What You Need to Know About Mold Remediation

Mold remediation is an absolute must if you suspect the presence of harmful mold in your home. If you think that you have a mold problem, the first step is to call a Certified Mold Remediator (CMR) to evaluate the extent of your mold problem and devise a remediation plan for killing and cleaning mold from your property.

First Thing's First—Evaluate the Problem
The first thing a mold inspector will do upon coming to your home is evaluate the extent of your mold problem. In doing so, you can expect your inspector to first identify the source of the moisture that is causing your problem. That could be anything from leaky plumbing to a home with excessive humidity without not enough ventilation. Once the source of the moisture is found, your CMR will locate the mold using a number of tests that measure everything from moisture levels in your walls, floors and ceilings, to the presence of airborne mold spores in your home. Once the extent of the mold problem is determined, your mold remediation project will move to the next phase—containment!

Contain the Problem
Before any extensive work is done on the mold, your mold remediation plan will require your CMR to contain the contaminated area to prevent the mold spores from spreading into other areas of the home. This means putting up a sealed plastic barrier and maintaining negative air pressure within the containment area so that mold spores aren't drawn into other areas of the home once the work starts.

Kill the Mold
Once the mold infested area is properly sealed off from the rest of the home, the next step in mold remediation is to kill it. Your CMR will use a wet sprayer or fogger to apply a fungicide to the contaminated area. It may take several applications to ensure your mold problem has been eliminated, and you may be asked to evacuate the premises during this phase of the remediation project.

Mold Removal
Even dead mold can still release harmful spoors and start new infestations, so once the mold has been killed it must completely removed from the home. Depending on the level of the problem, mold removal can mean several different things. It might simply mean scraping off the mold, removing all signs of the infestation, and cleaning mold growth from the affected area. If it's a more persistent problem, however (one that has penetrated structural wood, framing or other materials) mold removal could mean a larger renovation project in order to get rid of all the contaminated materials.

Prevention of Further Infestation
The final step of any mold remediation project is to take steps to prevent the return of the mold growth. Whether leaky plumbing, a hole in the roof, or improper ventilation, first and foremost the cause of the mold problem must be addressed. Once that is taken care of, the contaminated area is usually sprayed with a preventative fungicide to inhibit a return of the problem. After that, all that is left is performing any aesthetic or structural repairs to return the home back to its original condition.

Hire a Professional
While there are DIY mold remediation programs out there, this is one problem that you want to leave to the experts. Mold has been linked to a number of health problems, including respiratory disease, cancer, and even nervous system disorders. Dealing with your mold problem in the proper fashion is critical to ensuring the health of you and your family. That being the case, don't hesitate to contact a Certified Mold Remediaton Company immediately if you think mold might be a problem for you.