Mold Clean Up

7/11/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Casper specialize in mold clean up.

There is a common misconception that when a homeowner finds black mold in their home, that they “have the black mold”. They believe that it is mold from the Stachybotrys genus (as made infamous in various news reports), but that’s not always the case. There are over 250,000 different species of mold that have been identified by scientists, and the color of the mold is not a reliable indicator of its species.

Regardless of the specific type of mold that is present, the handling and cleanup procedures remain the same. There are 7 easy steps to safe, successful mold removal:

Step 1 – Call a professional company that has been trained and has Applied Microbial Remediation certification through the IICRC.

Step 2 – Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment – a thorough inspection to determine the extent of mold presence. In some situations, it may be necessary to have testing performed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist. They are the professionals that are qualified to perform scientific mold testing. An Industrial Hygienist will write a remediation protocol after testing. It is essentially a “playbook” with their recommended steps to properly address the mold problem.

Step 3 – Mold Containment – A containment with negative air pressure is set up in the contaminated area. This prevents the mold spores from spreading to other areas in the building.

Step 4 – Air Filtration – HEPA filters are used as part of the negative air pressure system. These filters capture the mold spores out of the air.

Step 5 – Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials – Certain contaminated materials, such as drywall, are bagged and disposed of. Mold is removed from wood framing and other surfaces through a variety of methods, including HEPA vacuuming, sanding, and cleaning.

Step 6- Cleaning Contents and Belongings – Your personal belongings are evaluated, and handled item-by-item. Some items may not be restorable, and will need to be disposed of. Others can be cleaned using antimicrobial products, HEPA vacuuming, or possibly laundering.

Step 7 Restoration – Once the mold has been removed and cleaned up, the property can be put back together. We have multiple contractors in the Casper area that specialize in restorative construction.

If you think you have mold in your home or office, feel free to give SERVPRO of Casper a call at 307-235-6558. We have highly-trained staff that is certified through the IICRC, and ready to help you. We can make the mold problem in your home or commercial building “Like it never even happened.”