Fire DamageRestoration

Kitchen or limited smoke jobs often run $3,000-$15,000. Structural fires with board-up, soot cleaning, odor treatment, and rebuild commonly reach $15,000-$50,000 depending on square footage and contents. Puffback (oil-furnace) cleanups are usually smaller than a room-and-contents fire but still need professional soot chemistry, not household cleaners. We itemize emergency, cleaning, and reconstruction so the insurance estimate is readable.

Standard homeowners policies typically cover fire, smoke, and firefighting water. We document soot patterns, moisture from hose lines, and contents inventories, and we speak with adjusters on Greater Rochester losses every week.

Restoration is emergency, cleaning, deodorization, and drying. Reconstruction rebuilds what cannot be cleaned: framing, drywall, roofing, finishes. We run both so Rochester homeowners are not handed off mid-claim.

Wait for the fire department to clear the building. Do not wipe soot: it smears and etches. Call your insurer, then 585-501-3606 for board-up, tarping, and water extraction from firefighting. Photograph conditions before contents are moved. Stay out of rooms with compromised ceilings.

Yes, when the residue is cleaned and the HVAC is addressed. Thermal fogging, hydroxyl or ozone (when the building is vacant and appropriate), and packing out porous contents beat painting over smell. Puffbacks leave oily film that household products spread rather than remove.

Limited smoke: about 1-2 weeks. Structural fires: often 2-6 months including rebuild and contents return. Board-up and water mitigation start the same day. We issue a phase timeline after the first walkthrough.