Water damage drying
Fire & smoke cleanup
Mold remediation
Storm response
Sewage cleanup
ReconstructionFree visual inspection and a written scope of work before any mitigation begins - photos, moisture readings, and drying logs go in your claim file
The scope we write is the scope we bill. Anything new gets shown to you, in writing, before we touch it.
Get your free estimateTrusted Fire Damage Restoration for West Palm Beach Homeowners
Fire damage restoration in West Palm Beach means more than boarding up windows and wiping down walls. It means tracing smoke through your HVAC system, finding water damage hidden under floors after the fire department left, and knowing which materials can be cleaned and which have to go. At Tidemark Water Damage West Palm Beach, we’ve handled fires in 1920s bungalows in Grandview Heights and newer builds out in Riverbridge, and we know the difference between what a surface clean can save and what needs full replacement. You can reach us at (728) 231-8456 any hour of the day or night, and we’ll walk you through what happens next before anyone gets in a truck.
We’ve been doing this work since 2006, as an independently owned and operated part of the Cedarwell Care Promise network. Rick Sumner, who leads our restoration team, built this company around one simple rule: the homeowner gets the written price before work starts, and the same standard applies to every job, whether it’s a small kitchen fire in Palm Springs or a full structure fire in Riviera Beach. When you call, a real person answers, not a voicemail. And by the time the crew pulls up, you already know what it will cost.
Fire Damage Restoration Company
Fire Damage Restoration Company is the phrase we hear most often from homeowners who are standing in a house that smells like smoke and trying to figure out who to trust. It means you need a single team that can handle boarding, water extraction, soot cleanup, odor control, structural assessment, and the final rebuild. Not five different contractors and a handyman. At Tidemark Water Damage West Palm Beach, that’s exactly what we provide across West Palm Beach and the surrounding communities, with IICRC-credentialed technicians who understand fire behavior, smoke travel patterns, and the chemistry of soot on different surfaces.
What a Full-Scope Restoration Covers
Most homeowners don’t realize fire damage runs deeper than what they can see. Smoke particles are microscopic and acidic, which means the clock starts ticking the minute the fire is out. Our team assesses every surface, from the ceiling joists to the carpet padding, and maps out exactly what needs cleaning, what needs sealing, and what needs demo.
Every job starts with a written scope and price, so you’re never guessing what the final invoice looks like. The scope includes the materials we’ll bring in, the timeline, and a cleanup photo before the crew leaves.
Why Local Matters After a Fire
When a fire hits a home in West Palm Beach, the humidity and heat work against you quickly. Smoke residue bonds faster to walls and fabrics in a humid climate, and standing water from firefighting creates mold risk within 48 hours. We’re already here, which means assessment happens fast, drying starts sooner, and we know the local building codes for West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, and Greenacres without needing to research them. For property owners in Greenacres specifically, we provide Fire Damage Restoration - Greenacres.
Restoration work we handle
Smoke Damage Restoration
Smoke Damage Restoration is the process of removing smoke residue and odor from every surface it has touched, and it’s almost always more involved than homeowners expect. Smoke travels up, out, and through wall cavities, following the path of the fire and the building’s airflow. In a West Palm Beach home, that often means smoke has moved through the central air system, behind crown molding, and into closets that were never near the flames. Tidemark Water Damage West Palm Beach handles this with professional-grade equipment from XPOWER and B-Air to air-scrub and dry, along with specialized cleaning agents that break down the acids in soot before they etch into glass, metal, and painted surfaces.
Where Smoke Hides and What We Do
We find smoke in places homeowners never think to look: inside light fixtures, behind outlet covers, under appliance kick plates. Each surface needs a different cleaning method. Glass and metal get cleaned. Painted walls and ceilings often need a chemical sponge treatment followed by sealing. Fabrics and upholstery may need dry cleaning, ozone treatment, or replacement.
The goal is to leave the house smelling neutral, not “clean.” Our technicians test the air and surfaces before we call a job done, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise stays in effect long after we’ve left.
Pet-Safe and Family-Friendly Odor Treatment
Where there’s a choice between treatment options, we choose pet-safe products and lower-decibel equipment settings during school hours and nap time. That’s not an upsell for us. It’s just how we work in homes with kids and pets, which is most of the homes we serve from West Palm Beach out to our Fire Damage Restoration in North Palm Beach.
Fire Damage Repair
Fire Damage Repair is the structural and cosmetic work that returns a burned home to safe, livable condition, and it starts with knowing what can be saved and what cannot. Charred framing may need to be sistered or replaced. Drywall that absorbed heat and smoke usually comes out. Electric wiring that was anywhere near the heat source almost always needs a licensed electrician’s assessment. Tidemark Water Damage West Palm Beach coordinates the full repair, with uniformed crews who protect your floors and pass-through areas before the first piece of material moves.
Materials Testing and Structural Assessment
Before we demo anything, we test. Using moisture meters from Dri-Eaz to check for hidden water saturation and our own visual standards for char depth and smoke penetration, we build a repair plan that keeps the structure sound and the budget predictable. We never remove more than needed, and we never leave something questionable in place to save money on the front end.
West Palm Beach’s older neighborhoods, like Flamingo Park and El Cid, have homes with plaster walls and original hardwoods. We’ve seen how fire affects those materials differently, and we repair accordingly.
Written Scope Before Any Repair Work
Every repair job includes a written price before we start. You’ll see line items for materials, labor, disposal, and any subcontractor work. If something changes mid-job, which happens when you open a wall and find more damage, we bring you the updated number before we proceed. No surprises at the end.
Fire Damage Cleanup
Fire Damage Cleanup is the first phase of recovery: removing debris, sweeping up glass, clearing away charred material, and getting the home stable enough to assess and repair. It starts with protection, not demolition. Shoe covers go on at the door. Drop cloths cover the floor before the first piece of equipment comes through. In West Palm Beach, where many homes have tile and original wood floors, that protection matters because cleanup dust and soot are abrasive and can scratch floors within the first hour.
Debris Removal Without Further Damage
We work in sections, asking before we move or touch anything that might be salvageable. Sentimental items get set aside, cleaned gently, and photographed. We know the difference between a burned tablecloth and a burned family photo album, and we treat both with respect.
Disposal follows local West Palm Beach regulations for fire debris, which is not always just household trash. We sort and remove materials properly, including materials that may contain asbestos in older homes, and handle those through licensed channels.
A Photo of the Cleanup Before We Leave
You’ll get a photo of the cleaned area before the crew departs, so you can see exactly what was done and how it was left. It’s a small habit that makes a big difference when you’re standing in a house that just went through a fire. You know what happened while you were gone.
Smoke Odor Removal
Smoke Odor Removal is often the last thing to get fixed and the first thing homeowners complain about after a fire, because odor is invisible and relentless. It seeps into drywall, carpet, furniture, books, curtains, and insulation, and until it’s properly removed, the house never feels like home again. At Tidemark Water Damage West Palm Beach, we treat odor as a real technical problem, not a “spray some deodorizer” problem. We use air filtration, thermal fogging, and ozone where appropriate, and we seal surfaces that can’t be fully cleaned to trap any remaining odor permanently.
The Science of Smoke Odor
Smoke odor is made of microscopic particles that are still off-gassing. In Florida humidity, those particles stay active longer, which means West Palm Beach homes need more aggressive treatment than a house in a dry climate would. Our B-Air air scrubbers run constantly during cleanup and treatment, pulling those particles out of the air while our cleaning team works surfaces.
When Ozone Is the Right Call
Ozone treatment is powerful but not always appropriate, especially in homes with plants, pets, or food that can’t be moved. We only use it in unoccupied spaces, for a controlled period, followed by ventilation. In West Palm Beach homes where the family needs to stay, we lean on sealing paints and thermal fogging instead. We always explain the tradeoffs before we run anything.
Fire and Water Damage Restoration
Fire and Water Damage Restoration is the combined cleanup that almost every fire requires, because the water used to put out the fire is almost always more destructive than the fire itself in the first 48 hours. Hundreds of gallons pour through the ceiling, soak into flooring and drywall, and begin breeding mold before the fire truck has even left the driveway. Tidemark Water Damage West Palm Beach brings both skill sets to the same job: IICRC-credentialed water damage technicians and fire restoration specialists working one scope, not two competing contractors.
Extraction Before Soot Cleanup
We extract water first. Using Dri-Eaz extractors and Injectidry systems for hard-to-reach cavities, we pull water from carpets, pads, subfloors, and wall bases until moisture meter readings show dry. Then we move to soot and odor. Doing it in the reverse order just pushes soot into wet surfaces where it locks in and stains permanently.
Documentation for Your Insurance Claim
Homeowners in West Palm Beach who file fire claims are already dealing with one crisis. We make the insurance part easier by photographing everything, from standing water to charred studs, and sharing that documentation with your adjuster directly. When your adjuster asks questions, we answer. When they need a written scope, we provide one with the same numbers we gave you.
Soot Removal
Soot Removal is the detailed, surface-by-surface work of lifting the black or gray film that coats everything after a fire, and it’s tedious enough that many contractors rush it. Soot is acidic. On metal, it starts to pit and rust within days. On painted walls, it stains. On plastic and vinyl, it becomes sticky and nearly impossible to remove if left too long. Tidemark Water Damage West Palm Beach treats soot removal as a prioritized task, starting the moment the home is safe to enter, because in West Palm Beach’s humidity, soot sets faster than it does in most places you’ll read about online.
Chemical Sponges, HEPA Vacuums, and Patience
We clean using chemical sponges specially designed to lift soot without smearing it, paired with HEPA vacuums that capture particles rather than redistributing them. Different surfaces require different techniques. Glass gets an acidic cleaner for etching. Wood gets a mild solvent and careful wiping. Fabric and carpet get deep extraction with machines you won’t find at a rental counter.
We don’t paint over soot. No reputable restoration company does. The soot comes off, the surface gets sealed, and only then does primer go on.
Protecting What Isn’t Damaged
Soot travels. It drifts into rooms untouched by the fire and settles into bedding, clothing, and toys. As part of our cleanup, we identify the soot line, the same way we trace water to its tide mark, and clean past it. That includes closets, drawers, and the inside of cabinets. If we leave soot in a room you don’t think about, you’ll smell it for months.
Brands We Service
We work with the equipment that gets the job done right, and we stock parts and accessories for the brands we carry into your home. XPOWER air movers and air scrubbers are standard on our fire and water jobs because they’re reliable, low-profile, and move serious air. We’ve used their axial fans in hundreds of West Palm Beach dry-outs, and our technicians know the settings and maintenance well enough to keep them running through multi-day jobs without a hiccup.
B-Air and Dri-Eaz equipment also ride in our trucks. B-Air’s filtration units are a go-to for smoke odor work, and Dri-Eaz dehumidifiers and moisture meters are the industry standard for confirming a structure is actually dry, not just dry-feeling. Injectidry systems come out for the hard cases: wall cavities, under cabinets, places where a standard fan won’t reach. Whether your damage was caught by a tech with XPOWER, B-Air, Injectidry, or any other brand in the building, we can step in, assess what’s needed, and get it running with the same standards.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Smoke odor that’s stronger at night or when the AC runs. Heat and humidity intensify smoke odor in West Palm Beach homes, especially once the sun goes down and the air gets still. If the smell is stronger when your HVAC cycles on, smoke particles have likely gotten into the ductwork, which is not a surface-level problem.
- Walls or ceilings that feel damp near the fire area. Firefighting water soaks into drywall and insulation, and in this climate, mold starts within two days. A moisture meter will tell you in minutes whether that wall is still wet behind the paint, and whether it needs to come out or can be dried in place.
- Yellowing or staining on paint, plastic, or appliance surfaces within a week of the fire. That’s acid from soot etching into the finish. The longer it sits, the deeper the damage goes. Some of it can be polished out early; after a week or two, those surfaces often need replacement.
- Family members with new coughs, headaches, or irritated eyes after the fire. Smoke particles and off-gassing materials are respiratory irritants, and children and pets are affected first. This is a sign that air quality is still compromised, even if surfaces look clean.
- An insurance adjuster who’s asking for documentation you don’t have. You don’t need to be the expert. Our team documents everything with photos and moisture readings, and we talk to adjusters directly. If you’re getting pushback on your claim, getting a professional scope in writing often changes the conversation.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Call and speak to a person. When you call (728) 231-8456, a live dispatcher answers, even at 3 a.m. We ask the basics: where the fire was, whether the fire department has released the property, and whether water is still running. Then we get a crew moving toward West Palm Beach.
- 2
On-site assessment and protection. Shoe covers go on at the door. Drop cloths go down. We walk the property with you, room by room, marking what gets cleaned, what gets tested, and what gets removed. You get a written scope with a price before any work starts, and you approve it line by line.
- 3
Water extraction and drying. If the fire department left water behind, we extract it with Dri-Eaz equipment and place air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the structure. Moisture meter readings at multiple points guide the process, and we don’t pull equipment until readings confirm the space is dry past the tide mark.
- 4
Soot and smoke removal. Surfaces get cleaned by method: chemical sponge for walls, HEPA vacuum for porous materials, specialized cleaners for metal and glass. Air scrubbers run continuously to pull airborne particles. Sealants lock in any remaining odor before paint or finish work begins.
- 5
Final walkthrough and photo documentation. Before we leave, you get a photo of the cleaned and restored areas. We walk the home together, answer questions, and confirm what’s done and what comes next. The 365-Day Done Right Promise stays with you long after that walkthrough is over.
How Much Does Fire Damage Restoration Cost in West Palm Beach?
Fire damage restoration costs in West Palm Beach depend on how far the fire, smoke, and water traveled. A small contained kitchen fire with light smoke damage typically runs between $2,500 and $6,000 for cleanup, odor treatment, and minor repairs. A larger fire that damaged framing, flooring, and HVAC components can range from $15,000 to $50,000 or more. When water from firefighting efforts is involved, extraction and drying add to the scope and the total.
What drives the number is surface area and material type. Smoke cleanup on drywall costs less than smoke cleanup on original plaster or wood paneling. Ductwork cleaning adds cost if smoke entered the HVAC system. Content cleaning for furniture, clothing, and soft goods adds line items you might not expect. In older West Palm Beach neighborhoods, asbestos testing and lead paint protocols may also add to the cost, and those are not corners to cut.
The best way to avoid overpaying is to get a written scope before work starts and to question any contractor who won’t give you one. A free estimate from us includes the full walkthrough, moisture readings, and a line-item scope with prices. You approve it before we begin, and the price you approve is the price you pay unless we find something new and bring you a written change order first. Call (728) 231-8456 for an exact quote. Estimates are free, and talking to us costs nothing but a few minutes.
Our Service Area Near West Palm Beach
We serve West Palm Beach and the communities around it, from Fire Damage Restoration in Boynton Beach south to Fire Damage Restoration in Jupiter north. Homeowners in Royal Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Westgate, Lake Worth, Palm Springs, Lake Park, and Greenacres can typically expect a crew within 60 to 90 minutes of a call, depending on the time of day. If you’re in the middle of a fire cleanup and need the home team in your corner, we’re close by.
Serving West Palm Beach, FL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the West Palm Beach 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 About Fire Damage Restoration in West Palm Beach
Fire damage restoration is the full process of returning a burned home to safe, clean, livable condition, including debris removal, water extraction, soot cleanup, smoke odor removal, structural repair, and final restoration. A good restoration company in West Palm Beach handles all of it under one scope, with a written price and clear timeline. It’s not a handyman job; it requires specialized equipment, certified technicians, and knowledge of how smoke behaves.
Small fires with light smoke damage can be cleaned and restored in 3 to 7 days. Larger fires involving structural damage, water damage, and full odor treatment typically take 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the scope and whether insurance approvals are required. In West Palm Beach, humidity can slow drying, but proper equipment and a continuous scope keep things moving. We’ll give you a timeline in writing before work begins.
Most fire damage restoration jobs in West Palm Beach run between $2,500 and $50,000 depending on fire size, smoke spread, water damage, and materials. The only way to know your number is to walk the property with a moisture meter and a trained eye. We provide a free written estimate with line items, and you approve the price before any work starts.
Yes. We work in single-family homes, condos, and townhomes across West Palm Beach and nearby communities, and we service restoration and drying equipment from XPOWER, B-Air, Dri-Eaz, and Injectidry. Our technicians are trained on each brand’s operation and maintenance, so if another company left equipment behind that isn’t working right, we can assess and take over.
Yes. Our phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Fire damage doesn’t wait for Monday morning, and water from firefighting doesn’t either. When you call, you’ll speak to a real person who can dispatch a crew to West Palm Beach immediately.
Every job is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the restoration isn’t done right, we make it right, even after the crew has left and the invoice is paid. It’s part of the Cedarwell Care Promise and it applies to every fire, water, and mold job we take in West Palm Beach.
Don’t move anything before we arrive unless it’s wet and spreading damage. We’ll handle protection, documentation, and sorting. The most important thing you can do is gather any insurance policy documents you have and write down questions as they come to you. We’ll walk through everything together, and you’ll see the written scope and price before any work begins.
Schedule Your Fire Damage Restoration Service in West Palm Beach Today
If you’re standing in a house that smells like smoke or staring at water damage from the fire department’s response, call (728) 231-8456 now. A real person will answer, walk you through what to expect, and get a crew headed your way in West Palm Beach. You’ll get a written price before any work starts, and the 365-Day Done Right Promise stands behind everything we do.
Written by Rick Sumner, Owner at Tidemark Water Damage West Palm Beach, serving West Palm Beach and surrounding communities since 2006.