What Does Mold Remediation Mean?

Mold remediation is defined as the removal, cleaning, sanitizing, demolition, or other treatment, including preventive activities, of mold or mold-contaminated materials from an environment that was not intended to develop in– i.e: indoor environment.

Why Is Mold Remediation Necessary?

Mold is a natural part of the environment, which means mold spores are naturally present all around us. At normal levels (in most cases), mold is perfectly harmless; however, elevated mold presence indoors can become and issue if it is not properly addressed. That is where mold remediation services come into play. Elevated indoor mold growth is often the result of an underlying moisture problem. Moisture and mold can leave Cleveland home and business owners with serious problems like the following:

• Property Damage & Diminished Property Value
• Compromised Structural Integrity
• Failing Building Materials
• Potential Health Implications
• And More

If your Connecticut residential or commercial property is suffering from a widespread mold contamination, you may be in need of a Fairfield County CT mold remediation services.

Do I Need To Hire a Professional Mold Remediation Company?

In select cases of minor mold growth, mold cleanup can be completed by a property owner with the necessary guidance. Mold industry standards dictate that areas of 10 square feet or less of mold growth usually do not require professional mold remediation. However, if you are faced with a larger area of concern or multiple areas of concern, professional mold remediation is likely needed. Furthermore, even in cases of minor mold growth, if you feel ill equipped to handle or too overwhelmed to handle the cleanup on your own, you should not attempt it without consulting a certified Cleveland mold inspector.

Key Priorities of a Professional Mold Remediation

Mold remediation focuses on more than just the mold itself. While removal of the existing mold is a priority, mold removal is just one step of a very complex process.

Mold remediation includes: source identification, containment, cleanup and prevention. The intent of mold remediation is to safely and effectively remove the mold, get to the bottom of the water source and make sure that the mold does not return.

Source Identification During Mold Remediation

At the end of a mold trail, there is always an underlying moisture source that is feeding the mold problem. The key to ensuring a successful mold remediation (without future recurrence), we need to get to the bottom of that moisture source and properly address it. A professional remediation company will have the necessary training and equipment to track where the moisture starts and stops. If the moisture problem is not resolved, mold re-growth is inevitable, despite a successful cleanup.

Proper Containment & Safety During Mold Remediation

Before starting the cleanup, mold remediation technicians have to isolate the contaminated areas with containment chambers. Airborne mold spores can travel to, land on and contaminate virtually any surface. The mold remediation process will disrupt settled spores and force spores into the air. This can lead to cross-contamination and make the existing mold problem even worse. Proper and effective containment will prevent cross-contamination to clean, unaffected areas.

Mold is considered a bio-contaminant, which is why home and business owners are advised not to handle a large mold problem without the help of a mold remediation professional. Mold remediation technicians must follow strict safety protocols when dealing with mold. This includes covering and protecting clean areas of the property, maintaining safe indoor air quality and wearing adequate personal protective equipment.

Effective Cleanup & Disposal During Mold Remediation

In many cases, mold can be effectively removed from most surfaces of certain building materials by following the IICRC S520 Mold Remediation Protocol. However, depending on the type material and the severity of contamination, some building materials may be deemed non-salvageable and must be carefully removed and safely disposed of. Mold remediation technicians should be trained in the most advanced cleaning and demolition techniques in order to ensure a safe and effective removal and disposal of mold contaminated building materials during the mold remediation process.

Adequate Mold Prevention Following Mold Remediation

Mold remediation means the removal of mold AND the prevention of re-growth. By understanding the moisture source and original causation, a mold remediation professional will be able to make recommendations for the necessary preventative measures to ensure that the mold problem does not return. This often includes moisture control methods like water intrusion repairs or indoor humidity control.

Professional Mold Remediation Process

While different mold remediation companies may prefer a specific chemical brand or machine type over another, all professional mold remediation processes should look similar to some degree. Ultimately, a mold remediation process should be designed to deliver the most effective cleanup possible, without compromising the safety of those involved.

1. Mold Assessment- Complete initial mold inspection to collect the necessary information to develop a safe, effective and efficient scope of work for proper mold remediation.
2. Containment Barriers- Put up critical containment chambers to isolate the mold contaminated areas and prevent cross-contamination of mold spores to clean, unaffected areas.
3. Cover & Protect- Cover work areas to protect floors & belongings during the mold remediation.
4. Air Filtration- Install HEPA-filtered air filtration devices to maintain clean & safe indoor air quality in your home or business throughout the mold remediation process.
5. Demolition & Removal- Remove & dispose contaminated & non-salvageable building materials.
6. HEPA Vacuum- Use HEPA vacuums to remove surface spores from affected building materials.
7. Antimicrobial Application- Apply an antimicrobial agent to all surfaces in the affected areas to destroy existing surface mold spores and facilitate the surface cleaning process.
8. Embedded Mold Roots- Apply a concentrated hydrogen peroxide agent to effectively remove embedded mold roots from porous building materials and minimize mold staining.
9. Scrub & Clean- Scrub, wipe and clean all surface mold off of remaining, affected materials.
10. Re-HEPA Vacuum- Re- HEPA vacuum surfaces to completely remove remaining spores & roots.
11. Mold-Proof Encapsulate- Apply a clear, mold-resistant coating to all effectively cleaned surfaces in the areas of concern to help prevent mold re-growth in the future.
12. Confirm Cleanup- Conduct post-remediation inspection to verify a successful cleanup.

Following the completion of a proper mold remediation, be sure to follow all preventative recommendations and moisture control measures to ensure that you do not experience mold re-growth. 

Attic mold remediation, Basement mold remediation, and crawl space remediation are some of the more common mold services. These are the most vulnerable areas in a Cleveland property for mold growth because these areas often suffer from various moisture issues like humidity, poor ventilation and water intrusion.