Water And Mold Restoration
Mold is a common problem experienced in homes and places of work, especially in environments where water or moisture is present. If you have seen mold develop in your home or workplace, you might be wondering what you will do to get rid of it.
Water and mold restoration is the procedure used to remove mold that usually occurs because of water damage.
This article will discuss water and mold restoration. Before you finish this article, you will understand what mold and water damage restoration is and what causes mold and water damage.
In addition, you will also see how to perform mold and water damage restoration and how you can prevent mold from coming back and spreading after doing water and mold damage restoration.
What is Water Damage Restoration?
Water damage restoration is the procedure used to remove moisture or water that enables a thriving environment for mold. It is also a process that helps you regulate moisture levels in your environment to halt mold growth.
This process involves removing water or moisture from any water source and drying it thoroughly before commencing mold treatment.
What is Mold Damage Restoration?
Like water damage restoration, mold damage restoration involves getting rid of mold in an environment by drying the moisture or water that enables the breeding ground for mold. Mold is an example of secondary damage that happens because of water damage that is unattended to.
While mold-resistant coatings and construction materials are an option for mold damage restoration, regulating moisture levels is still the most straightforward technique for halting the growth of mold.
How To Do Mold Damage Restoration
The first thing to do to restore an environment to normal after mold damage is to inspect the property and conduct mold testing.
After doing the property inspection and mold testing, follow these steps to remediate mold damage:
1. Set up an enclosure
The work will be on the entire building. However, the mold damage restoration company you hire will construct a temporal chamber. Mold damage restoration involves mold removal and increases the level of mold in the atmosphere during the operation. This temporal chamber helps to keep these mold spores within the specific area that is under treatment.
2. Install necessary equipment
If structural elements like the framework are still moist, the company you hire will install dryers. These dryers and fans, together with the air cleaner, will help to remove surplus mold spores.
3. Remove mold
After installing the needed equipment, it’s time to remove the mold. The company will remove the mold by dismantling and disposing of all the construction materials like drywall and carpet contaminated by mold.
4. Clean with antimicrobials
All the building materials contaminated with mold will be treated with antimicrobials to eliminate mold. If mold contamination is severe, they can use harsh or corrosive chemicals to treat the mold, but it must be done only by experts.
After cleaning with antimicrobials, all the non-porous surfaces inside the enclosure, such as marble, tiles, etc., will be thoroughly cleaned to remove mold spores that might have gathered in the air. In addition, they will use HEPA vacuums to clean and dust every corner of the chamber.
5. Spray with mist
After the antimicrobial treatment, the mold and water damage restoration company will treat the concentration of mold spores in the atmosphere with an antimicrobial spray, sprayed using a ULV (Ultra Low Volume) backpack sprayer.
6. Do the last deep cleaning
After spraying the antimicrobial spray, the mounted enclosure will remain in place, and air purifiers will continue to operate for about 48 – 72 hours to remove any leftover mold spores. Based on how severe the mold damage is, the mold and water damage restoration company might need to return afterward to perform a second check through scrubbing and misting.
Note: It is recommended that you hire a mold damage restoration company for your mold damage remediation needs. Non-experts shouldn’t try mold damage restoration.
How To Do Water Damage Restoration
To do water damage restoration, you must hire a water damage restoration expert to do the job for you. As soon as the water damage remediation specialists arrive at your affected property, they will use moisture detection meters to examine the parts of your building affected by water damage.
They will evaluate their results and manually remove as much water as possible. After that, they will set up drying tools like air movers, dehumidifiers, etc., to remove any last drops of moisture.
Removing water or moisture from the floor or surface usually takes 3 to 4 days. Afterward, the company experts will use moisture meters to verify and see if everywhere is dry.
How to Stop Mold from Reappearing and Spreading After Water and Mold Damage Restoration
Your family or colleagues in your workplace can inhale clean air once more if you get rid of mold and ensure it won’t grow back. Take the following steps to reduce the risk of new mold formation after performing water and mold remediation:
1. Find the cause of the mold spread
Finding the root cause of the mold spread requires some investigation, but it is worthwhile. When you identify and handle the main issue, you will be less likely to carry out mold eradication in the same spot. You can do this by contacting a mold testing and removal company.
2. Pay attention to known wet areas
Does the air in your home or workplace often smell and feel humid? Before mold starts to grow and thrive, pay attention to areas that are always wet so you can remove the moisture from these areas before mold growth begins.
3. Reduce the moisture level in your workplace or home
High levels of wetness are necessary for mold to thrive and grow. Reduce the moisture level in your environment drastically, but ensure that you have sufficient humidity to keep your rooms comfortable.
Final Words
This article has explained water and mold restoration in detail. Water and mold restoration is a process used to get rid of moisture and remove mold that is a risk to health in homes and public places.
Remember to hire a professional water and mold restoration service for your water and mold damage restoration needs.
FAQ
Does mold usually grow when there is water damage?
Any water damage can create a thriving environment for mold formation. However, this does not imply that mold growth will always occur whenever there’s water leakage.
Several variables will determine the likelihood of mold growth, including the level of water damage, how soon it was cleaned and dried, and the number of surfaces involved.