seemingly small moisture issues can cause big problems

Posted on: 22 April 2021

When you have a moisture problem in your home, there may also be issues with mold and mildew. You are going to need mold remediation to deal with the problem and prevent spores from spreading to other areas. The following mold remediation information will help you deal with moisture issues:

Inspecting Areas With Mold or Mildew

The areas with mold spores growing on materials will need to be inspected. The spores are the mildew spots that you see in areas with moisture problems. Therefore, you may want to have testing done to locate the mold and start planning on remediation. Some of the areas that may need mold testing to prepare for remediation include:

• Bathrooms with poor ventilation
• Walls with plumbing and other mechanical installations
• Basements or lower areas of foundations where moisture problems start
• Kitchens and other utility rooms where appliances are located

If moisture problems return in the future, you may want to have the testing done again.

Removing the Severely Damaged Materials

It is important that mold and affected materials are found during the remediation process. However, severely damaged materials will need to be removed during mold remediation. This includes:

• Drywall that has absorbed water
• Woodwork that has swollen due to moisture
• Damaged flooring like carpet and engineered wood floors

Mold often grows on materials like drywall, wood, and other absorbent materials. These are where moisture provides the perfect conditions for the mold to spread throughout your home.

Cleaning Up Any Spores That Are Spreading

The spores that are causing the mold to spread will need to be cleaned up during the remediation process. The cleaning up work that needs to be done to remove the mold spores includes:

• Thoroughly cleaning and removing spores from all surfaces
• Ventilating the area to allow moisture to complete dry
• Treating the area with an antifungal treatment

Cleanup is an important step in the mold remediation process. This will ensure most of the mold spores are gone. This prevents issues that will cause severe damage to your home.

Repairing the Damage and Preventing Mold Issues

You may also need to repair the damage to materials to prevent issues with mold. The problems that will need repairs during mold remediation include:

• Replacing the drywall that was removed
• Repairing issues with rot in wood framing
• Replacing cabinetry and trim materials
• Installing new flooring materials

The repairs that you do after cleaning up the mold should include preventative measures to reduce moisture. These improvements may be installing waterproofing or adding ventilation to areas that are prone to moisture problems.

The problems with moisture need to be addressed during mold remediation to ensure the spores don't come back. Contact a mold remediation service for more information.