Where does odour removal fit your project?
Pick the closest match. Each one shows how we handle that kind of job, then you can go deeper or book a visit.
For homeowners: Odour Removal
Work planned around the house you live in, with the rest of the home kept livable where possible.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
For an insurance claim: Odour Removal
We document the work so your insurer can see what was found and what was done.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
For commercial buildings: Odour Removal
Scheduled around an occupied business and built to the commercial code and the building use.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
For condos and multi-unit buildings: Odour Removal
Coordinated with the building, the board and the access rules.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
For rental properties: Odour Removal
Planned for durability, tenant turnover and a schedule that keeps the unit available.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
Odour Removal
Smoke, mould, pet and sewer odours removed at the source, not covered up with fragrance.
What it is
Strong odours get into porous materials such as drywall, insulation, carpet and wood. Air fresheners hide the smell for a day. Real odour removal finds the source and treats the materials that hold it.
The method depends on the odour. Smoke, mould, sewer and pet odours each need a different approach.
How it works
- Find the sourceWe trace the odour to the materials and the cause before we treat anything.
- Remove what cannot be savedPorous materials that hold the odour, such as saturated insulation, are removed.
- Treat what staysSurfaces and air are treated with methods that match the odour.
- Confirm and closeWe check the result and make sure the odour does not return.
What we look at
Smoke
Smoke residue sticks to surfaces and needs cleaning and sealing, not masking.
Mould and mildew
The source is fixed first, then the materials are cleaned or removed.
Sewer
The source is confirmed and affected materials are removed and sanitised.
Decision 1: Where odour removal is used
Odour removal goes into homes and commercial spaces after smoke, mould, sewer or pet damage. The odour sits in the materials, and the removal has to reach them.
| Source | Typical materials | What matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke | Drywall, insulation, carpet, soft furnishings | Residue in the materials |
| Mould | Drywall, wood, insulation | The source and the moisture |
| Sewer | Subfloors, carpet, drywall | Contamination and the drain source |
| Pet | Carpet, subfloor, drywall | Urine in porous materials |
Our pick: Identify the source first. A smell is a symptom, and the material holding it is the cause.
Decision 2: Tracing the source
The smell is traced to the material holding it. Moving through the house with a nose and a meter finds the strongest point, and the removal starts there.
| Method | What it finds |
|---|---|
| Smell mapping | Strongest point in each room |
| Moisture check | Hidden moisture behind the smell |
| Material check | Porous materials holding the odour |
Our pick: Find the strongest point first. Removing the wrong material leaves the odour in place.
Decision 3: Removal and what can stay
Porous materials that hold the odour are removed. Hard surfaces are cleaned and sealed where that is enough.
| Material | Usually | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Carpet and underlay | Removed | Holds odour deep in the fibres |
| Drywall and insulation | Removed where it holds the odour | Porous and hard to clean |
| Solid wood | Cleaned and sealed | Can be kept if the odour is on the surface |
| Hard surfaces | Cleaned and sealed | Non-porous, cleaned well |
Our pick: Remove what is porous and holds the smell. Seal what is hard and keeps the smell on the surface.
Decision 4: Treatment and sealing
Surfaces that stay are treated with methods that match the odour. Sealing locks in the residue, so it does not come back through the paint.
| Odour | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Smoke | Cleaned, then sealed before paint |
| Mould | Source fixed, cleaned, then treated |
| Sewer | Sanitised, then sealed |
| Pet | Enzymatic treatment on the source |
Our pick: Seal before you paint. Paint over smoke residue lets the odour come back through it.
Decision 5: Air treatment
Air is treated during and after the work, to clear the odour that has moved into the air. Air treatment supports the material work, but does not replace it.
| Equipment | Use |
|---|---|
| Air filtration | During removal and after |
| Ozone or hydroxyl generator | Used only with the house empty |
| Ventilation | Fresh air during the work |
Our pick: Treat the air after the materials. Air treatment alone does not remove what is in the walls.
Decision 6: Verifying the odour is gone
The result is confirmed by smell and by the source being removed. The odour is only released once it is gone at the source and in the air.
| Check | Target |
|---|---|
| Smell test in each room | No odour at the source |
| Moisture readings | Dry where the source was |
| Recheck after a few days | No return of the odour |
Our pick: Recheck after a few days, not on the day of the work. Some odours return as the house warms up.
Decision 7: Safety and health
Odour sources can be hazardous: mould, sewage and smoke residue all carry risks. Protection and containment come first.
| Hazard | Action |
|---|---|
| Mould | Containment and filtration |
| Sewer contamination | Protective equipment and handwashing |
| Smoke residue | Protective equipment and ventilation |
Our pick: Protect the people in the house. The odour is secondary to the health risk.
Decision 8: Insurance and documentation
Odour from a covered loss is often part of the claim. The record shows the source, the materials removed and the treatment.
| Record | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Source and materials | What was holding the odour |
| Treatment record | What was done and where |
| Recheck results | That the odour is gone |
Our pick: Record the source and the removal. It is the proof the odour was treated properly.
Decision 9: Coordination with the rebuild
The rebuild follows the odour removal. The materials that were sealed are painted or finished, and those that were removed are rebuilt.
| Trade | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Drywall and insulation | Replacement where removed |
| Painting | Sealed surfaces primed first |
| Flooring | Subfloor clean and dry |
Our pick: Prime the sealed surfaces before the finish. The primer locks the residue in.
Decision 10: After-care and prevention
The source is what brings the odour back. Keeping the moisture and the drains under control stops the odour from returning.
| Item | What to do |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Checked after heavy rain |
| Drains and vents | Kept clear and trapped |
| Ventilation | Kept running in damp areas |
Our pick: Fix the source and control the moisture. The odour follows the moisture.
Questions
Will the smell come back?
If the source is removed and treated, it should not. If it returns, the source has not been found, and we will check again.
Is this covered by insurance?
Odour from a covered loss, such as fire or water, is often part of the claim. We document the work for your insurer.
Related: Fire, Smoke & SootMould RemediationAll restoration