Molds are not only a nuisance in the maintenance and upkeep of a home but also poses health risks for the household. They are very adaptive and could be a major problem for areas with damper climates. The easy recourse is mold removal. But how long does mold remediation take?
In this post, we shall tackle mold remediation and other associated FAQs in dealing with molds at home. If you need this now, read on.
What is mold remediation?
Mold remediation is just a more technical term for mold removal. As such, mold remediation generally involves the expertise remediation professionals in the removal and cleaning up of molds in households.
What makes mold grow?
Molds do not come out of nowhere. These fungi thrive in moisture and high humidity. They enter the home as harmless spores but due to leaky roof, frequent downpour, snowing, or flooding in an area, they multiply.
As soon as they establish a niche, they start destroying the walls, the floors, and emit a foul odor. Molds usually niche in carpets, ceiling tiles, and in fabric. They are also rampant in the bathroom, the basement and even in the kitchen.
What are the most common signs of mold infestation?
If one or more of the following is experienced or visible in your household, it might be a confirmation of mold infestation. Call a mold remediation specialist if:
- The musty smell gets stronger by the day.
- If water damage is not yet repaired.
- If rusting is prevalent in the household.
- If materials have started warping.
- If molds have become visible.
- If members of the household feels sick without improvement.
How long does mold remediation take?
The main consideration in determining how long shall mold remediation take is the volume and coverage of the molds themselves. It is also important to note where they are mostly concentrated. Of course, remediation may take longer if they are tucked in hard-to-reach areas.
Nonetheless, as per average, mold remediation may take 1 day to a week. But if they have become widespread and invasive, it might take three weeks to more than a month. To know which available remedies are present for your mold situation, you need to call professionals beforehand to assess the circumstance.
Do I really need to hire a mold remediation specialist?
Well, this is a valid question if you do not want to doze off a lot of money for mold remediation. You have to understand however, that once you disturb molds, they distribute themselves in different locations through spores. Thus, if you do not have the sufficient knowledge and skills to do it yourself, hiring a mold remediation specialist is still the most practical choice.
What are the steps in mold remediation?
Since it is more of the work of professionals, you would expect that there are specific steps in mold remediation. In a nutshell, it would be the following:
- Assessment: In this phase, the amount of moisture is measured. Where the molds are extensive, a sample is even taken to identify toxic molds from ordinary ones. If there are toxic molds, expect a longer mold remediation.
- Planning: The next step is to start the outline for total mold removal. After outlining the steps for remediation, the after treatment is also determined.
- Preparation: The remediation team shall now prepare mold infected areas. Plastic barriers are installed, and an air scrubber is put into place. The air scrubber or negative air machine sucks out the excess moisture from the room.
- Demolition: Should there be areas that have been completely destroyed by molds, the team shall safely remove these structures. All cardboards, debris, drapes, carpets, and everything shall be demolished too.
- Remediation: In here, deep scrubbing and cleaning take place. Professional cleaning solutions are spread. Fogging, blasting, UV light and ozone are the common remediation tools used.
After these steps are done, the final touches would be clearing and restoration. There are two ways to know if the remediation took effect. But it would again be best if you leave it for the specialists to assess if they have done their job.
Will molds come back after remediation?
There are instances when molds come back after remediation. This does not mean that the remediation process was not successful. The primary reason behind this would be the presence of moisture build-up. This happens especially after heavy rains or after a flood. If such happens, expect the sight of molds 48 hours after even if the remediation just took place.
How can you tell if a mold is toxic?
There are three tests to know if a toxic mold is niching in your home:
- A distinct, earthy, musty, rot like smell coming from a certain spot.
- Growth spots of black, brown and green color.
- They are concentrated in water damage spots.
Final thoughts
Mold remediation is the last recourse when mold niching has become extensive. It can be done on your own but it would still be a more practical choice if you contact specialists to do it for you. Mold remediation usually takes 1-5 days to finish. However, it could vary depending on the volume of molds in the home, the affected areas, and more.
