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Service 06

A method that avoids
making things worse.

Smoke and soot from fire events deposit carbon throughout porous surfaces — stone, brick, metal, timber. Laser cleaning removes soot and surface residues without water, chemicals or abrasion. In many cases the substrate is left dry and unaffected.

Completely dry process No chemical residue Heritage-safe
Smoke and Soot Cleaning Melbourne
The Process

Why laser is the right method after a fire

After a fire, the building is already under stress. Pressure washing saturates masonry, driving moisture into compromised structure and creating long-term damp and mould risk. Chemical stripping introduces new hazardous residues into already-contaminated surfaces. Abrasive blasting removes substrate material along with soot.

Laser cleaning targets the carbon soot deposit — when correctly calibrated by trained operators, the substrate typically receives no mechanical force and no chemical exposure. The surface is left dry and suitable for assessment, coating, or reinstatement in many cases. This makes it a preferred approach for insurance restorers, heritage conservation, post-fire equipment cleaning for industrial facilities, and commercial food premises where chemical contact is not permitted. Industrial facility restoration following electrical or process fires is a common application, returning machinery housings, structural steelwork and plant surfaces to serviceable condition without introducing secondary contamination.

Post-fire restoration on brick, stone and rendered facades
Heritage buildings — no chemicals, no water saturation
Commercial kitchen canopies, ductwork and equipment
Industrial machinery after electrical or process fires
Structural steelwork with smoke and heat discolouration
Bushfire-affected external surfaces and fencing
Timber beams, joinery and decorative metalwork
Suitable Surfaces
Natural stone — bluestone, sandstone, granite
Brick, terracotta and heritage render
Steel, cast iron and structural metalwork
Stainless steel commercial kitchen surfaces
Timber beams and decorative joinery
Memorial and monumental stonework
Insurance work
We work with assessors
We provide written scope-of-work, before/after photography, area measurements and a completion report — everything a claim requires.
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How It Works

From first contact to finished surface

A clear, low-commitment process — you only proceed at each stage if you're satisfied with what's been shown.

01

Send photos and describe the damage

Email or message us a few photos of the affected surface along with a brief description — location, material type, and how the fire or smoke event occurred. This lets us give you an informed response rather than a generic one.

No commitment. Usually same-day response.
02

Free quote and site assessment

We visit the site at no charge, assess the full extent of the damage, and provide a written fixed-price quote. We'll advise honestly if laser cleaning is not the right approach for any part of the job — some surfaces or contamination types are better handled differently.

Fixed-price quote. No surprises.
03

Test patch on the day

Every job begins with a test patch on an inconspicuous area of the affected surface. This confirms the laser settings produce the right result on your specific material before we commit to the full area. You review the patch and approve before we proceed.

You approve before full treatment begins.
04

Full surface treatment

We treat the full affected area systematically, adjusting parameters across different materials and contamination depths as required. The equipment is mobile — we work on-site with no need to remove or transport components. Most small commercial and industrial jobs are completed in a single visit.

Mobile. On-site. Typically single visit.
05

Before/after documentation provided

On completion we provide calibrated before and after photographs, a written scope-of-work record, and a completion report. This is suitable for insurance claim files, heritage works records, or your own property documentation. No extra charge.

Included. Suitable for insurance claims.
Results

Before & After

Sandstone wall after laser soot removal
Sandstone wall before — heavy soot damage
Before
After

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Common Questions

Questions about smoke & soot cleaning

In many cases, yes — particularly when compared to pressure washing or chemical stripping on a fire-weakened building. The process is entirely dry, which means no moisture is introduced to compromised masonry or timber. When calibrated correctly by a trained operator, the laser targets the surface soot layer without mechanical force or chemical exposure to the substrate. We always complete a test patch first on a representative area to confirm compatibility and expected result before treating the full surface.
In many cases, yes. Laser cleaning produces no chemical residue, making it suitable for food-contact and food-adjacent surfaces where chemical strippers cannot be used. We can clean canopies, extraction ductwork, equipment housings and kitchen steelwork. As no neutralising or rinsing agents are introduced, the surface is typically ready for reinspection — though final sign-off always rests with your food safety authority.
Yes. We regularly work alongside loss adjusters, insurance assessors and restoration contractors. We can provide a detailed written scope of work, surface area measurements, calibrated before and after photography, and a completion report — everything a claim file requires. We're also happy to liaise directly with your assessor if that's helpful.
Laser cleaning is widely accepted by conservation authorities for heritage stonework and is frequently preferred where chemical use is restricted — in some cases it is the only method permitted on listed buildings. We have experience on heritage-listed properties across Melbourne and can provide a method statement to support Heritage Victoria or local council permit applications. Always confirm with your council before commencing works.
Laser cleaning removes deposited carbon soot from solid surfaces — and since surface soot contributes to residual smoke odour on hard materials, its removal can help reduce smoke odours. Results vary depending on how deeply contamination has penetrated. For odour that has penetrated soft furnishings, cavities or ventilation systems, we recommend pairing our service with specialist odour remediation or ozone treatment. We can refer you to appropriate contractors for a complete remediation approach.
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Ready for a precise result?

Tell us about your surface. We'll quote, schedule, and deliver — test patch first, every time.