01 Nov Vital Steps to the Right Mold Removal & Mold Remediation
The last few years have seen mold get its moment of fame. While the hype has subsided, mold in homes and mold remediation are still a significant issue.
Customers have complaints and home builders need to respond quickly.
Two things are important to remember when it comes to mold:
1. You can prevent it by making sure you do things correctly the first time.
2. Mold can be very serious so get rid of it as soon as possible.
It is important that your warranty team follows the mold cleanup process and remediation.
These are the steps that can be easily modified to suit your company policy and serve as a guideline for quickly remediating mold issues.
5 Steps to Mold Removal and Mold Remediation
Step 1: Find out about the role that moisture plays in mold development
Assessing the mold growth requires more than looking at visible mold growth. Mold can sneak in behind or around what you initially see. These devious behaviors require inquisitive thinking.
Understand that mold growth is caused by water or moisture problems. learn about moisture and where it comes from.
These steps have two main goals: warranty representatives must identify and use the location of any moisture source to help locate 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.
Step 2: Document the mold problem and create a mold remediation plan
You should document the mold situation, including photos and video, before you begin to clean up and remove mold. To create a remediation program, the warranty team supervisor will review the documentation. It will include information such as the date, time, and who will be doing the work.
Documentation can help you manage your liability or point out larger trends regarding mold growth
Step 3: Calculate how severe the mold contamination is
Mold may not grow in every area. Therefore, you must determine the extent of contamination. The extent of contamination can impact the way you approach mold cleanup and removal. The purpose of mold removal is to eliminate mold growth from your home.
Step 4: Clean up mold contamination
Mold remediation involves removing mold from the environment while avoiding any further exposure to homeowners and others.
Based on your calculations of the contamination area determine if you are working in an area greater than 30 square feet. This is roughly the same size as a full sheet drywall.
If yes, then you should follow the guidelines for remediation level 1 and 2. The first remediation level is used to treat small, isolated areas up to 10 x 10 ft. The second remediation level covers square footage between 10 and 30 x 30 ft.
The cleanup steps for Level 1 and Level 2, mold remediation, are identical.
- Resolve the water issue. This will stop mold spores growing.
- Clear the contaminated zone. Both levels require that you close all doors and windows connecting the contaminated zone and any other rooms of your home. Also, cover any openings and doors with 6 mil polyethylene sheeting for Level 2 remediation. You can seal the seams of the sheeting using duct tape.
- Suppress dust. This can be done by misting contaminated areas.
- Remove porous materials. Clean up all mold-damaged materials. If you’re unsure of which materials to remove, check with your supervisor.
- Use materials in plastic bags. Place all moldy and wet materials in plastic bags of at least 6 mil thickness. Then, seal the bags by securing the bag. You can dispose of the bags as regular trash after you have cleaned the area with a damp cloth.
- Clean. All surfaces made of non-porous material and wood that are not porous must be cleaned. Clean all moldy surfaces with a wire brush and wipe it clean with disposable wipes. Place disposable wipes in plastic bags of 6 mil thickness, tie with a knot, and dispose of them as normal trash. Finally, use a damp cloth and a detergent solution to clean all moldy surfaces.
- Clean the affected areas and egress. This is Level 1. Use a damp cloth to clean and/or a detergent solution to mop. Level 2 requires you use a HEPA vacuum to vacuum all surfaces. Then, clean surfaces with a damp mop or cloth with detergent solution. Discard wipes as described above.
- . All areas should be visible free of debris and contamination — dust and dirt do not equal mold.
- Dry. To allow moisture to evaporate, dry cleaned materials. You can speed up the drying process by using fans, dehumidifiers and raising the indoor air temperature.
- Replace. All materials moved should be replaced/repair.
Refer to the remediation plan at the time of actual remediation in order to ensure it is being followed. If mold is found in the cleanup, the warranty supervisor must update the plan.
Most builders will hire mold removal companies outside for larger areas. You and your team can now supervise a contractor qualified to perform mold remediation.
Step 5: Find out if mold remediation has been successful
It doesn’t necessarily mean you are done if the mold has been removed and there is no dirt or dust. Next, you need to assess whether your clean-up efforts were successful. Although this is a final step, there are some options available and guidelines that you can follow.
The Guidelines for Cleaning Up Mold in Schools and Commercial Buildings is a great tool that will help you get started. These guidelines include:
- The moisture problem has been resolved. This can be verified by visiting the house again soon after remediation. You shouldn’t notice any signs that there has been recurring water damage.
- There are no signs of mold-damaged materials, visible mold or moldy odors.
- Owners should be able occupy or reoccupy their home without having to suffer from any physical symptoms or aggravations.
A mold testing company can perform additional testing depending on your company and the particular details of the problem.
A comprehensive moisture management strategy is the key to mold prevention. You can dramatically reduce the risk of mold-related health and liability.
After following the steps above, clean up must be quick and thorough. This may sound simple but it is the most serious problem in homeowner complaints. Builders don’t respond fast enough or emphasize the severity of the issue.
For levels 1 and 2, the minimum personal protection equipment is an N95 respirator and eye goggles with vents. Rubber gloves extend to the forearm.
Are you a mold expert? What’s next?
Mold removal is best done quickly and with a detailed plan. You should have the proper personal protective equipment to enter a home in order to assess for mold growth.