Mold Removal

Mold Removal

Mold removal (also known as mold remediation) is an issue that homeowners are becoming more aware of. Just a few years ago, the appearance of mold may have been noticed in the bathroom shower but not really thought of as growing in other parts of the home. With the growing awareness of environment issues, a lot of people now know that mold removal involves more than just a few sprays with a bathroom cleaning product.

Homeowners are also realizing that this type of job is not a “do it yourself” weekend project. Here are a few reasons for that:

• There is actually an element of danger in mold removal. If you have not been tested for allergies to mold, it is possible that direct exposure can trigger serious medical reaction. Some people have only minor allergic reactions. In any event, our workers are highly trained in handling and removing mold, and all of the precautions necessary.
• The process of identifying mold can be confusing. You have to not only determine that what you are looking at is mold, but you also have to determine its source – how did the mold start growing there? These kinds of things we can spot pretty quickly because we have done this many times. Someone with less experience may not know what to look for.
• The average person does not have the necessary equipment to perform a thorough and safe mold removal. We have already invested in a vast array of equipment because it is our work. We have gauges, scopes, cameras, meters, and all of the necessary personal protective clothing that enables us to work safely. We also use a special HEPA vacuum (HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air). This machine is specifically designed to clean even the tiniest particles of mold from the area, and it is used every time we do a mold removal.

Sometimes we get asked, “What exactly IS mold anyway?” In simple terms, it is just a fungus. It actually does serve a purpose in nature. Mold causes organic material (food, for example) to decompose. Were it not for mold, that banana peel that someone dropped on the ground would still be there a year later. So we really do need mold in our world; just not in our homes.

The first step in our mold removal process is a complete assessment. It is necessary that we check every surface in your home where mold could possibly be found. This includes the more obvious areas such as the duct work of your home’s AC system, but it also includes the other components of that system.

Wherever conditions are right for mold to grow (generally it needs darkness and moisture), it will thrive. We need to find every location of mold, and we must also locate the source of the humidity that caused it. It doesn’t make sense to just remove the mold that is currently present if a new batch starts growing immediately afterward.

Once the mold has been located, the actual mold removal process can be started. We first eliminate the source of the moisture. Often, the source is a leaky air duct; if that is the case, it is sealed securely. In some cases, the mold may be so widespread that the materials saturated with mold are actually discarded and replaced (this is not very common however). In each case, the mold itself and the source of the mold are both eliminated.

If you suspect that your home or place of business may have mold, give us a call and we will come out and take a look.

We offer mold removal service throughout Virginia, including Richmond, Norfolk, Roanoke and Lynchburg. Our coverage also includes Greensboro NC, Raleigh NC, Baltimore MD, Columbia MD, and Washington DC. If you are in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, DC, or Delaware, please feel free to call.