Five Critical Steps to Home or Office Mold Remediation

7/25/2017 (Permalink)

Five Critical Steps to Home or Office Mold Remediation

If you are concerned about possible mold damage in your home or office, here are five important steps to follow. Doing so will help to limit or contain fungus and mildew, which may also reduce mitigation costs. Mold growth can occur very rapidly, especially mold growth behind wall areas where you cannot see it. Often, mold in home or office locations will occur due to weather-related damage, flooding due to home appliances such as a broken sump pump, or poor air circulation throughout the building. For help in deciding whether you need to address mold removal or consult remediation specialists, check the following.

Check for a mold smell.

Sniff around the suspected areas of mold damage to see if you notice a fungus odor. It smells like mildew, rancid and stale. If you do notice a smelly odor, you might have mold damage. Fortunately, clean-up initiatives include deodorization, so the smelly odor will not linger afterward. However, detecting the scent of fungus suggests you may want to contact a mold mitigation specialist for advice for help in searching for mold in home areas that are hard to see and likely request deodorization service.

Look for discolored fungus growth.

Finding mold in home environments often requires the help of a commercial mold damage specialist with experience in residential and commercial structures. A skilled restoration company knows where to look and how to evaluate fungal growth or mildew that may be signs of serious mold damage. Mold can be almost any color, and is sometimes multi-colored, so it may take commercial mold damage experts to determine whether mildew patches in your basement, attic, or walls are evidence of dry rot or mold growth. Black mold is especially hazardous, but any kind of mold growth, no matter the color, should be analyzed by a professional restoration company for accurate assessment.

Test home or office structures for mold.

In addition to noticing a smelly odor or discolored patches of fungus growing in a building, remediation experts can advise how to check for any signs of mold growth behind walls. Using special instruments, skilled mold removal technicians can look for mold in home areas that are not readily accessible, such as behind walls or under flooring. An experienced restoration company knows where to look and how to evaluate the findings as to whether the building has residential or commercial mold damage or a case of dry rot. Since mold can cause dry rot or develop from it, professional evaluation is needed. If no smelly odor is detected, deodorization may help to prevent residual moldy smell following remediation treatment. Mitigation experts can also distinguish between dry rot, mildew, and mold and recommend appropriate treatment. Hidden black mold is important to find before it circulates through a building's HVAC system.

Follow recommended procedures.

Working with a qualified restoration company, follow their recommendations to support the mitigation process for containment and mold removal. If a building is water damaged, try to remove the water to prevent mold growth. Avoid disturbing moldy patches, as movement may spread the spores. Don't use the air conditioner or heater during remediation until all mold is removed, mold growth behind walls. Those allergic to mold may want to leave the structure until mold removal treatment is complete, as well as deodorization. Commercial mold damage mitigation may require the building to be closed temporarily if the problem is substantial.

Recheck treated areas.

Most professional remediation treatments are effective and lasting. However, some forms of mold are hard to find, or they may grow back after removal. Black mold and any mold growth behind walls should especially be double-checked.

Building mold is not uncommon and can usually be readily treated by professionals. Consult mold removal experts if you suspect mold growth.
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