Having a mold situation in your home is not something you should be passive about. It is a problem that needs to be tackled head-on if you want to prevent the infestation from spreading to other areas of your home.
When most folks experience, this situation, they are left with two options: The first is to get rid of the mold themselves and the second option is to get the company to do the job. In most cases, most folks go for the latter option.
If you belong to this majority, there are certain things you need to know before hiring the services of such a company. Hence, we will discuss some of these things in this article.
What Mold Remediation Is
This term refers to the process of removing, cleaning, sanitization, demolition, or preventive treatments of mold or materials contaminated by the fungi that unwantedly grew in a location. Click here to learn how to deal with mold and mildew in your flood-damaged home.
The difference between remediation and removal is that the latter deals with only removing the mold. Remediation, on the other hand, involves all that we defined above.
What is the Cost of Mold Remediation?
There is no fixed price for this process as each job is unique. The factors that affect the cost include the affected size area, damage degree, presence or absence of standing water, the level of mold growth, what needs removal, location you reside, etc.
As a result of the above, an average cost cannot be determined. Hence, if a company is telling you about an average cost, it is a red flag that they do not know what they are talking about.
Mold Remediation Process
Although the process is complex and is dependent to a large extent on the nature of the job, nevertheless, some steps are considered standard in most cases.
If you intend to carry out the remediation yourself, these steps will serve as a guide. Likewise, if you choose to hire a mold remediation Nashville company, knowing these steps will give you an idea of what the professionals will do.
Let’s take a look at these steps, shall we?
Step 1: The first thing you should do if the infestation is caused by a leak is to turn the water supply line off. If flooding caused the issue, then move to the next step.
Step 2: Seal off every area that has been damaged. You should also seal the air vents and your heaters and air conditioners in such areas as they could allow the spores of the fungi to spread to other areas in the home.
Step 3: With the aid of a wet vacuum cleaner, you should suck up standing water in the area.
Step 4: Remove all materials that have become wet or moldy such as furniture, building materials, etc.
Step 5: Open the walls that are wet or moldy. You should also remove affected flooring, cabinets, etc.
Step 6: Spray affected materials and items with fungicide. After that, double bag such items in trash bags used in construction sites.
Step 7: Use a wet/dry HEPA vacuum to vacuum debris that remains from the demolition.
Step 8: Spray the whole area with fungicide. After that, clean every non-porous surface with a fungicide that has been registered by the EPA.
Step 9: Dry the areas using dehumidifiers and fans. The air should be cleaned via High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) air scrubbers as well as air exchange. This step could take up to 10 days; the duration is determined by the damage severity. Hence, you should not rush this step.
Step 10: Spray the areas twice again using a wet fungicide to terminate any living mold or spores that was missed.
Step 11: Apply sealer to the areas that were affected to protect them against future infestation and water damage. This action will also aid odor control.
Step 12: Clean any air duct that was affected.
Step 13: Check personal items and equipment for the fungi spores. If found, remove them by washing such items outside your home. Furthermore, you should fog your home or spray fungicide on every surface.
Step 14: When you complete the process, you need to test the home for mold. That means all the surfaces, the air in the home, and every nook and cranny must be tested. Visit FirstSouthernRestoration.com if you want a more detailed process.
Do You Need the Services of a Remediation Company?
Given the steps we just shared above, you might be wondering if you need to get a remediation company. The answer depends on the size of the affected area.
If the area is larger than 3 square feet, then you need the services of professionals. The reason is primarily to ensure you are safe as mold can be very harmful to a person’s health.
However, if the area is less than 3 square feet, then you can go ahead and do the process yourself. You should ensure that you make use of protective clothing such as masks and gloves. Furthermore, you need to maintain other safety precautions such as turning off the electric supply if the area you are working on has water damage.
How to Get a Reliable Remediation Company
As you search for a company to help you get rid of the infestation in your home, do not ask your insurance provider to send you one; you might not get the best.
Instead, do the following:
- Ask for references from family, friends, neighbors, and companies.
- Ask for references from Facebook mold groups in your locality.
- Read Yelp and Google reviews of some companies.
- Ask for references from local plumbers.
Once you have a list of some companies, you can then reach out to them. You should ask them questions about the procedure, insurance, certification, etc. You can then pick the best out of the lot.
Conclusion
In the article above, we have discussed some of the important things you need to know before you hire a remediation company.
