If not handled properly a water intrusion or a water damage
can end up with microbial growth. If not dried properly porous materials can
start to develop growth in a period as short as 72 hours.
The first thing we are going to discuss is figure out
whether mold is present or not. Sometimes property owners do not even know they
have mold until they smell a rotten smell, or remove a wall during a remodel
and see what looks like mold, or even get sick and not know what or where it is
coming from. Not all mold is visible. As a matter of fact most people do
not know they have mold until they have an inspector come out and take air
samples and tell them they have mold. According to Arkansas law only a licensed inspector can
determine and inform a property owner that mold is present. Also, it is a conflict
of interest for a company to do both the testing and remediation for mold. For
further assistance with finding the right person to test to see if mold is
present please feel free to call our office.
Once an inspector has verified the presence of mold a
protocol should be written outlining the steps for remediating your structure
and restoring it to acceptable living standards.
The remediation process can be lengthy depending on the
situation. Just wiping bleach on mold is not an acceptable solution and does
not remove the mold. The affected materials must be contained.
Usually this means that the room it is in must be contained. This is achieved
by putting up a barrier at all openings to the rest of the structure or
unaffected area. The reason for this is to prevent the spread of any mold
spores to other areas of the structure. Once the area is contained an air
scrubber (a machine that purifies the air), with a HEPA filter should be set to
a negative air (or negative pressure). This means any dust, debris, or spores
are cycled through the air scrubber and discharged out of the affected area and
usually outside of the structure altogether.
The next step depends on the severity of the damage(s) but
we are now ready for demolition. The most important thing about remediating any
mold is to make sure all the mold is removed! Industry standard tells us to
remove the affected material AT LEAST one foot beyond the last bit of mold
growth.
Materials that can not be removed, such as framing, should
be wiped down with an anti- microbial agent. There are many different agents
for this. A couple of favorites for remediation contractors are Microban and
Sporicidin. Bleaches is not acceptable for this either, as it does not have any
anti-microbial solution. Once the surfaces that can not be removed are wiped
down with an anti-microbial agent, they should be sanded down and then sealed
with an anti-microbial shellac.
A certain amount of clean up is required next. The room or area
where the demolition took place should be vacuumed with a HEPA vacuum, wiped
down with an anti-microbial agent, and then fogged with an anti-microbial
agent.
Before the project is considered to be remediated it is
important to have the hygienist (or inspector) perform a post remediation test.
This test is to ensure that the structure is brought back to an acceptable
indoor living condition. As a certified mold remediation company, NWA
Restore It is required to be able to pass a post remediation test any time we
perform mold remediation services.
Don’t let your health or health of a loved one be
compromised. If you believe you have mold growth in your structure trust
NWA Restore It to remediate it for you!