Smoke Stains on Cedar Siding

[GumDestroyer]

I have a customer who had a garage fire. The smoke has billowed out and the cedar siding has been blackened by smoke damage. Likely, some of the siding is damaged due to heat and I will not be a able to clean or improve those areas. So how would you guys tackle this one?
The darkened siding is on the north face of the home only as you see in the pictures and the smoke is not visible on the rest of the exterior siding.

 

[Doug Rucker]

Contact Mark at Easy Clean, 916.638.0828 he sells a product called BT200 that will remove the soot/smok stains. For the siding that is charred you will need to sand or replace depending on how bad the charring is. If they are having a problem with left over smoke odor, then Mark can get you a product called Super Fresh, that will remove the odor in seconds. If you decide to do this, and you get the product form MArk, feel free to call me with any questions and I can give you some instructions too. Both the BT200 and the Super Fresh are certified GREEN so your not going to have to worry about doing any further damage to the cedar.

 

[GumDestroyer]

Excellent Doug! I will contact Mark on Thursday. I assume the product is hand pump sprayed onto the cedar and then washed off with a 40 nozzle? I will call. Thank you

 

[Doug Rucker]

Excellent Doug! I will contact Mark on Thursday. I assume the product is hand pump sprayed onto the cedar and then washed off with a 40 nozzle? I will call. Thank you

Yes and Yes, But I would recommend using a dual lance wand for rinsing and back off the pressure quite a bit, or just use your soap tip for rinsing.

 

[PressurePros]

I would strip, pH balance and restain. It should come out good as new.

 

[GumDestroyer]

Thanks Ken. I will run that by the General Contractor on site as I may not successfully remove the smoke stain without damaging or discoloring the old cedar.

 

[PressurePros]

You are thinking along the correct lines. You will positively destroy that finish with anything strong enough to remove the smoke damage.

 

[GumDestroyer]

Guess what guys? Hot water and the soap nozzle did the trick. That was all. Washed away no problem. The hot water took off some of the old stain with it but that's Ok...customer VERY happy!

 

[PressurePros]

Good job. Always pays to try the easiest route first.. sometimes you get lucky!
Did you get any after pics?

 

[GumDestroyer]

Good job. Always pays to try the easiest route first.. sometimes you get lucky!
Did you get any after pics?

Ken,

I have a couple of rust spots I want to go back and work on...I'll get some pics! Thanks.

 

[Doug Rucker]

Guess what guys? Hot water and the soap nozzle did the trick. That was all. Washed away no problem. The hot water took off some of the old stain with it but that's Ok...customer VERY happy!

FANTASTIC...WAy to go