What Exactly Happens During Mold Remediation?

10/2/2020 (Permalink)

No one enjoys unexpected surprises when there is any work done in the home. It is a disruptive situation regardless of the type of project. In the case of mold remediation, you will be having strangers in your home using serious chemicals. If you have a better idea of what exactly happens during the mold remediation process, you will definitely feel less stressed and more relaxed. 

Firstly, you will need to do a few things before the workers arrive:

• Fix the water issue that led to the mold growth. Mold remediation is a costly process and you will not want to do it over again.
• Make a clear path for the workers to move from the outside to the mold area and back with ease. For example, clear the cars from the garage and driveway.
• Keep any pets out of the way, either in the yard or in a room where the doors are closed.

Use Biocide to Kill Mold

• Company starts preparing

The company will be parking a truck near the doorway and place plastic sheeting on the floor. Next , they will run hoses across the house to the affected area. When the mold area is easily accessible, it is much easier to do the necessary work. Engaging a good mold remediation company will ensure that your house is kept clean while the necessary work is being done. Suiting-Up Process

Just like any other potentiall hazardous process, like the removal of asbestos or lead-based paint, mold remediation workers will need to fully suit up for the process: from head to toe with white suits, respirators, booties, and goggles. This does not always mean that the mold remediation company is in charge of getting rid of mold. This is the standard operating procedure for all the work that they do. 

• Spray Down

The initial step of the two-step process is to use a biocide to spray the mold area. Biocide refers to any EPA- approved liquid which is meant to kill mold. Do take note that the EPA does not approve using bleach for getting rid of mold. Usually, this first step should take shorter than the next step.

• Wait

After the workers have left, the biocide will start working, hence killing the mold spores.

Spray Mold Area with Encapsulant

The next day, the mold remediation company will come back and as usual, clear access is required. The workers will be spraying the mold area with a type of whitewash or paint that encapsulates any mold spores remaining. The mold remediation company should make sure that they spray well beyond the area where mold is growing make sure that there will be no more growth of mold. For instance, if only a restricted area of an attic shows signs of mold, the entire attic should probably still be sprayed down. This is more ideal and you should check in with the company if they are doing this.

If you think that you may be experiencing symptoms of mold exposure in your homes, do not hesitate to contact our team of experts here at SERVPRO.