Mold Remediation is the process of reducing mold spores to safe levels for your home and premise. It is nearly impossible to completely remove all mold spores from your home, but remediation gets them back down to normal fungal ecology.
This involves a complete inspection of the affected area and then removing any materials with mold damage. The remaining materials must then be cleaned and dried, often using fans or dehumidifiers. Visit https://utahmoldremovalandremediation.com to learn more.
The first step of most mold remediation projects involves a contents pack out. Usually near the beginning of the project, a restoration company will remove saveable contents like textiles, clothing, hard goods, photos, electronics and more from the property to be restored or discarded at an offsite location. If contents are contaminated with mold and/or water damage, they should be sealed in thick, airtight bags and sprayed down to kill any hidden spores before being transported offsite for restoration. Non-structural building materials with mold and/or water damage, including baseboards, drywall, carpeting, tack strip, underlayment, insulation and more will also be removed and disposed of.
Once the contents are packed out, the pro will set about preparing the property for the remediation process. The mold impacted area will be contained using polyethylene sheeting and an airlock or decontamination chamber. If full containment is not possible due to the size of the affected area, a steel or wooden stud frame can be erected with polyethylene sheeting attached. An occupant space can then be constructed with slit entries and covering flaps to seal the area between the contaminated spaces. An air quality test can then be conducted within the occupant space to ensure the area has been adequately cleaned or remediated.
While the work is underway, the professional will wear personal protective equipment to avoid breathing in mold spores during the mold remediation process. This includes a mask, eye protection, and gloves. They will also use fans to help dry the affected areas. Mold spores often become airborne during the breakup of porous building materials, invasive procedures used to examine or clean mold growth in wall cavities, and during painting or stripping of wallpaper.
Once the job is complete, a trained restoration professional will re-inspect and perform clearance testing on the remediated area. This will include looking for humidity and moisture readings as well as spore levels inside and outside the room. If the marker fungi have been reduced to acceptable levels, clearance testing can be completed and the area can be declared safe for reconstruction and occupancy.
Inspection
Mold remediation is the process of cleaning up existing mold, addressing the moisture problem that caused it to grow and making sure it doesn’t come back. It also involves preventing further damage and creating conditions that make the area safe for homeowners and pets to return.
The first step in any mold remediation project is a visual survey. Professionals look for visible signs of mold growth, such as speckling or stains on walls and ceilings. They also check for odors, which are typically earthy and musty.
If the inspection shows that the problem is significant, a detailed plan of action will be created. The professionals will figure out the size of the affected area (based on EPA and New York state guidelines) and determine if it is Level 1 or Level 2 remediation. This will dictate how the work is done, and whether or not the homeowner stays in the home during mold removal and remediation.
During the cleanup phase, the professionals will use physical barriers to contain the work area. They will also use negative air machines with HEPA filters to clean the air during the entire mold remediation process. This will remove airborne dust particles, microbial volatile organic compounds and mold spores.
Then, the professionals will remove wet or porous materials such as drywall and carpeting that have been infected with mold. They will vacuum non-porous surfaces to remove spores, and use commercial-grade antimicrobial sprays to kill as many spores as possible on porous materials like wooden wall studs.
Then, they will disinfect the affected areas with an EPA-approved biocide/fungicide/moldicide solution. This is an odorless, non-toxic substance that will kill the mold spores and prevent them from growing again. After the disinfecting, the professionals will scrub and wash any hard surfaces that can be cleaned, such as countertops and metal fixtures. They will also clean and wipe down any porous materials that cannot be removed, such as foam tiles, carpeting and wood wall studs. Then they will use a dehumidifier and dryer to return the air to a safe humidity level.
Removal
Once the inspection and moisture assessment are complete, the mold remediation process can begin. A key component of this step is the erection of containment barriers to prevent mold spores from spreading to other areas of your home during the remediation process. In some cases, this may include the use of plastic sheeting, negative air pressure and other physical barriers to isolate the contaminated area. This will also help to prevent contamination of non-contaminated areas of your home by reducing the amount of spores that are released into the air during the remediation process.
Next, the affected areas of your home will be sanitized. This will be done by cleaning all non-porous surfaces, and using specialized equipment to sanitize the air and surfaces. In some cases, porous building materials that are mold infested will be discarded, such as drywall, insulation and baseboards. Moldy materials that can’t be removed will often be cleaned and sealed with an antifungal or antimicrobial treatment to kill the mold and prevent it from returning.
During this phase, it’s important for homeowners to be active participants and not just passively observe the restoration process. This helps to reduce the risk of contamination of non-affected areas of the home, as well as ensure that all items are handled in a safe manner. It also helps to ensure that a restoration company is performing all necessary steps as listed on the remediation protocol.
This is also a great time to take advantage of any contents restoration services offered by your restorer, such as the removal and storage of saveable personal belongings. This can include textiles, hard goods, photos, electronics and other items. The restoration company will be able to clean and sanitize these items, and can even provide options to return them to their pre-mold condition.
Occupants should also make sure that the restoration team has access to water, electricity and the breaker panel for all affected rooms in their home. This will help to minimize the amount of disruption to the occupants. Occupants should also limit air circulation to the contaminated areas of their homes by closing all doors and windows to the affected rooms during the remediation process.
Remediation
The mold remediation process can take one to five days and will require the removal of any contaminated materials. This includes drywall, carpet, and furniture. The contaminated materials are then cleaned, and the space is aired out to ensure no moisture remains in the air. This can be done with fans or dehumidifiers, depending on the type of contaminated material and the size of the affected area. The removed materials are then either repaired or replaced. It is important to note that some species of mold need to be treated with extreme caution, especially black molds, as they can be toxic.
Before starting the mold remediation process, professionals will perform an inspection to determine the type and cause of the mold growth. They will also address the water source and humidity levels in the space.
Once the contaminated area has been isolated, the professionals will start the actual mold remediation. This will include the use of plastic sheeting to keep spores from spreading to other areas. The mold removal and remediation process will also involve the use of HEPA-approved vacuums to remove and kill the mold spores.
Non-porous surfaces will be cleaned through a safe and effective mold cleaning process, while porous materials such as drywall will need to be removed and replaced. Porous materials can be treated with a biocide, which is an EPA-approved liquid that kills mold spores and other microorganisms.
After the mold removal and cleanup, the professional will inspect and re-inspect the area. They will look for visual cues, humidity readings and airborne spore testing to ensure that the mold problem is permanently eliminated. They will then document the completion of the remediation process and test the air to confirm that it is safe for reconstruction and occupancy.
It is impossible to completely eliminate mold spores from your home, but mold remediation can reduce the spore count to a healthy level. Some types of mold produce mycotoxins, which can cause health conditions such as headaches, sneezing, skin rashes, and blood poisoning.
