03 Oct 5 Great Steps to the Right Mold Removal & Mold Remediation
Mold and mold remediation in homes are still very important issues. Home builders must respond quickly to customer complaints. This is to ensure that customers are safe and healthy and their homes last a long time.
Two important facts about mold to keep in mind:
1. Avoid it by starting things right the first step.
2. If you find mold on your skin, get it treated immediately.
The warranty team should follow a process for mold remediation.
These steps can be modified to suit your company’s policies. They are a quick way to quickly resolve mold problems.
Five Steps to Mold Remediation
Learn more about the role of moisture in mold growth
Assessing mold development is more than simply looking at the visible growth. Mold can hide behind what you see and grow around it. This devious behavior demands inquisitive thought.
Understanding that mold growth can be caused by moisture or water problems is the first step. Learn how to identify moisture sources and how they get into your home.
These two steps are designed to allow warranty agents to locate a source of moisture and help them find all mold growth.
Mold grows by releasing its reproductive cells (spores) into the air. Spores are invisible to the naked eye, and mold can spread and grow anywhere in the home as long as moisture and oxygen are present. Common surfaces that harbor mold growth include drywall , insulation, tile, fabrics, and wood.
Document the mold problem and create a mold remediation plan
Document the situation in writing, photographs, and video before you start mold cleanup and removal. A warranty supervisor will use the documentation for a remediation plan. This will answer questions like when work will begin, when it will end, who will perform the remediation, what testing will be performed, and whether homeowners will need to temporarily relocate.
The documentation can be used to reduce liability and point out larger trends in mold growth.
Step 3: Determine the extent of mold contamination
Mold can grow in different areas, so it is important to determine how much contamination you are actually looking at. How you approach mold removal will depend on how much contamination is present. Mold removal is designed to remove mold from the home and avoid homeowners being exposed to excessive mold growth.
Mold contamination can be remedied
Mold remediation and removal will always include removing existing mold, while also avoiding being exposed to homeowners.
Based on the area of contamination, calculate if the area is larger than 30 square feet. This is roughly the same area as a sheet of drywall. If you are, you will be following the guidelines below for remediation levels 1, and 2. You can use Level 1 for isolated, small areas of mold that are less than 10 square feet. Level 2 is for larger areas that span 10-30 square feet.
These steps are the same for both Level 1 and 2 mold remediation.
- Fix the water problem. This will prevent mold spores and other contaminants from growing.
- Remove the contaminated area. For both levels, close all doors and windows that lead to the contaminated area from other rooms in the house. Cover all doors and other openings with 6 mil polyethylene sheets for Level 2 remediation. To enter the contaminated area, seal all seams with duct tape.
- Suppress dust. Mist the affected areas.
- Remove any materials. Get rid of all mold-damaged and wet porous materials. If you aren’t sure what materials to remove, consult your supervisor or refer to the Environmental Protection Agency documents of mold remediation.
- Put materials in plastic bags. All wet or moldy materials should be thrown away in plastic bags at least 6 mil thick. Double-bag the materials and tie the bags shut. After the bags have been cleaned with a damp cloth and detergent solution, they can be disposed off as normal trash.http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html
- Clean. All wood surfaces and non-porous materials that are moldy should be cleaned. You can use a wire brush to clean any moldy surfaces. Then, wipe the area with disposable wipes. You can dispose of the wipes as regular trash by placing them in polyethylene bags 6 mil thick, then tie it shut. Use a damp cloth with a detergent solution to scrub any moldy surfaces. Rinse clean surfaces with clean water.
- Cleanse the area and egress. Level 1 is a slightly different process than Level 2. Clean the affected area with a damp cloth or a mop and detergent solution. Level 2 requires that you vacuum all surfaces using a HEPA vacuum. After vacuuming, wipe all surfaces clean with a damp cloth or mop with detergent solution. Discard wipes as described above.
- Visibility test. All areas must be free from contamination and debris. No dirt or dust means there is no mold.
- Dry. Dry any materials that have been cleaned to let the moisture evaporate. Fans, dehumidifiers, or raising the indoor temperature can speed up drying.
- Replace. All materials should be repaired or replaced.
To ensure that the plan is being followed, refer to it during actual remediation. The warranty supervisor should make any changes to the plan if additional mold is found during clean-up.
Many builders use outside mold removal companies to clean up areas larger than 30 feet. This is where you and your team will switch from performing mold remediation to overseeing a qualified contractor.
It is helpful to have a basic understanding of the procedures that an outside company should follow.
Find out if the mold cleanup was successful
You don’t have to clean up the mold completely. The final step is to evaluate whether your cleanup efforts were successful. This is a judgement call. However, there are some options and guidelines you can follow.
The Mold Removal in Schools and Commercial Buildings EPA document is a great resource. It provides guidance to help you with your cleanup efforts. These guidelines include:
- The moisture problem is now fixed. You can verify this by returning to your home shortly after the remediation. There shouldn’t be any signs of recurring moisture damage.
- There is no visible mold, mold-damaged material or moldy smell.
- The homeowner should be able to move into or out of the house without any health problems or physical symptoms.
An environmental testing company might perform additional testing after cleaning up moldy areas. This is depending on the company you work for and the details of the mold problem.
Implementing a comprehensive moisture management plan is key to controlling mold growth. It is possible to reduce potential liability and health problems caused by mold by getting it right the first-time.
Following a process similar to the one above, cleanup must be done immediately and thoroughly. Although it may seem simple, the main reason homeowners complain about builders’ inability to respond quickly or with the urgency that the problem is serious is not clear.
Personal protection equipment that is minimal for level 1 and 2 remediation include an N95 respirator, non-venting eye goggles and rubber gloves that reach the mid-forearm.
Have you got mold? What next?
It is important to have a thorough and immediate mold remediation plan in place. Customers will appreciate your commitment to quickly acting.
Make sure you have all the required personal protective equipment before entering a house to evaluate a mold situation.