We're restoring a fire-damaged house and hired a subcontractor to do smoke remediation, after we'd stripped the house down to the studs.
The contractor was supposed to soda-blast all surfaces, clean, and then apply smoke seal.
The contractor claims to have finished the job, but the smoke seal has been applied right over: cobwebs, bits of stray insulation, loose dirt, and even wasps' nests!
This suggests that the blasting was not done but, of course, the contractor swears that it was.
Is there any way to tell for sure? (Maybe they just missed a few — okay a lot of spots.)
Typical problems with the smoke seal (click on images for a larger view):
Best Answer
They definitely did not soda blast the wood they simply painted it over. this reply is a bit late but i think your insurance company would still like to know that they as well as you were defrauded by said contractor. and it may still be possible to have them return the money amount that was supposedly the cost of said falsified work they did. soda blasted wood has a almost glass like smoothness to it this ultra smooth surface finish will be reflected in the overcoat. it will be a smooth almost gloss enamel finish if done right.