Establish what caused the contamination and whether specialist cleaning is required.
All decorating problems
Moisture & stains · H&C advice
Nicotine & smoke staining
Smoke residues can discolour finishes and bleed through decoration.
- Yellow-brown film on walls or ceilings.
- Staining returning through fresh paint; lingering smoke odour.
Understand before treating
What might cause it?
Similar-looking defects can have different causes. Assessment comes before product choice.
Residue from tobacco smoke or a previous smoke event can contaminate surfaces and interfere with adhesion.
Preparation & next steps
How we approach it
Clean and prepare the surface using a suitable method and allow it to dry.
Consider an appropriate stain- and odour-blocking primer system, then apply a compatible finish.
Fire damage is not an ordinary decorating stain. Soot, damaged materials and smoke contamination after a fire need professional assessment. Check current product technical data, safety instructions and compatibility; this guide is not a site diagnosis or a guaranteed repair specification.
The right system for the surface
Product selection matters
A suitable primer or sealer may be part of the preparation, but it cannot replace fixing the cause. Zinsser is one of the brands we use; the exact product depends on the surface, defect and intended finish.
Zinsser UK product guidanceOriginal H&C guidance. We are not approved, accredited or endorsed by Zinsser.
Local decorating help
Let’s look at the problem properly.
Share your postcode, the affected surface and what you’ve noticed. Preparation and repairs are assessed before a quote is agreed.