Mold has had its fifteen minutes of fame over the years. Mold remediation in homes, despite the popularity of mold, is now over. Customers should not wait for homebuilders to respond to their complaints. This is so that mold problems can be fixed quickly and to show customers that they’re a quality home builder.
Two important facts to remember about mold:
1. It is better to start from the beginning.
2. You should immediately get mold treatment if you notice it on your skin.
It is important to follow the mold remediation process.
These steps can be altered to fit your company’s policies. These steps are quick and easy to solve mold problems.
5 Steps to Remove Mold/Cleanup
Step 1 – Learn more about moisture and mold growth.
The mold growth assessment goes beyond merely assessing visible mold growth. Mold can hide behind visible mold growth and grow around it. This clever behavior requires inquisitive thinking.
It is important to understand that mold growth can be caused by water problems or moisture. Find out how moisture enters your home and from where it comes. These steps will allow warranty agents to locate moisture sources and help them identify mold growth.
Step 2 – Document the mold problem and create a mold remediation plan.
Before you begin mold cleanup or removal, take photos and videos of the situation. A warranty supervisor will use the documentation to create a remediation plan. These documents will answer questions such as when work will start, when it stops, who will do the remediation, how testing will be done, and whether homeowners will have to relocate temporarily.
Documentation can help reduce liability and highlight larger trends in mold growth.
Step 3 – Determine the extent of mold contamination.
Mold can grow in many different places, so be sure to assess the extent of the contamination. The extent of contamination will determine how you approach mold removal. Mold removal is intended to eliminate mold growth from your home and protect homeowners from being exposed.
The New York City Department of Health created guidelines for cleaning up mold contamination. These guidelines are widely used in the construction industry. Based on the extent of mold growth and the HVAC system, there are six levels of mold removal. You can use the NYC DOH’s online guidelines to determine the required level of remediation.
Step 4: Remove mold contamination
Mold remediation and removal will include:
- Removing mold from existing surfaces.
- Cleaning up any moisture sources.
- Avoiding homeowners being exposed to it.
You can determine the size of the contamination area by measuring it. This is roughly the same area as sheet drywall. You should follow the guidelines below to determine remediation levels 1 and 2. For small, isolated areas of mold less than 10 square feet, you can use Level 1. Level 2 refers to larger mold areas covering 10-30 square feet.
The steps for Level 1 and 2 mold remediation are identical.
- Water problems must be addressed. This will stop mold spores from growing.
- The contaminated area should be removed. Close all doors and windows are leading to the contaminated zone from any other house rooms. For Level 2 remediation, cover all doors and openings with polyethylene sheets 6 mils. Seal all seams with duct tape to allow air into the contaminated zone.
- Suppress dust. Mist the affected areas.
- All materials should be thrown away. You can consult your supervisor if you’re unsure which materials to get rid of.
- Place materials in plastic bags. Put all wet or moldy materials in plastic bags at least 6 mils thick. The materials should be double-bagged and tied shut. The bags can then be disposed of as normal trash after removing the contamination.
- Make sure to clean all wood surfaces and other non-porous materials with mold. To clean moldy surfaces, you can use a wire brush. Next, use disposable wipes to wipe down the affected area. The wipes can be disposed of as normal trash by being placed in polyethylene bags measuring 6 mils thick and tied shut. To clean any moldy surfaces, use a damp cloth and a detergent solution. Cleanse the surfaces with warm water.
- Clean the area and allow it to egress. This is slightly different from Level 2. Use a damp cloth, a mop, and a detergent solution to clean the area. You must vacuum all surfaces with a HEPA vacuum at level 2. After vacuuming, use a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces or a mop with a detergent solution. Discard wipes as described above.
- Accessibility test. All areas must be clean of all debris and contamination. There is no mold if there isn’t dirt or dust.
- Dry. To let moisture evaporate, dry any cleaned materials. The drying process can be accelerated by fans, dehumidifiers or raise the indoor temperature.
- Replace. All materials must be repaired or replaced.
During actual remediation, make sure to refer back to the plan for it not to be broken. The warranty supervisor should amend the plan if additional mold is discovered during cleanup.
To clean up larger areas than 30 feet, many builders hire mold removal in ocean county. You and your crew will alternate between actual mold remediation and overseeing a contractor. It’s helpful to understand the procedures that outside companies must follow. These are for contamination of Level 3 or higher.
5: Verify that the mold cleanup was successful
It doesn’t mean that you have to completely clean up the mold. The final step is to assess whether your cleanup efforts were successful. This is a judgment call. There are many options and guidelines that you can use.
This document, Mold Removal in Schools and Commercial Buildings EPA, is a valuable resource. This document will help you in your cleanup efforts. These guidelines include:
- Now the moisture problem has been resolved. This can be verified by going back to your home within a few hours of the remediation. You shouldn’t see any signs of recurring moisture damage.
- There are no visible molds, mold-damaged materials or moldy odors.
- A homeowner should be able to move into and out of their house without any physical or mental problems.
After cleaning up the moldy areas, an environmental testing company may perform additional testing. It all depends on which company you work for and the mold problem.
A comprehensive moisture management program is essential to control mold growth. You can reduce the risk of mold-related injuries and liability by doing it right, the first step. Similar to the previous process, it is important to clean up any mold immediately. It may seem easy, but homeowners complain that builders are slow to respond because the problem is not obvious.
The minimum personal protection equipment for level 1 or 2 remediations is an N95 respirator and non-venting goggles.
Are you a mold expert? Next?
It is crucial to have a comprehensive and prompt mold remediation plan. Your customers will appreciate your commitment to acting quickly.
Ensure you have all of the necessary personal protective equipment to enter a home to assess a mold problem.
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1004 Old York Road, East Windsor , New Jersey, 08520, USA
(609) 337-0930
