Commerce Township, Oakland County

Fire Damage Restoration in Commerce Township, MI

Smoke odor is not a smell problem — it is a chemistry problem. Soot particles embed in drywall, HVAC ducts, insulation, and contents. Masking the smell with deodorizer only works until the humidity changes. Proper odor elimination requires cleaning or replacing the surface the particles attached to.

IICRC-Certified · Insured & Licensed · 24/7 Emergency Dispatch

What Commerce Township Homeowners Need to Know

Commerce Township’s newer subdivisions sit adjacent to older lakefront communities — the same storm event can cause a pristine 2005 basement to flood alongside a 1940s cottage.

Housing here is predominantly 1990s–2010s subdivisions mixed with lakefront homes around Commerce and Union Lakes. The most common restoration-related issues in Commerce Township are lakefront seepage, sump failures, frozen pipes. Our crews treat each property as its own project — scope, drying time, and rebuild needs are written based on what we measure on site, not a generic playbook.

Commerce Township's newer subdivisions sit adjacent to older lakefront communities around Commerce and Union Lakes, which means a single storm event can cause a pristine 2005 basement to flood alongside a 1940s cottage. Restoration crews here routinely work both environments in the same week — very different substrates, construction ages, and rebuild strategies — and moisture-mapping and drying protocols have to be tuned per home rather than applied from a single playbook.

Fire and smoke restoration in Commerce Township is shaped by the local building stock — the same factors that make lakefront seepage a common local concern also affect how soot and odor migrate through a home during and after a fire event.

Seasonal pattern — Commerce Township

Lakefront seepage is year-round; spring thaw and heavy summer rain events drive the concentrated annual spikes across both new and old homes.

Local conditions in Commerce Township

Soil & Water Table

Commerce Township's lakefront neighborhoods around Commerce and Union Lakes have elevated water tables year-round, while inland subdivisions drain normally. The contrast within a single township means restoration crews routinely work very different moisture conditions across a single week of jobs in the same zip code.

Building Stock

Commerce Township mixes 1990s-2010s subdivisions with lakefront homes around Commerce and Union Lakes. The same storm event can affect a 2005 poured-concrete basement and a 1940s cottage foundation in the same week — very different restoration approaches for very different building envelopes.

Dispatch & Access

Dispatches reach Commerce Township in 30-50 minutes from Rochester. Lakefront homes sometimes have constrained access; inland subdivisions have standard suburban access.

Commerce Township Neighborhoods and Districts We Cover

Commerce Township's restoration geography is organized around its major lakes and arterial roads. The Union Lake area in the southeastern portion of the township contains a mix of legacy lake cottages, 1970s and 1980s ranch and bilevel homes, and newer infill construction, with Union Lake Road forming the primary spine. The Proud Lake area in the northwest, anchored by Proud Lake Recreation Area, features lower-density custom homes on larger parcels with private wells and septic systems that change the contamination calculus on Category 2 and 3 water losses. The Wise Road and Newton Road area connects these districts through 1990s and 2000s subdivisions with full basements. The Glengary Road and Welch Road corridor contains older farmhouse-era stock and converted seasonal properties. The Huron River runs through the township's northern reaches, and tributaries feeding Commerce Lake, Long Lake, and Sherwood Lake create localized flood-prone zones during prolonged rain events.

Recent Storm History — Commerce Township, MI

Commerce Township's storm exposure is tied to both Metro Detroit weather patterns and its lake and Huron River hydrology. The August 11, 2014 Metro Detroit flood elevated water on Union Lake, Commerce Lake, and Long Lake while saturating soils across the township, producing combined surface and groundwater intrusion losses. The June and July 2021 Metro Detroit flooding repeated this pattern, with prolonged Category 3 mitigation work in inland subdivisions on Wise and Newton Roads and lakefront walkouts along Union Lake. The December 2013 Michigan ice storm caused multi-day power outages, freezing wells and supply lines on Proud Lake-area properties operating on private utilities. The April 15, 2026 Metro Detroit windstorm drove tree-impact damage across the wooded lake corridors. Seasonal high-water on the Huron River and tributary lakes creates recurring spring-thaw seepage, particularly along Glengary Road and the lower Proud Lake basins.

Working With Your Insurance Carrier in Commerce Township

Commerce Township's carrier mix balances lakefront and inland exposures. Union Lake, Commerce Lake, Long Lake, and Sherwood Lake homes frequently carry NFIP flood policies layered over homeowners coverage, with Auto-Owners, AAA Michigan, Cincinnati, Chubb, and Pure prominent on higher-value lakefront stock. Inland subdivisions on Wise Road and Newton Road skew toward State Farm, Allstate, Citizens, and Liberty Mutual. Properties on private well and septic systems near Proud Lake commonly carry equipment-breakdown and service-line endorsements relevant to water-loss scoping. Water-backup endorsements are present but sublimited. Xactimate is the estimating standard, and carriers expect documented IICRC S500 procedures, including category and class determinations supported by moisture readings, on every water claim.

Prime Restoration is a licensed Michigan restoration contractor. We document project scope in Xactimate so homeowners have clear line-item paperwork to submit to their carrier.

Permits & Code Compliance — Commerce Township

Commerce Township permits route through the Commerce Township Building Department, with reconstruction governed by the 2015 Michigan Building Code. Lakefront restoration on Union Lake, Commerce Lake, Long Lake, Sherwood Lake, or Proud Lake-area waters often triggers EGLE review under Part 301 (Inland Lakes and Streams) and Part 303 (Wetlands Protection) of NREPA, particularly when seawalls, shoreline grading, or below-grade foundation work are involved. Huron River corridor work may also implicate Part 31 floodplain review. Building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are issued separately, and properties on private well and septic require Oakland County Health Division coordination when restoration affects those systems. Inspections follow the standard rough-and-final sequence.

Fire & Smoke · IICRC S700

Fire & Smoke Damage RestorationCommerce Township, MI

Fire damage restoration is more than cleaning up soot — it is a sequenced process of securing the structure, inventorying affected contents, cleaning hard and soft surfaces per IICRC S700, eliminating smoke odor at its source, and rebuilding. Every project is documented in Xactimate so homeowners have complete line-item paperwork for their carrier.

Common causes we see in Commerce Township

  • Kitchen cooking fire
  • Electrical / outlet failure
  • Furnace or boiler malfunction
  • Dryer vent lint fire
  • Candle or open flame
  • Christmas tree or holiday decoration fire

Signs to watch for

  • Visible char or burn damage
  • Smoke residue on walls and ceilings
  • Persistent smoke odor
  • Soot on HVAC vents
  • Yellow discoloration on curtains and upholstery

Our Fire Damage Process in Commerce Township

The same documented process on every project — based on IICRC S700.

1

1. Emergency Board-Up & Tarping

Windows, doors, and roof penetrations are secured against weather and theft within hours of the fire being extinguished.

2

2. Scene Documentation

Before anything is moved, the entire scene is photographed and video-documented for the insurance inspection.

3

3. Contents Pack-Out

Salvageable contents are inventoried, packed, and transported for off-site cleaning. Non-restorable contents are documented and disposed of.

4

4. Water Damage Mitigation

Water used in firefighting is extracted immediately. Affected framing and drywall are dried before soot cleaning begins.

5

5. Soot & Residue Cleaning

Per IICRC S700, dry or wet cleaning methods are selected based on residue type (protein, synthetic, natural). HEPA vacuuming precedes surface cleaning.

6

6. Odor Elimination

Thermal fogging, hydroxyl generators, and sealed-surface treatments address embedded smoke odor. HVAC ducts are cleaned or replaced.

7

7. Structural Rebuild

Drywall, flooring, cabinetry, trim, and paint are rebuilt. Every line item is documented in Xactimate.

Equipment we bring to Commerce Township

HEPA vacuumsThermal foggersHydroxyl generatorsOzone generators (for unoccupied spaces)Dry chemical spongesHEPA air scrubbersNegative air machines

What Commerce Township Area Homeowners Say

5.0 Stars · 101 Verified Google Reviews

3 days ago

Had a really good experience with Prime Restoration for mold remediation. They were professional, clear about the process, and actually made me feel confident about the process. Not pushy. I'd definitely recommend them around Bloomfield Hills

Christian H.

Bloomfield Hills, MI

Mold Remediation
4 days ago

Prime Restoration is a solid company in Michigan for basement floods and water damage. They're professional, knowledgeable and the kind of team you'd want handling a stressful situation.

Nathan M.

Verified Google Review

Water Damage
4 days ago

Prime Restoration in Bloomfield has an outstanding team for water damage restoration. Their crew is phenomenal. great people with top notch character who clearly know their stuff. Highly recommend for anyone facing water damage in Bloomfield.

Ahmed W.

Bloomfield, MI

Water Damage
7 months ago

Best in the game did my basement because it flooded and they left no messes clean and efficient

Adam J.

Verified Google Review

Water Damage
8 months ago

The Prime Restoration team was absolutely fantastic! Very professional and communicative. Completed the job in a timely manner. I would highly recommend!

Jerome K.

Verified Google Review

Restoration
8 months ago

I called five different companies for restoration work, and Prime Restoration was hands down the fastest and most fair on price. They got me a quote the same day, while others were still "getting back to me." Their team works fast.

Sean B.

Verified Google Review

Restoration
11 months ago

This company Prime Restoration in Troy, is absolutely incredible! I really hope you never have to deal with water damage, but if you do, just take a deep breath and reach out to Prime Restoration. Trust me, they're the real deal.

Ramiz G.

Troy, MI

Water Damage
11 months ago

One of the best, if not the best, water restoration company around. Nick is an absolute G. Helped me out and fixed everything for me.

Gionni C.

Verified Google Review

Water Damage
a year ago

After I had water damage in my entire home, I gave Prime Restoration a call and they fixed it efficiently and high quality. Would highly recommend this company to anyone in Clawson. 10/10

Luke Z.

Clawson, MI

Water Damage
a year ago

House got water in the basement from a storm and heavy rain. They showed up within the hour and got the water cleaned up and all dry. Now they are helping with repairing the damage. Amazing company. Best in Clawson

Sinan S.

Clawson, MI

Storm Damage
a year ago

Prime Restoration was fantastic. I'd highly recommend using them for anything they can assist you with. Great service and best water damage cleanup in Troy

Andy A.

Troy, MI

Water Damage
a year ago

Had a water heater break. The first person I called at midnight was Prime. They came ASAP and documented all the damage. Then started the flood restoration. They wrote an estimate to price the restoration. I highly recommend.

Yashhvardhan R.

Verified Google Review

Water Damage
a year ago

If I could give 10 stars I would! I can't praise the crews that respond to water damage enough! They are efficient, polite, came precisely and did a wonderful job!

Kristian S.

Verified Google Review

Water Damage
a year ago

Fire damage to my house this past year, Prime Restoration stepped up and their help was felt immediately! Friendly, helpful, professional staff that made us feel like family and showed they really cared about us. My house looks incredible, could not have asked for a better experience!

Gina R.

Verified Google Review

Fire & Smoke
a year ago

Laundry pipe begins to leak at night. This company had a crew out the SAME DAY. I was referred to them and very impressed! Would highly recommend them.

SERT C.

Verified Google Review

Water Damage
a year ago

Thank you Prime Restoration. I had my water line break and ruin my bathroom. Everything is fixed now. Also, the service was quick and they were very professional.

Theo P.

Verified Google Review

Water Damage
2 years ago

When I contacted Prime Restoration based on a friend's recommendation, I was extremely impressed with their services. The representative who arrived promptly to assess the situation was knowledgeable and addressed all my concerns.

Kristofer K.

Verified Google Review

Water Damage
2 years ago

My house had a flood caused by a faulty refrigerator, but Prime Restoration resolved the situation. Highly recommend for fridge-related floods in Troy, Michigan.

Danjel P.

Troy, MI

Water Damage

Fire Damage Questions — Commerce Township, MI

Common questions from Commerce Township homeowners before they call.

Why do old cottages and new subdivisions in Commerce Township flood differently?

Commerce Township's newer 1990s-2010s subdivisions have modern poured-concrete foundations with perimeter drain-tile systems, while older lakefront cottages often have stone or block foundations without modern waterproofing. The same storm event can cause a pristine 2005 basement to flood through a sump failure alongside a 1940s cottage flooding through foundation wall seepage. Different causes, different restoration approaches, same storm.

Can I enter the house after the fire?

Only after the fire marshal or your insurance adjuster has authorized re-entry. Even then, limit entry to documenting and retrieving essentials — soot residue is harmful to breathe without PPE.

Will all my belongings be thrown away?

No. Professional contents cleaning can recover most electronics, furniture, clothing, and personal items. Items are inventoried, packed, and cleaned off-site. Only items damaged beyond restoration are disposed of, and each is documented.

How long does the smoke smell last?

With proper odor elimination — thermal fogging, HVAC cleaning, sealed-surface treatment, and replacement of porous materials that cannot be cleaned — the smell should be gone at project completion. If it comes back, there is still soot in a cavity or duct that was not addressed.

Prime Restoration is a licensed restoration contractor. We document the full project scope in Xactimate so you have clear line-item paperwork to submit to your carrier.

Need Fire Damage in Commerce Township Now?

24/7 emergency dispatch. IICRC-certified crews. Typical response within 60 minutes across our core service area.