
Step 4: Soot and Smoke Cleanup, Odor Treatment
We clean soot from every surface it touched, remove smoke-damaged materials that can’t be saved, and treat the structure with thermal fogging, ozone, or hydroxyl generators depending on the situation. Contents that can be salvaged get packed out, inventoried, and cleaned off-site. The goal is a house that doesn’t smell like smoke and isn’t leaving soot marks on your hands when you touch a wall.
Step 5: Structural Repair and Final Walkthrough
We rebuild what was torn out: framing, drywall, insulation, flooring, paint, trim, whatever the fire destroyed. The same crew that did the cleanup does the rebuild, so nobody new shows up halfway through and has to guess what happened. At the end, Wade walks the house with you, room by room, and you don’t sign off until you’re satisfied. Then the 90-Day Done Right Promise kicks in: if anything isn’t right within 90 days, you call Wade and he makes it right. No hoops, no arguing about the contract.
How Much Does Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Cost in Atlanta?
A small kitchen fire with limited smoke damage in Atlanta typically runs between $2,500 and $5,000 for cleanup, soot removal, and odor treatment. A fire that burned through multiple rooms, soaked the house in smoke, and requires structural rebuild usually lands between $8,000 and $25,000. A whole-house fire with major structural damage can go well beyond that. What drives the price: square footage of affected area, how far smoke traveled, whether water from the fire department soaked into walls and floors, how much contents cleaning is needed, and whether any framing or structural members need replacement.
Here’s what you’re generally looking at in the Atlanta market:
- Soot and smoke cleanup only (one room): $800-$2,000
- Odor removal and deodorization (whole house): $1,500-$4,000
- Contents cleaning and pack-out: $1,000-$6,000 depending on volume
- Emergency board-up and tarping: $400-$1,200 same day
- Structural fire repair (per room): $3,000-$10,000 depending on extent
The Best Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Atlanta, GA way to avoid overpaying is to get a written scope before work starts and ask for a free second opinion on any estimate your insurer or another company gives you. We offer that at no charge, and we’ll look at a written estimate line by line. Our estimates are free, and there’s no trip charge inside our own county. Call (888) 690-3757 and Wade will come out, look at the damage, and tell you what it honestly costs to fix.
Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Near Atlanta - Our Service Area
Wade’s Restoration is based in Atlanta and handles fire and smoke damage restoration across the metro area. We work regularly in Vinings, Smyrna, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Marietta, Mableton, North Atlanta, Druid Hills, North Druid Hills, Austell, and Fair Oaks. Most calls inside our county get a crew on-site within an hour. If you’re a few miles out, expect maybe 90 minutes. Wade answers his own phone at (888) 690-3757, day or night, and he’ll tell you straight how fast he can be there. For an overview of everything we do, start at our home page or see our full Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Atlanta service details.
Serving Atlanta, GA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Atlanta area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration in Atlanta
Fire and smoke damage restoration is the process of cleaning, repairing, and rebuilding a home after a fire, including soot removal, odor elimination, water extraction from firefighting efforts, contents cleaning, and structural repair. It is not just wiping down surfaces; it involves treating the entire affected structure so smoke residue and odor don’t persist or cause long-term damage. In Atlanta, restoration work also has to account for the humidity, which can accelerate corrosion and mold growth if water from the fire department isn’t dried properly. Wade’s Restoration handles the full scope from emergency board-up to final paint.
Most fire restoration jobs in Atlanta take between one week and three weeks for cleanup, odor treatment, and drying. If structural rebuild is needed, the total timeline can extend to four to eight weeks depending on the extent of the fire damage and how much of the framing and systems need replacement. Board-up and emergency stabilization happen the same day you call. Wade gives you a written timeline as part of the scope of work, and he updates you in real time if anything changes. Call (888) 690-3757 to get a realistic timeline for your specific situation.
Fire and smoke damage restoration in Atlanta typically costs between $2,500 and $25,000 depending on the size of the fire, smoke spread, water damage from firefighting, and the extent of structural repair needed. A small kitchen fire with limited smoke cleanup might land around $3,000, while a multi-room fire with rebuild work can reach $15,000 or more. Your final number depends on square footage, materials, and how far smoke traveled through the ductwork and wall cavities. We give free written estimates with line-item pricing before any work starts, and we’ll review any other estimate you’ve received at no charge.
Yes, Wade deals with your insurance adjuster directly, so you are not stuck relaying information between the restoration crew and your insurer. We document everything with photos, moisture logs, and written scopes, and we submit that documentation straight to your adjuster to support your claim. If there’s a coverage question or a dispute about scope, Wade’s on the phone with them, not you. Call us at (888) 690-3757 after a fire and we’ll help you navigate the claim from day one.
Yes, Wade answers his own phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and can usually have a crew on-site in Atlanta within 60 to 90 minutes of your call. Board-up and tarping happen the same day, often within hours, because an open roof or broken window after a fire becomes a bigger problem fast. If you call at 2 a.m., you get Wade, not an answering service. He’ll tell you what to do until he gets there and when to expect him.
Every fire restoration job we do in Atlanta is covered by our 90-Day Done Right Promise, in writing. If it isn’t done right, we make it right, no argument, no charge. One call brings Wade back, and he’ll stay until the issue is resolved. We also stand behind the drying work with daily moisture readings documented and handed to you at the end of the job, so you have proof of what was done and when.
Don’t touch anything, don’t wipe soot off surfaces, and don’t run your HVAC system, since that spreads soot through the ducts. Take photos of everything for your own records if it’s safe to walk through, and call your insurance company to start the claim. Then call Wade’s Restoration at (888) 690-3757 and we’ll walk you through the next steps, including board-up, assessment, and what to do about your belongings. Keep pets and kids away from the affected area until we’ve cleared it as safe.
Schedule Your Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Service in Atlanta Today
A fire in your house is not something you want to handle alone, and you don’t have to. Call (888) 690-3757 right now and you’ll get Wade Ferris on the line, not a call center. He’ll answer your questions, tell you honestly what he thinks needs to happen, and give you a free, no-obligation estimate with a written scope before any work starts. We’re in Atlanta, we’re local, and we answer the phone 24/7.
Written by Wade Ferris, Owner at Wade’s Restoration of Atlanta, serving Atlanta and surrounding communities since 2007.