Don’t be afraid of the men in white suits!
Mold remediation workers are fully equipped to deal with hazardous materials, such as asbestos or lead-based paint. The workers will be wearing N-95 masks, white suit, booties and goggles. They will look like men from outerspace. It does not mean that toxic mold will be removed by the mold remediation firm, but they take all necessary precautions. It is standard procedure to follow this method for any job that involves hazardous materials.
If you are dealing with Black Mold, or any other color of mold, the remediation process will be similar to that described below. What you can expect is:
Step one: We Need Access
There will be plastic, tape, and equipment everywhere. Please keep your animals elsewhere and remove cars from the garage or driveway. Clear a wide area from the outside to the mold. The mold remediation service will park the vehicle as close as possible to the doorway. They will then lay down plastic sheets and run hoses into the home to reach the mold. It is much better if the mold is visible from outside, such as in a crawlspace. Quality Water Mitigation West Palm Beach companies will keep your home clean as they work.
Step two: Kill mold with biocide
This process begins with isolating all areas infected from the rest of the house. This is done using plastic sheets and tape. Next, spray biocide on the moldy area. Biocide, an EPA approved liquid that kills mold, is the next step. Please note, bleach is not approved for the EPA to kill mold. This first step will usually take less time. The biocide will begin to kill the mold spores after the workers have left. Mold remediation companies should spray beyond the moldy areas to prevent any further mold growth. Mold remediation companies will likely spray the entire attic, even if only one area is affected. It is better to confirm that this is the standard procedure.
Step 3: Remove the Mold
The mold remediation company usually returns the following day. It is important to have clear access once again. The first step is to remove the mold that has died from the source of its growth. This section is typically located in your home. This section can be done in a variety of ways. Sanding, scraping, and using a metal wire brush are some of the crudest and most time-consuming methods. Media blasting is another option. This would include dry ice or baking soda as well as sand and other media.
Step Four: Cleanse the area
This is where the cleaning begins. After all dead mold has been removed, vacuum the area with a HEPA attachment (High Efficiency Particular Air). All the mold spores released by the dying mold can be collected and disposed with Mycotoxins or allergens.
Step Five: Spray sealer to prevent mold from returning
In the second-to-last step, the moldy area is treated with a sealant to prevent a recurrence or new growth. To ensure that the entire area is treated, the remediation company will spray an area larger than what was affected. The entire area should be treated if an attic, crawlspace or basement is affected. This is an important step.
Step six: Cleanup
Here is where all the tape and plastic is removed. They should be removed carefully to avoid disturbing the area where mold spores might have settled. After removing all plastic and tape, the area should be HEPA vacuumed and a spore analysis performed to confirm that there are normal levels of mould in the home.