What to expect from a mold remediation company

Don't be afraid of the men in the white suits!

As with any other hazardous material, such as removing lead-based paint or asbestos, for example, mold remediation workers will fully adapt to the action. They will have N-95 masks, white suits, ankle boots and glasses. Truly like men from outer space. This does not necessarily mean that the mold remediation company will remove the toxic mold, but all precautions are taken. This is the standard operating procedure for any job dealing with hazardous materials.

When it comes to black mold or any other color, the correction will follow a process similar to that described below. Here's what to expect:

Step one: we need access

We will have equipment, plastic and tape everywhere. So keep animals somewhere else and move cars from driveway or garage, and clear wide access from outside to mold area. The mold remediation company will park a vehicle as close to the door as possible, attach plastic sheeting, and run the hoses around the house to the mold area. If the mold area can be accessed from the outside (as a crawl space), it is much better. A quality mold remediation company will take care of keeping your home clean while they do the reconstruction.

Step two: kill the mold with biocide

The first step in this process is to isolate the entire infected area from the remaining rooms in the home. This is usually done with plastic sheeting and tape to make a barrier. The next step is to spray the mold area with biocide. The biocide is an EPA-approved liquid that kills mold. Please note that the bleach is not EPA approved for mold removal. This first step should generally take less time than the second step. After the workers leave, the biocide goes to work, killing the mold spores. The mold remediation company must spray well beyond the moldy area to ensure that no more mold grows. For example, if only a limited area of ​​an attic exhibits mold, the mold remediation company will likely still spray the entire attic. This is more desirable, and you should confirm with the company that this is standard procedure.

Step three: remove the mold

Usually the next day, the mold remediation company returns. Again, clear access is needed. They begin the task of removing dead mold from their food source. This is usually part of your home. There are several different methods that can be used for this section. A crude and slow method is to sand, scrape, and use a wire brush. Others include blasting media, this would include baking soda, dry ice, sand, and other types of media.

Step four: clean the area

This is where much of the cleanup begins. Once all of the dead mold has been removed from the substrate, the area should be vacuumed with a HEPA (High Efficiency Air Particular) filter attachment. This will allow all mold spores that were released when mold died, to be captured and cleared alone with the mycotoxins and associated allergens.

Step five: spray the sealant to prevent mold from returning

The penultimate step in the process is to treat the previously affected area with a sealer to prevent the growth of new or recurring mold. The remediation company must spray an area larger than the affected area to make sure it is covered. If it is an attic or access space, the entire area should be treated. This is a very important step in the process.

Step six: final cleaning

This is where all the plastic falls and the tape is removed. They should be carefully disassembled so as not to disturb if mold spores may have fallen. Once all the plastic and tape have been removed, HEPA should be re-vacuumed into the area and a spore count analysis performed to verify that the home has normal levels of mold.