Proper Mold Removal and Remediation Steps

5/16/2017 (Permalink)

Proper Mold Removal and Remediation Steps


Learning the basic mold remediation and concepts isn't hard, and it's necessary for anyone who wants to hire an ideal professional for quality work and at the best price. Although it's easy to master the step theoretically, it's always advisable to leave the actual work to the experts. Here are the steps the contractor needs to follow during mold removal:

Learning about the moisture

Assessing the extent of mold damage involves more than looking at the growing fungus. In most cases, the fungus is an invisible intruder that grows behind or around what's visible. An expert needs to understand the cause of the moisture problem. This way, all the fungus growth is located and repairs are done to prevent further mildew or water issues.

Creating a plan

To design a plan, one needs to document all the findings in a photo, video, and writing form. The plan will help the professionals to conduct their work efficiently. It also helps to know the work schedule and how the removal and remediation will be done.

Remediate mold contamination

The process of remediation involves cleaning up the existing mold and avoiding contact to oneself and the homeowners. It also involves preventing mildew that causes fungus growth by addressing the source of moisture. Mold removal includes the following steps:

Repairing the water source – this helps to prevent more mold damage by stopping mold from growing.
Isolating the contaminated section – all the windows and doors near the contaminated areas need to be closed and any opening must be sealed.
Suppressing dust – this is accomplished by misting the areas with mold in the home.
Removing materials - all wet and mold damaged materials must be removed. The dirty materials should be placed in bags, and then closed tightly. These bags might have a smelly odor so they shouldn't be disposed of as ordinary trash.
Cleaning – all the wood surfaces and non-porous materials with mold should be cleaned to get rid of the mold damage and smelly odor. Deodorization can be done at this stage too. All the surfaces with mold in the home must be scrubbed with a cloth and detergent solution, and then rinsed using clean water. The surface can also be vacuumed especially if it was a case of commercial mold damage.
Conducting a visibility test – once mold mitigation is over, the area would be free of debris and contamination. Lack of dirt and dust may mean no mold in the home.
Drying – the cleaned materials are then deodorized and dried to allow any moisture/mildew to evaporate. If the experts are dealing with commercial mold damage, more resources such dehumidifiers and fans will be needed to speed up the drying process after mitigation and deodorization.
Replacing – all the material that had been moved must be repaired or replaced.

Determining if mold mitigation is successful

Just because mold damage isn't visible and the smelly odor is gone after cleaning and deodorization, it doesn't mean that mold removal was successful. To know if the moisture problem is solved for good, the professionals can come back after mitigation. If any signs of mold damage are noticed, especially if it was commercial mold damage, the process must be repeated. Maybe the real source of mildew wasn't identified, or another problem occurred. But, when you work with a commercial mold damage contractor, the job will be perfectly done.

If one presumes that there is mold in their home, the problem should never be ignored. Look out for signs like smelly odor but don't simply do deodorization to get rid of the smell. To be sure, contact mold mitigation professional to get your property restored to its original state. Visit http://www.SERVPROgeaugacounty.com for more information on mold removal and remediation.