What Does Mold Remediation Entail?

What Does Mold Remediation Entail?

Answers to Common Mold Questions

When most people think of mold, they think of those forgotten leftovers found festering in the back of their fridge. But a mold outbreak in the home is a serious issue, one that threatens the health of the home’s occupants and the value of the property.

If you suspect a mold issue in your Calgary home, contact a professional mold removal company as soon as possible.

What is Mold?

The term “mold” is used to describe a large number of fungal species that proliferate in humid conditions. Molds can grow quickly and can spread easily through the air, their buildup leads to the biodegradation of natural materials. Mold spores can be difficult to detect, which is why mold issues often spiral out of control before they are identified.

Within the home, mold growth can often be found in damp or dark areas, like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements, or any other space with high humidity levels and poor ventilation, like crawlspaces and in between walls.

Why is Mold a Health Hazard?

Some types of mold produce mycotoxins, which can be a serious health risk. Prolonged or repeated exposure, such as would occur in a home with a mold problem, can have a variety of negative health consequences, such as headaches, skin, eye and nose irritation, fatigue, fever, and shortness of breath.

When to Hire Mold Removal Services

Is Mold Removal a DIY Project?

Although small mold outbreaks can be handled with relative ease, if the mold present in your house grows beyond a few square feet, it is too late to handle the clean up yourself.

Removing mold on a large scale is potentially hazardous for the occupants of the home and should be left to a professional in order to make sure it is carried out correctly.

Do I Need to Test for Mold?

Generally speaking, tests to identify the type of mold are unnecessary because mold is easily identified by its fuzzy appearance and musty odor. But, it should be noted, air quality testing is always a wise precaution.

There are situations, however, where exploratory testing for mold is a good idea. For example, a real estate transaction could be significantly affected by a mold problem, so if you are looking at making a real estate investment or you want to sell a property, mold testing could be a great help in your negotiations.

Testing for mold can be used to your advantage either because you can prove that the house you want to sell is mold-free, or from the other perspective, because you can use the presence of mold to negotiate a lower price on your purchase.

Where is Mold Likely to be Found?

Mold can grow in any climate, but it thrives in dark and/or humid conditions. Mold growth is often a consequence of fire damage and plumbing issues, as the resulting water damage can seep into difficult-to-access areas and porous materials, like drywall, carpeting, and ceiling tiles, in the home and lay the groundwork for a mold outbreak.

Mold is most often found:

• Around leaky pipes or drafty windows
• In basements and crawl spaces, especially after a flood or fire
• In tightly sealed buildings that trap moisture, which is surprisingly common in new constructions
• In poorly ventilated bathrooms

Mold Remediation – Calgary, AB

What is Mold Remediation?

Professional mold remediation is a process to halt mold outbreaks and remove existing mold. In general, mold remediation in a household setting involves the following steps:

Inspection

Following a visual inspection, mold specialists will also take air samples to determine the extent of the problem.

Containment

Once the mold has been quantified and documented, the company will seal off the affected areas with physical barriers and shutdown any heating, air conditioning, or ventilation (HVAC) systems to make sure that the mold does not spread during the removal process.

Air Filtration

Mold spores can travel easily through the air, so technicians will use powerful air filters to clear out the building’s HVAC systems of any lingering spores to prevent another outbreak.

Removal & Clean Up

Using antifungal and antimicrobial cleaning products on hard surfaces, workers will wipe out existing mold colonies and prevent them from returning. Unfortunately, in most cases, porous materials, like drywall or carpeting, cannot be cleaned in this way and must be removed and replaced.

Sanitization

Following the mold removal, the final step is a thorough cleaning and deodorizing of any furniture, curtains, or similar items.

Can Mold Return After Remediation?

If the source of the humidity or water that initially caused the outbreak remains, there is a good chance that the mold will return. This is why choosing a professional mold removal company is always a good idea. They will have the expertise to properly diagnose the source of the problem and will let you know what steps need to be taken to make sure it will not return.

How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost?

The cost of mold removal services will vary significantly, ranging from several hundred to a few thousand dollars, based on the extent of the problem, but one thing is certain: The cost will only increase if you allow your mold problems to grow unchecked.

In severe cases, where mold removal is no longer practical, large scale demolition and renovation could be required, which will certainly be more costly than even the most expensive mold removal services.

Can I Live in my Home During Mold Remediation?

Whether or not it is safe to live in your home during a mold remediation project will depend on the scale of the issue. If the mold is confined to a relatively small area then the health risks are negligible.

But, if the problem extends to several rooms or different areas of the house, mold removal companies will generally suggest that the occupants leave the property until the mold is removed.  If there are members of the household with respiratory issues or compromised immune systems, finding alternative housing is a wise and cautious decision.

Mold Removal in Calgary

Certified Asbestos Removal Inc is committed to excellence in the fields of asbestos and mold remediation in Calgary, Alberta. With over 15 years of experience in mold removal in Calgary, our team has developed industry-leading best practices when it comes to safety and cost-efficiency

Our services comply with all Alberta Workplace Health and Safety standards. We take our commitment to the health and safety of our clients seriously, which is why we take care to meet the specific needs of each situation with diligence and care.

If you live in the Calgary area and suspect that you have a mold issue in your home, contact Certified Asbestos today!