You’ve probably heard alarming news reports about “black mold” found in people’s homes, which can often trigger serious health problems or occasionally even be fatal. The term “black mold” refers to a specific species of mold, Stachybotrys chartarum, and is called black mold because of its greenish black color. However, it’s important to understand that not all mold is “black mold” (even if it appears dark in color). All types of mold can trigger allergic symptoms or even sometimes be very dangerous. However, there’s no need to panic and leap to the conclusion that you have “black mold” in your home if you discover evidence of some type of mold.
Having said that, you definitely want to rid yourself of mold, no matter what type it is. If you’ve experienced a water damage event in your house, such as a leaking roof or a burst pipe, it is likely that the excess moisture in the area has encouraged mold to grow. After testing for mold and determining that you have a problem, we follow these steps to eradicate it:
- First, we don protective gear, because dealing with mold stirs up more spores and can be dangerous for the person working in the area. We use proper respirators and protective clothing.
- Then, we seal off the affected area to prevent cross contamination. You don’t want to stir up mold spores that then spread to the rest of the home. We use professional equipment to circulate the air, remove spores, and dry out the area.
- We use exceptional care if we need to open walls to access areas impacted by mold. The presence of electrical wiring can make this part of the process tricky or potentially dangerous for an amateur.
- Damaged and heavily infected materials are contained and removed. They must be tied up in heavy-duty plastic bags so that spores aren’t spread during the removal process.
- The area is fully vacuumed (to remove more spores) and then cleaned. The entire area must be thoroughly scrubbed with a mold-removing solution, and care must be taken to avoid inhaling fumes.
- Finally, we bring in a third party to test the affected areas and ensure the mold removal was successful prior to removing any containment and starting any repairs.
Yes, the process is a bit complex, but it’s definitely worth it to protect your family and property! If you suspect black mold (or any type of mold) in your home, call us for professional testing and guidance. We can help you eradicate the problem and restore your home.