A house fire is an uncontrolled event involving the combustion of different kinds of materials and chemicals. Wood, paint, varnish, fabrics and plastics burn differently from each other, which is why when you see a house burning the smoke is intensely thick and with oily soot, not to mention the smell that permeates the surroundings that have not even caught flame.

To add to the fire damage there is also the damage incurred by the water that was used to douse the fire. The water dissolves the by-products of the combustion and carries them to any porous surfaces like wood, plaster, masonry, concrete and such that have not been damaged by flames.

In addition to the direct damage caused by the flames, fire restoration also includes recovery from stains from soot and smoke deposits; stains from water used to extinguish the fire as well as mildew that often grows elsewhere in the structure due to the residual dampness and moisture.

The most common element of fire restoration is the intense irritating odor that penetrates every porous surface. Although several methods of treatment, including ozone saturation are used, it does not effectively remove the odor itself. This poses as a big problem if the odor-saturated surfaces have not been completely sealed, since the odor will eventually leach through any new drywall as humidity in the restored home increases. The solution for the surfaces in fire damage would be a good sealer or primer. An effective primer or sealer for fire damage restoration should be; one that can block all the odors and stains, can adhere well to glossy or dense surfaces, dries quickly with no lingering odor and inhibits growth for mildew.

The two most common products used to prime and seal fire damaged surfaces are "fast-dry alkyds" and shellac, which can be with color or without.

Fast dry alkyds are oil based prime sealers made using a blend of natural oil and synthetic alkyd resins diluted with a combination of solvents that include naphtha, mineral spirits and others. These sealers are dependable for fire damage restoration. They are easy to apply with a roller or sprayer and will block most stains from smoke and soot. Adhesion is good on over a variety of surfaces. Fast dry alkyds are inexpensive, ranging from ($9) nine dollars to ($18) eighteen dollars a gallon depending on the quality and brand.

Shellac is an alcohol-based solution of pure lac, a natural resin secreted by tiny insects on certain trees in Indonesia and India. After harvesting the dark, reddish brown resin, it is crushed and then processed into flakes that are liquefied in denatured grain alcohol. The resulting liquid results a reddish-orange color but if bleached beforehand it will create a very light color. Bleached shellac solutions are mixed with clays and titanium dioxide to create that white coloring. These products cost anywhere between ($18) eighteen dollars to ($25) twenty five dollars per gallon. Shellac is easily applied with a roller or brush and it gives optimum coverage for the surface because the resin has very small particles.