Basement Mold and Mildew Removal

What About Mold? How do we Accomplish Mold and Mildew Removal?

(continuation from article regarding Water Damage Restoration)

The first and smartest thing to do is take measures to avoid the formation of mold! Basement mold remediation is best handled by Prevention!

Water Damage on Wood Floor, Subfloor and Carpet

First, you should realize that many people make the mistake of only focusing attention on the mold that can form in floors and carpets.

Walls and Drywall Mold

This is a mistake because walls, especially drywall, absorb water just like your carpets. On average drywall will absorb water from the floor up, up to five inches a day! If you've ever done mold remediation you'd know that the vast majority of mold in homes ends up growing on and in the walls. There are two good reasons for this. First, mold and mildew, like any living organism, need food and water to grow and multiply. The type that grows in homes loves to eat cellulose based products such as paper like on the front and back of drywall. Secondly when people only concentrate on removing or drying the carpeting they leave the walls wet to grow mold (sometimes mold can begin its growth cycle in as little as 2-3 days but usually 7 days and up).

The good news is that in the case of Category One and Two water damage, nearly everything large or small can be dried and salvaged in a matter of days in the vast majority of cases. The key is taking immediate action and getting your home professionally dried. Few if any homeowners are equipped to dry their homes on their own correctly. It takes a real Professional to handle this type of situation correctly by making sure the structure behind the walls is dry. We have sensitive meters that allow us to test for mold conditions by showing us where the moisture is and when it is dry. If you think you might have mold or mildew, give us a call and we can test for it. Mold can be a significant health risk. Having it checked out by a mold inspector is easy.

Not all materials can be salvaged after getting wet. Several types of carpet pads, most paper products and wall insulation are several examples. Hardwood floors can often be dried and salvaged within 10-12 days. Floors, ceilings, walls, cabinets and furniture of all types can usually be saved, but the key here is.......Act Fast!! Don't let the water sit for a day or so. Water Travels! The longer you wait, the more it will cost you or your insurance company. Again, each day the water sits there it becomes more and more contaminated and does more water damage to your home.

See our other articles for information on sewage cleanup, both in premises and in crawl spaces, mold remediation, dealing with insurance on water damage, etc.