Fire, smoke and water damage repair in Putnam Heights, Oklahoma City
Putnam Heights homes date from about 1906 to 1929, and repairing them means working around plaster, old framing and trim you cannot buy new. We clean, dry and rebuild with that in mind.
- Answered 24/7
- Oklahoma County
- Dry-out to rebuild
We handle fire, smoke and water damage in Putnam Heights from our West Memorial Road office, with the phone answered 24/7. The district's 104 structures sit in a single platted addition between Classen and Georgia Boulevard, and its representative homes date from about 1906 to 1929, so we plan for plaster and original trim on every job.
Century-old houses between Classen and Georgia
Development of Putnam Heights began in 1908, and the National Register nomination dates its representative homes from about 1906 to 1929. It is a single platted addition bounded by Classen on the east and Georgia Boulevard on the west, with 104 structures, and it is one of Oklahoma City's locally zoned Historic Preservation districts.
The houses mix Colonial Revival, Bungalow and Craftsman, and other revival styles. Homes of that age often still have plaster on wood lath, solid wood trim and electrical work that has been added to over the decades. Smoke works deeper into plaster and unfinished wood than into modern painted drywall, so after even a small fire we test-clean surfaces before deciding what can stay.
Ice can start fires too. During the October 2020 ice storm, NPR reported that Oklahoma City Fire handled numerous house fires and smoke investigations as ice-coated lines fell onto homes and buildings. Because the district carries local historic zoning, we check with the city's historic preservation staff before any exterior change that shows from the street.
What fire and water do to a Putnam Heights house
Smoke in plaster and woodwork
Soot settles into the texture of old plaster and the grain of unfinished trim. We clean with methods matched to the type of residue, seal what still holds odor and replace only what will not come clean, so original moldings and doors stay in the house where they can.
Fire damage to older framing
Houses of this era were sometimes balloon framed, with open stud bays that let fire and smoke travel between floors. We board up, remove charred material, check every framing member near the fire and rebuild walls and ceilings to match what was there.
Water left by firefighting
Hoses put a lot of water into a house, and plaster ceilings hold it longer than drywall does. We extract, set drying equipment and watch the plaster and framing with moisture meters before any refinishing starts, so paint does not go over wet walls.
Restoration services Putnam Heights homeowners call for
From our West Memorial Road office we come south into the older core of the city for calls like these, and a person answers at any hour. We ask about the fire or leak, whether everyone is out and whether the utilities are off, then tell you what to do while we head over. Before removing anything, we photograph trim, plaster and fixtures so the rebuild can match them.
Putnam Heights fire and water questions
Most plaster can be cleaned and sealed if it is sound and still firmly attached to the lath. Plaster that got soaked during firefighting, cracked from heat or pulled loose usually comes out. We test-clean a section first and show you the result before deciding.
It depends on what changes. Putnam Heights is a locally zoned Historic Preservation district, so before replacing windows, siding, porch parts or roofing that shows from the street, we confirm with the city what review applies and build that step into the schedule.
We remove the source first: soot, burned materials and residue in the ductwork. Then we clean every surface, seal porous wood and plaster where needed and treat the air. Covering the smell with fragrance only delays the problem until humid weather brings it back.
Often. Floors that were only coated with smoke or soaked by hoses can usually be cleaned, dried slowly and refinished. Boards that charred through or cupped badly get replaced with matching species and width where it can be found.
Other places we work near Putnam Heights
Damage at your place in Putnam Heights?
Call any hour. We tell you what to do in the next ten minutes and get a crew moving.