Posted by Chad Adams on Wed, Dec 30, 2009 @ 10:24 AM
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Posted by Fred Terlaak on Sun, Jul 19, 2009 @ 02:13 PM
Mold growth around the bathtub or shower stall is to be expected. Its presence typically isn't cause for alarm. But if you see (excessive) mold growth or smell a constant strong musty odor, it may be a more serious situation requiring further investigation. If you are certain that only a small area is affected with light growth, it makes sense to remove the mold yourself using the proper tools and methods.
However, if you're not sure of the extent of the mold growth, or you know or suspect that you have a mold growth issue that requires professional remediation; it is a good idea to engage a mold testing company to assess the severity of the problem. Of course you also want to check your home owner's insurance policy to see if it covers mold damage. In most situations, the testing company will not only determine if excessive mold requires professional removal, but they can also provide a scope of work for the remediation contractor.
It is important to note that mold removal projects are never identical. However, certain processes are typical of most mold remediation undertakings. The laws and regulations regarding mold remediation vary by jurisdiction, so please check the rules that apply to your location.
House Mold Austin
As an Austin mold restoration contractor (licensed by the State of Texas) we follow a remediation process composed of three phases:
- Pre-Remediation
- Containment
- Remediation
PRE-REMEDIATION
In this phase, as the name implies, everything is prepared for the work begins. Typically, the following steps would be taken before the actual remediation:
- Initial walk through inspection to assess extent of the damage
- Moisture measurements and documentation
- Documentation of water damaged and mold contaminated material and areas
- Evaluation of the ventilation system
- Identification and elimination of all sources of water intrusions
- Data evaluation - active growth vs. settled spores, porous vs. hard surface materials
- Possible microbial sampling to obtain reference data
- Hazard communication
- Development of remediation plan
CONTAINMENT
The purpose of containment during remediation activities is to limit release of mold into the air and surroundings, in order to minimize the exposure to the technicians performing the remediation work and building occupants to mold. Mold and moldy debris should not be allowed to spread to areas in the building beyond the contaminated site.
Generally there are two types of containment recommended - limited and full. The larger the area of moldy material, the greater the possibility of human exposure and the greater the need for containment. Typically the size of the area helps determine the level of containment. However, a heavy growth of mold in a relatively small area could release more spores than a lighter growth of mold in a relatively large area.
Limited Containment
Limited containment is generally recommended for areas involving between 10 and 100 square feet (ft2) of mold contamination. The enclosure around the moldy area should consist of fire-retardant polyethylene sheeting. The containment should have a slit entry and covering flap on the outside of the containment area. The containment area must be maintained under negative pressure relative to surrounding areas. This will ensure that contaminated air does not flow into adjacent areas. This can be done with a HEPA-filtered fan unit exhausted outside of the building or containment.
Full Containment
Full containment is recommended for the cleanup of mold-contaminated surface areas greater than 100 ft2 or in any situation in which it appears likely that the occupant space would be further contaminated without full containment.
REMEDIATION
The goal of a mold remediation project is to restore the affected building and contents to a (near) pre-loss condition and reestablish a healthful environment for its occupants. During the remediation, it is important to prevent the dissemination of mold contamination to the unaffected area and to protect the interior environment and health and safety of the workers and occupants.
A variety of processes and techniques may be used to remove mold depending upon the contaminated material. Generally, the live or dead mold must be completely removed, and the airborne spores must be reduced to an acceptable level using HEPA filters.
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