Understanding the Mold Remediation Process

Mold remediation is not as simple as spraying sporicide and wiping down the contaminated area. It’s an involved process that takes time. Depending on the severity of the problem, mold professionals will recommend that you vacate the home during this process. This means putting pets in a kennel and clearing the access path to the affected area. They’ll begin by spraying a solution called biocide that kills mold spores.

Preparation

During this phase, the mold removal in Staten Island professionals will inspect your house and identify areas with significant mold growth. They will also take a mold sample, which can help them determine how severe the contamination is. The mold remediation team will formulate a removal, cleanup, and repair strategy. When the workers arrive at your home, they wear protective suits and masks to minimize the spread of mold spores throughout your house. They will also close and seal off the affected area by putting plastic sheets around it. They will vacuum the affected space and mist non-porous materials with water to control airborne spores. They will discard any mold-infested materials that can’t be cleaned, such as drywall or carpeting, and clean all other non-porous surfaces. This step is vital to ensure mold doesn’t return after the cleanup. Mold loves moisture as much as Jaws loves slow-moving swimmers, so cutting off its water source will help prevent future outbreaks. Then they will begin treating the mold-infested area with a fungicide. This will kill the mold and fungus that’s already there, as well as prevent the spores from spreading. They may use other fungicide methods, including fogging, UV light, and ozone, to control the spore count. Lastly, they’ll dry the areas they’ve treated with fans and dehumidifiers.

Removal

Mold spores can cause structural damage to drywall, ceilings, and floors, destroying them in short order. It’s essential that all contaminated materials get removed from the home and sent to a hazardous waste company for disposal. This can take significant time if the mold has damaged air ducts or wood studs. Before beginning the cleanup process, a restoration company will typically seal off the affected area with plastic sheeting. This is to prevent spores from spreading throughout the rest of the house. They will also set up fans and dehumidifiers around the mold area to help dry out the space quickly. Porous items like drywall and insulation with mold will need to be removed and double-bagged for disposal. Carpets and fabrics may also need to be released if they are infected with mold. Special “micro cleaning” can be performed on these items to remove and disinfect settled mold spores. During the removal phase, a company will likely use a biocide to kill the mold and render it sterile. It will then use a variety of cleaning methods to clean all surfaces that were impacted by mold. The goal is to restore all areas to their original condition before the mold grows. If any stains or discoloration remain, the team will re-test and re-clean those areas until they are clear.

Treatment

The next step is to start cleaning the contaminated area. This will involve using professional cleaning solutions, antimicrobial agents, and in some cases, sanitization sprays (like biocide) to make sure all the mold spores are killed. This is a complicated process; no one outside the team should be in that room or space during this time. The area will be sealed off with plastic sheeting to ensure that no spores escape the space during this stage. Often this also involves running dehumidifiers or fans to quickly dry out the area and help prevent future growth from happening. Porous items such as drywall or insulation exposed to mold must be removed and properly disposed of. Any fabric or carpet affected by the mold spores must be thoroughly cleaned with unique “micro-cleaning” products and encapsulated to ensure no spores can reoccur. After thoroughly cleaning everything, a final test will be performed to ensure the fungus is completely gone and the air quality is usual. This can be done by taking samples from outside the property and inside the impacted space to ensure no more visible or invisible contamination. This is essential to the remediation process to provide a spotless and healthy environment.

Post-Remediation

Mold growth is accelerated by water damage, and it eats through surfaces like walls, carpeting, wood studs, ceilings, and floorboards. Left untreated, mold can lead to major structural problems in your home or business, collapsing ceilings and floors caving in. Mold remediation is the process of removing and cleaning these damaged materials and finding and treating the source of the problem. During this phase, the mold removal professionals will often use a biocide to kill off any remaining mold spores that may have become airborne during treatment. They will also utilize negative air machines to filter all airborne contaminants. Once the mold spores have been killed and the areas have been cleaned, the mold professionals must test the site to ensure all the mold is gone. They’ll run various tests on different surfaces to see if mold spores have remained in hard-to-reach places like behind walls, inside air ducts, and attic. Only the mold experts must be allowed to be in the contaminated area during this testing. If the mold spores are still present, then the professionals will need to do additional work on the area to get it clean and safe for residents.