Restoration Painting • Houston TX
Fire & Smoke Damage Painting
After a fire, the smell is often worse than the stains. We clean soot, seal walls and ceilings with shellac-based primer and repaint so the odor stays sealed. Get a free instant quote.
Executive Summary: Fire & Smoke Damage Painting Houston
Fire and smoke damage painting in Houston cleans soot, seals smoke odor and stains, then repaints walls, ceilings, trim and cabinets after a fire.
The system is smoke sealer + primer + 2 finish coats. Smoke-damage repaints usually take an estimated 2 to 7 days with a 3 to 6 person crew. The repaint is priced like interior work at $3 to $7 per square foot of wall, plus drywall repair at $150 to $2,000 (estimates derived from Houston interior pricing).
Painting waits until smoke residue is cleaned off and surfaces are sound. Painting is not mold remediation or structural repair.
Typical Houston Projects
Three common fire and smoke jobs and how we scope them. These are typical scopes, not past projects.
Example scope: Kitchen fire, Bellaire (77401)
What to expect: about 3 to 5 days (estimate); expect $3 to $7 per sq ft of wall at typical Houston interior pricing.
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Project Size: kitchen, breakfast area and connected hallway
Neighborhood: Bellaire (77401)
Service: Fire & Smoke Damage Painting
System: soot cleaning + shellac-based sealer + 2 finish coats, cabinet enamel
The Problem: soot on the ceiling and yellowing that bleeds through regular primer
The Solution: clean soot, seal ceilings and walls with Zinsser BIN, repaint, then enamel the cabinets
Example scope: Whole-house smoke odor, Spring Branch (77080)
What to expect: about 5 to 7 days (estimate), with Houston interior pricing usually at $3 to $7 per sq ft of wall.
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Project Size: single-story home, about 2,000 sq ft
Neighborhood: Spring Branch (77080)
Service: Fire & Smoke Damage Painting
System: odor-blocking sealer, 2 sealer coats on the worst rooms + 2 finish coats
The Problem: smoke odor embedded in drywall in rooms with no visible damage
The Solution: seal every affected room, two sealer coats where smoke was heaviest, then 2 finish coats
Example scope: Exterior scorch and soot, Katy (77494)
What to expect: about 2 to 3 days (estimate), typically $3 to $7 per sq ft plus drywall or siding repairs priced separately.
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Project Size: garage side of a two-story home
Neighborhood: Katy (77494)
Service: Fire & Smoke Damage Painting
System: wash, primer + 2 coats of exterior acrylic
The Problem: soot and scorch marks on siding and soffits after a garage fire
The Solution: clean soot, replace damaged boards through the repair crew, prime and repaint
Stop Letting Fading & Damage Hurt Your Property Value
Smoke odor that keeps coming back
Smoke soaks into drywall and wood, and regular paint does not stop it. A shellac-based primer seals the odor before the finish coats.
Yellowing that bleeds through
Smoke stains show through latex primer within days. We clean the soot and seal with Zinsser BIN first. Burned drywall gets replaced as Drywall Repair Houston TX.
Heat-damaged cabinets and trim
Blistered paint and soot on cabinets and built-ins need cleaning, sanding and sealing before enamel. See Cabinet Painting Houston TX for the finish system.
Schedule a Walkthrough
We walk every room with you, note soot, odor and heat damage, and confirm what the restoration crew has finished. You keep the written scope and every photo.
Our Process: Done Right the First Time
- 1Detailed Estimate & Color ConsultationWe walk the home with you after the restoration crew is done, confirm colors and list every surface. A written scope with photos comes with the estimate.
- 2Expert Prep & PaintingSoot gets cleaned off, then walls, ceilings and trim get a shellac-based sealer. Two finish coats go on, with cabinets and trim enamel last.
- 3Final Walkthrough & Clean-UpYou walk each room with the crew lead and check for odor and touch-ups. Debris and covers go with us, and the after photos are added to your file.
What to Expect: Your Project Timeline
| Stage | When | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Estimate & booking | After restoration crew | Walkthrough, written scope, photos and schedule |
| Prep day | Day 1 | Soot cleaning, masking, sanding blistered paint |
| Paint application | Day 2 to Day 6 | Sealer coat or coats, then 2 finish coats, cabinets and trim last |
| Dry & walkthrough | Final day | Walkthrough, odor check and touch-ups |
| Curing | First few weeks | Paint keeps hardening; keep rooms ventilated |
These are estimates. Heavy smoke that needs a second sealer coat can add a day.
The Right Time to Schedule Fire & Smoke Damage Painting Houston
The restoration crew has finished cleanup.
Call once soot removal and drywall replacement are done. Booking the walkthrough early keeps your dates close to theirs.
The house still smells like smoke.
Odor after cleaning means the walls need a sealer under the paint. A shellac-based primer is the fix.
The outside has soot or scorch marks.
Exterior siding and soffits get cleaned and repainted too. See Exterior Painting Houston TX.
After the Restoration Crew
Restoration painting runs year-round. We schedule around your restoration crew so there is no gap between their work and ours.
The Henry Contractor Difference
No hidden fees
Your written scope lists every room, sealer coat and finish coat with an itemized price. Photos document the work.
Local Houston crews
Local Houston crews coordinate with your restoration and drywall crews so the handoff has no gaps.
Prep done by the book
Clean soot, seal with shellac-based primer, then paint. Nothing gets painted over soot.
Transparent Pricing for Fire & Smoke Damage Painting Houston
| What Affects the Cost | Standard vs. Premium | Hidden Costs to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and size: rooms, ceilings, cabinets and any exterior walls | Standard uses low-VOC latex over a shellac sealer; premium adds high-hide finish coats | Exterior soot and scorch areas are priced separately |
| Damage and labor: soot level, odor, heat blistering | Standard uses one sealer coat; heavy smoke gets two full sealer coats | Expect $150 to $2,000 for drywall repair (estimate) |
| Occupancy and extras: furniture, cabinets, built-ins | Standard covers walls, ceilings and trim; premium adds cabinet enamel | Rooms stay ventilated while shellac primer dries |
Typical range (estimate), derived from Houston interior pricing: $3 to $7 per square foot of wall, plus drywall repair at $150 to $2,000. Your written estimate after an on-site walkthrough sets the exact price.
Get an Exact Number
Smoke spreads further than it looks. We check every room for odor and staining before pricing in writing.
Fire & Smoke Damage Painting Houston vs. DIY vs. Cheap Labor
| Feature | Henry Contractor | DIY | Cheap Labor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prep Work Quality | Soot cleaning and shellac-based sealer before 2 coats | Latex primer over soot | Sealer skipped |
| Time Investment | An estimated 2 to 7 days, room by room | Weeks of evenings | Fast, odor comes back |
| Material Quality | Zinsser BIN or odor-blocking primer, low-VOC finish | Regular primer that lets smoke stains bleed back | Cheap primer that lets stains bleed |
| Clean-Up Process | Covers, cleanup and after photos | Soot tracked through the house | Clean-up often missed |
| Pricing Transparency | Itemized written scope with photos | Supplies and rentals add up | Low quote, no documentation |
Who We Partner With
Distressed Homeowners
You want the house to look and smell like home again. We start once the cleanup crew is done and keep you posted.
Restoration Coordinators
You need a painter who follows your crew without gaps. We schedule to your handoff.
Property Managers
You need units back in service. We repaint to the standard on Residential Homes Interior Painting once surfaces are sealed.
Proudly Serving Greater Houston
We proudly provide professional painting services to homeowners and businesses throughout the Greater Houston area, including: The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Cypress, Memorial, and surrounding neighborhoods.
We repaint after fire and smoke damage across Houston, including Bellaire (77401), Spring Branch (77080), Katy (77494) and homes along the Buffalo, Brays, White Oak and Sims Bayou corridors.
Water-damage repainting and other restoration work are on the Restoration Painting Houston TX page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we do paint over smoke damage, but only after soot is cleaned off and the surface is sealed. A shellac-based primer such as Zinsser BIN seals smoke odor and staining before two finish coats. Skipping the sealing step lets the smell and yellowing bleed back through.
Light smoke on a single wall is a smaller job. A whole-house fire needs every affected surface cleaned and sealed, including rooms that look clean.
The short answer is about $3 to $7 per square foot of wall for the repaint, plus drywall repairs that often run $150 to $2,000, based on typical Houston interior pricing. Damage severity, room count and extra sealing coats move the number. Your written estimate sets the exact price.
Burned or soaked drywall gets replaced first, priced as Drywall Repair Houston TX. Heavy smoke can add a second sealer coat.
The short answer is after the fire restoration crew finishes soot removal, any water from firefighting has dried and drywall repairs are done. That timing depends on the damage. Once surfaces are clean and dry, most fire and smoke painting takes an estimated 2 to 7 days.
Painting is not structural repair or mold remediation. Those trades finish first.
The short answer is a shellac-based primer such as Zinsser BIN, or an odor-blocking primer like Kilz Restoration Max on lighter damage. It goes on after soot is cleaned off and before 2 finish coats. Heavily affected walls and ceilings get two full sealer coats.
Latex primer alone does not stop smoke odor. Shellac primer has a strong smell while it dries, so rooms stay ventilated that day.
Yes, we do. The written scope itemizes each smoke-damaged room, surface, odor-sealing coat and finish coat with its own price. Before, during and after photos of every room go into your file, ready to share with the adjuster or whoever handles the claim.
Claim amounts and negotiations stay between you and your carrier. Our part is a clear painting scope.
Ready to upgrade your property?
Fill out the free estimate form at the top of the page to get started, or call us directly to schedule your on-site consultation.