Smoke & Nicotine Damage · San Gabriel Valley

Smoke and Nicotine Damage Painting in the San Gabriel Valley

Smoke and nicotine stains bleed through ordinary paint, and the smell comes back. We clean the surfaces, seal them with a shellac primer that blocks stains and odor, then paint two coats so the room stays clean.

Walls and ceilings cleaned before anything is painted
Sealed with a shellac primer that blocks stains and odor
Two finish coats over the sealed surface
Licensed & insured · CA Lic #1095819

Get My Free Quote → or call (626) 263-6444

★ 4.9 Google (34) 86 Five-Star Reviews Clean, Seal, Paint

Free Smoke Damage Painting Quote

Free walkthrough and honest assessment. No pressure, no surprises.

Why paint alone does not work

Smoke and nicotine leave a film on every wall and ceiling. Ordinary latex paint does not lock that film in. The stain migrates up through the new coat as yellow or brown patches, sometimes within days. And the residue still holds the odor, so the smell comes back when the room warms up.

That is why a smoke-damaged room needs prep, not just paint.

What the job needs

Clean the surfaces. Walls, ceilings and trim get washed down to remove the residue. Paint does not bond well to a film.
Seal them. An alcohol-based shellac primer goes over every affected surface. It seals the stain and the odor so neither bleeds back through the paint. This is the coat that stops bleed-through and locks the smell in.
Paint two coats. Two finish coats over the sealed surface give an even color with nothing showing through.

Ceilings usually take the worst of it, because smoke rises. Plan on painting them even when the walls look fine.

What we do and what we don’t

We clean, prime and paint. If there is structural damage, charred framing or anything that needs fire restoration or soot remediation, that work comes first and is done by a restoration company. We come in once the space is ready to paint.

Our Process

Clean, Seal, Paint

Clean

Walls, ceilings and trim washed down to remove the residue.

Seal

An alcohol-based shellac primer on every affected surface.

Paint

Two finish coats over the sealed surface.

Prep first.Paint second.

24 to 48 hoursYour written estimate lands in your inbox
2 to 4 weeksHow far out we usually book
3 equal paymentsAfter a $1,000 deposit books your date (10% on jobs under $10,000)

Financing available through Acorn Finance. Check your rate on your proposal.

Get the stains and the smell out for good

Free walkthrough across Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.

Get My Free Quote → or call (626) 263-6444

Answers

Smoke Damage Painting FAQ

Do you offer a warranty?

Every project is backed by a written workmanship guarantee: 2 years on refresh and repaint work, 5 years on full-prep jobs with premium coatings. The term is written into your estimate, and the full terms are on our warranty page.

What prep do you do before painting?

Prep is most of the job. Floors, furniture and fixtures get covered, surfaces get cleaned, loose paint is scraped and sanded, cracks and holes are patched, and bare spots are primed before any finish coat goes on. Every step is listed in your written estimate.

Can you paint over smoke damage?

Yes, once it is cleaned and sealed. Painting straight over smoke or nicotine residue lets the stain bleed through the new coat. We wash the surfaces, seal them with a shellac primer that blocks stains and odor, then paint two coats.

Will the smell come back?

Not when the surfaces are cleaned and sealed first. The odor lives in the residue on the walls and ceilings. An alcohol-based shellac primer seals the stain and the odor so neither bleeds back through the paint.

Do I need to clean first?

We handle the cleaning as part of the job. Walls, ceilings and trim get washed down before anything is primed, because paint does not bond well to a smoke or nicotine film.

Explore More