The Job Of A Mold Remediator

The Job of a Mold Remediator

by

George Everest

When you return from a business trip over seas to find your basement has flooded, and quite nicely by the look of it, and has been growing black mold for the past week – the mold remediator is your best friend. It’s his job to clean up all that hazardous mess and remove what simply cannot be saved. It’s important to use a certified professional for this type of work because although not all strands of mold are deadly some can be quite dangerous – especially if the spores are concentrated and inhaled (like in say, a basement.) A trained technician will have the appropriate breathing and cleaning equipment to get the job done safely and efficiently. To better understand the job of the mold remediator let’s try to understand what he’s up against.

Water damage is one of the most destructive forces known, whether it is torrential rain, river flooding, storm surge or even a plumbing accident water can wreak havoc on your home. Well mold is the insulted added to injury, after destroying parts of your home now you’re in a race against time to dry things out before mold spores (some concentration is always present) take hold and begin to grow in the newly advantageous conditions the water damage has created. It’s an easy battle to lose, especially if the initial water damage occurs when the occupants are away or, shall we say, more concerned with life and limb than mold growth. Once mold takes hold, it’s the job of the mold remediator to remove and repair the damage. This can be done in a variety of ways depending on the exact situation. One major factor will be what surfaces are contaminated with mold and how long the mold has had a chance to grow. Unfortunately most modern building materials such as dry wall and ply-wood are highly susceptible to mold growth when water is allowed to infiltrate into them. They do make special kinds of both dry wall and plywood that are more resistant, generally they’re not worth the added cost unless you’re finishing your basement or expect to throw wild keggers all the time. Properly constructed though neither of those situations would actually dictate the usage of those expensive specialty materials, if anything it may be a sign that proper drainage and or ventilation is not in place. In a basement though, there is always the chance a flood or sub pump failure could cause problems and you may be lucky and your home builder could’ve invested in those water resistant materials, just in case. Either way there is a chance of damage depending on how long water was in contact. If sitting water has been in contact with your average building material for even a short time it will be quickly absorbed and mold growth will no longer be limited by a lack of moisture, only temperature can is likely to stop rampant growth, If the water damage is from a burst pipe in the winter you might actually be in luck! Otherwise, it’s unlikely. A qualified mold remediator will be able to remove all the surface mold present and dispense with any standing water but if the water has soaked completely through you will likely need to buy some new items. In the long run, this is for the best. Removing this damaged material would be part of the job but don’t forget to get a qualified inspector in before anything new is built. If the materials were water resistant they may look hopelessly damaged but chances are they can actually be returned to an almost pristine condition. After the materials have been properly cleaned and standing water removed the final step a mold remediator will take is, to help prevent the return of any mold, will be both to dehumidify and filter the air. The dehumidifying is straightforward; you may have a system in your basement now which performs this task. These can be rented and it’s advisable to get a size or two larger than normal and run it for at least two weeks. Remember, you want it as dry as possible down there. We’re trying to kill or at least force any remaining spores into hibernation. Filtering the air should be done in two basic ways, an HEPA type filter and a UV filter. UV filters will kill remaining viable spores while the HEPA filter will capture the detritus of mold which can be quite toxic, ensuring the air quality within the home is healthy. A quality mold remediator will either offer you this service, or make sure you’re aware of the steps necessary – it’s not brain surgery but it’s vital that be done for at least two weeks. Think of this like an antibiotics run for your mold infection, completing the full course is vital.

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