THE CRITICAL CONTROL DIFFERENCE
When disaster strikes and your life gets turned upside down, Critical Control responds immediately. We get called for the toughest, dirtiest and most technically challenging jobs that other companies walk away from. Our mission is to get you back into your property or operating your business as quickly as possible and on a predictable timeline. From dependable start times to handling your insurance claims to dedicated project managers, our approach makes a critical diffence to your successful disaster recovery.
CRITICAL
CONTROL’S 3
S’s
SOURCE
SOOT
SMOKE
At Critical Control we call them the 3 ‘S’s. In order to properly remediate fire damage we target these 3 agents in a property.
We first remove Source – where the fire first originated as well as materials like insulation and mattresses that hold smoke odor like a sponge.
Next come Soot and Smoke. These particulates are carcinogenic and hazardous to health. They carry strong odors and coat all surfaces as they spread. We use a combination of HEPA air scrubbers and hydroxyls to destroy the particulates and purify the air This is paired with thorough, targeted cleaning of all surfaces using specialized solvents, cellular sponges, etc
WHY THE BAY AREA CHOOSES CRITICAL CONTROL
PAINLESS
You’ve gotten sucked into this world of insurance claims, adjusters, mitigation process and industry lingo. This isn’t most people’s world, and it’s easy to feel like you’ve lost your footing. With our extensive experience and breadth of knowledge, we have reps dedicated to advocating for you on your claim so that you get the coverage and support you deserve from your insurance.
SPEED
We have teams on standby at all times. So when a disaster strikes, we are ready. Our national response team can deploy within 4 hours of notification, bringing with us semi-trailers full of equipment and mobile response units.
TRANSPARENCY
Unlike companies that will keep you on their waitlist for weeks, we are upfront and honest about when we will be able to help you. If we are backlogged, we’ll let you know so that you can have a better shot with another company who may be able to help sooner.
ONE STOP SHOP
From start to stop. From initial mitigation to reconstruction we can be your one point of contact, eliminating the stress of having to transition and coordinate with multiple parties.
EXPERIENCE
Our teams have over 120 years of combined experience in disaster work. With state of the art equipment and processes, we tackle some of the most complex and challenging projects across the country. Our projects range from multi-story hotels, casinos, wineries, resorts, 100+ unit apartment complexes and office buildings as well as residential disasters.
REPUTATION
There’s a reason people trust us. We’ve earned it. Between our 5 star ratings on Google, Yelp, A+ BBB accreditation and hundreds of insurance adjusters, property managers and building owners that rely on us when they are most in need, Critical Control makes it a point to show up when you need us most.
SMOKE DAMAGE RESTORATION
If your home or building has been damaged by smoke, you know that no amount of opening windows and wiping down visible surfaces will suffice to restore it to pre-damaged condition. Our team of experts understands that smoke can penetrate the deepest layers of your home. In addition to the foul odor, smoke residue can stain and corrode surfaces quickly. It’s important to call in smoke restoration experts immediately to try to mitigate as much damage as possible. Our team is available 24/7 to respond to this urgent issue.
HOW SMOKE DOES DAMAGE
Smoke is highly corrosive and some combusted materials like plastic and metal, for example, can leave toxic residue and chemicals filmed onto surfaces and lingering in the air. Acidic residue can cause plastics and porous materials like tile, marble, and grout, to yellow or discolor permanently if not dealt with very quickly. Further, smoke and soot can quickly get into every porous material in a building, settling into the carpet, the furniture, the fiber insulation, and even the very walls of a building. This smoke and soot residue will not only eventually ruin everything it touches, but it is also extremely toxic to breathe.
WHAT TO DO AFTER SMOKE DAMAGE
Even if your home or building hasn’t had direct damage from fire, or even if the fire damage is minimal, smoke and soot alone can do serious corrosive damage and pose an equally serious health hazard. In any case, the following steps should be taken and precautions adhered to:
Call Critical Control to come out as soon as possible. Time is of the essence and the sooner help arrives, the more likely we will be able to salvage your belongings and materials.
If it has been determined that it is safe to re-enter your home, wear a ventilator or mask. While waiting for restoration experts to show up, open all of your windows and turn on some fans if you’re able.
Call your insurance company to report the damage as soon as possible. Part of our service to you is to help you through the insurance process to facilitate your claim going smoothly.
WHAT DOES THE CLEANUP AND RESTORATION PROCESS ENTAIL?
Each situation is different and we can address virtually any scenario. But here is some of the most common work that smoke damage entails:
Immediately clean soot from porous surfaces This is important because some materials corrode and are stained more quickly than others. We will immediately address the most urgent materials and surfaces first, using specially designed professional-grade smoke and soot-removing products. If dealt with quickly enough, expensive granite, tile, grout, and even plastics, may be salvaged.
Determine and remove items and materials which are deemed a loss and those which can be salvaged and restored off-site. Materials and items that are too far gone to be salvaged will be removed from the premises and disposed of quickly since they are a source of odor that contaminates other materials. Likewise, items that can be restored off-site will be taken to another location, cleaned, deodorized, and restored. These may include items such as:
- Fabric furniture like sofas and chairs
- Curtains and other fabrics like linens, pillows, and cushions
- Rugs and carpets
- Books
Repair and replace The bulk of the work done involves removing and replacing unsalvageable materials and repairing and possibly sealing those which may be salvaged. This may include:
- Carpeting
- Insulation
- Drywall
- Framing
If your structure was also damaged by fire, we may need to replace certain structural elements to make the home safe to inhabit.
Deodorize, In order to completely remove any lingering smoke odor, a thermal fogger, and/or ozone treatment, may be used along with deodorizers to completely remove any lingering smells. We also use commercial air-movers to ensure no lingering pockets of the smoke odor.
The Critical Control Family
Critical Control is a truly passionate team and a family dedicated to providing homegrown, local service. We are not a big national company with an impersonal presence. We began as a Sonoma County business and are proud of our North Bay roots. Although we are the fastest gowning remediation company in the area, we keep personal, one-on-one attention on your project as our top priority just as we always have.
WHAT WE DO AFTER SMOKE DAMAGE
Initial
Call
Initial Call
With wildfires happening so often in our area and affecting so many properties at once, we advise our clients to call in as soon as you can so that we can get to you promptly. Our friendly team members can talk you through next steps, tips and strategies on how to deal with insurance and get someone out to evaluate your property.
Inspection
and Assessment
Inspection and Assessment
Our trained and certified team will come out to your property to assess, document damage and advise you of next steps.
Working with
Insurance
Working with Insurance
Thanks to our extensive industry experience, one of the unique benefits we offer our clients is having our team work on your behalf to get your claim approved through insurance. By hopping on phone calls, providing necessary documentation, etc. claims that we help push through have been approved on average 12 days faster than a property owner doing this alone. That means getting you back into your property a whole lot faster.
Onsite Project
Manager Arrives
Onsite Project Manager Arrives
There’s a lot of moving parts that go into smoke remediation. You’ll be teamed up with a dedicated project manager at this point and they will walk you through the next steps as well as coordinating the crews, equipment, etc. to keep your project on track so that you can get back to normal quickly.
Neutralizing
Smoke Damage
Neutralizing Smoke Damage
Our biggest goal when it comes to smoke damage is to neutralize the degenerative effects of smoke damage as soon as possible. Smoke particulates are carcinogenic and harmful to health. We set up state-of-the-art hydroxyl machines to start neutralizing the smoke as well as HEPA air scrubbers with charcoal filters to purify and clear the air in your property.
Remediation
Remediation
Our team starts remediating the entirety of your property. Our teams are incredibly thorough and can remediate everything from ceilings, walls and floors to contents and personal items if necessary. Items that are non-salvageable are documented and removed at this point with your permission.
Exterior
Cleaning
Exterior Cleaning
Unique to our industry, our specialized exterior teams are able to help with remediation of the outside of your property. We work in a top down approach, removing ash and soot from roof shingles to gutters, cleaning the walls and then walkways, windows and screens so that you aren’t bringing in more particulates from the outside. Since smoke and ash are corrosive this is a great preventative step to minimize lasting damage to your property.
Going Over
Proprietary Punchlist
Going Over Proprietary Punchlist
We go the extra mile, checking and replacing items such as air filters throughout your property, cleaning the air ducts and testing insulation for smoke damage.
Final
Walkthrough
Final Walkthrough
We pride ourselves in the quality of our work and we stand behind it. Our team does a final walkthrough with you showing you our thoroughness and ensuring that you are satisfied with our work. Welcome back!
TOP RATED SERVICE IN THE NORTH BAY
RELIABILITY AND CONSISTENCY
There’s a reason people trust us. We’ve earned it. Between our 5 star ratings on Google, Yelp, A+ BBB accreditation and hundreds of insurance adjusters, property managers and building owners that rely on us when they are most in need, you can rest assured your project is in the best hands possible.
