Project Overview / Scope
The home-buying process is stressful enough. You have to move quickly, compete with other buyers, navigate financing, and coordinate an entire move — sometimes from hundreds of miles away.
That was exactly the situation our client found themselves in while searching for a home in Huron, Ohio. They were moving from out of state and competing in a hot real estate market, so when they found what appeared to be their dream home, they knew they had to act fast.
Because they were purchasing the home sight-unseen, they relied heavily on the listing photos. From those pictures, the interior simply appeared to have an outdated Tuscan-style color scheme.
Not ideal, but nothing that couldn't be addressed over time with a little paint.
Then came move-in day.
What appeared to be an outdated interior was actually something much more significant. Every room in the home was covered from top to bottom in tobacco smoke residue.
The Challenge
Beyond the unpleasant appearance and odor, the homeowners quickly learned that cigarette smoke residue can leave behind harmful contaminants long after the smoking has stopped.
With a young child and another baby on the way, this wasn't a project they could put off. They needed a solution — and they needed it quickly.
Fortunately, family members in the area had previously worked with our team at Complete Painting. We received the call, heard their story, and immediately got to work.
THE Complete Painting SOLUTION
Protecting the Home
Removing the Smoke Residue
Removing the Smoke Residue
Before addressing the smoke damage, we needed to protect the home from the work ahead. Floors were completely covered with RAMBoard Construction Floor Covering, secured around the perimeter with high-adhesion FrogTape to help prevent moisture from reaching the flooring. Heavy-duty, high-traffic 20-mil plastic sheeting was then installed o
Before addressing the smoke damage, we needed to protect the home from the work ahead. Floors were completely covered with RAMBoard Construction Floor Covering, secured around the perimeter with high-adhesion FrogTape to help prevent moisture from reaching the flooring. Heavy-duty, high-traffic 20-mil plastic sheeting was then installed over the RAMBoard for additional protection.
With the home properly masked and protected, we could begin tackling the smoke damage without creating additional problems.
Removing the Smoke Residue
Removing the Smoke Residue
Removing the Smoke Residue
Simply painting over smoke-stained surfaces is a common mistake. Standard paint alone won't necessarily prevent stains from bleeding through, eliminate odors, or properly seal the contaminated substrate.
All ceilings, walls, and trim were cleaned using diluted Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) to remove as much of the tobacco residue as possible.
Simply painting over smoke-stained surfaces is a common mistake. Standard paint alone won't necessarily prevent stains from bleeding through, eliminate odors, or properly seal the contaminated substrate.
All ceilings, walls, and trim were cleaned using diluted Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) to remove as much of the tobacco residue as possible. Because we were working with drywall, controlling moisture was critical.
We applied the cleaner using a broad-fan pump sprayer and agitated the surfaces with random-orbit scrubbers connected to wet vacuums. This allowed us to break up stubborn residue, lift it from the drywall, and immediately remove the moisture before it could penetrate the substrate.
Sealing & Repainting
Removing the Smoke Residue
Sealing & Repainting
Once the smoke residue had been thoroughly removed, we applied Sherwin-Williams White Pigmented Shellac Primer throughout the affected areas. This primer creates a tight film that is particularly effective at sealing stubborn smoke stains and odors.
Because shellac primer has a high VOC content and produces a strong odor during application
Once the smoke residue had been thoroughly removed, we applied Sherwin-Williams White Pigmented Shellac Primer throughout the affected areas. This primer creates a tight film that is particularly effective at sealing stubborn smoke stains and odors.
Because shellac primer has a high VOC content and produces a strong odor during application, we opened windows and established additional ventilation throughout the work area.
Once the primer was complete, we finally had a clean, neutral canvas. From there, we completed standard prep work — including addressing cracks, holes, caulking, and other imperfections — before moving forward with the interior painting.
The Result
What started as an unexpected and potentially overwhelming discovery became a completely transformed interior.
Instead of living with the appearance, odor, and concerns associated with years of tobacco smoke exposure, the homeowners were able to move forward with a clean, fresh interior that finally felt like their own.
Most importantly, their dream home no longer felt like a nightmare.
The family was thrilled with the results, and we were proud to help them turn their new house into the home they had envisioned — just in time to begin this next chapter of their lives in Northeast Ohio.