Identify the finish
Flat, eggshell, semi-gloss and specialty coatings can respond differently. Record what is actually present before assuming one cleaning method.
Fire & Smoke · Painted Walls + Ceilings
The coating is often the first restoration question—not merely the gypsum behind it.
Painted surfaces can react very differently to loose soot, oily films, heat and cleaning. SDM Intelligence treats the finish, residue and substrate as separate observations.
Classify the residue
Loose dry particulate should not be treated the same as greasy or baked-on residue. Test before scaling.
Separate staining from removable residue
A surface may become visibly cleaner while heat or chemical alteration remains. That distinction affects later coating or replacement decisions.
Do not seal first
Source control, cleaning and deodorization should be resolved before a coating is considered for a retained substrate.
Verify after adjacent work
Ceilings and walls can be recontaminated by debris, traffic or unresolved pathways. Re-check after the surrounding work sequence is complete.
Verification rule: the endpoint is not “a method was applied.” The endpoint is whether the retained material, connected pathway and surrounding area have been re-checked for remaining residue, odor, damage and recontamination.