Worried you might have a mold problem? Pungent smells, past water damage and visible signs of mold tend to all lead to the same place; mold remediation. While this process can seem overwhelming, we’re here to calm your nerves and help you approach the problem from a place of knowledge. From determining the scope of damage to figuring out the remediation plan and ensuring it’s done correctly, there are several steps to take in order to achieve the best results. Read on to discover what you need to know before you hire mold remediation experts.

Determine the Source

Before you deal with your mold issue, you need to determine where it’s coming from and put a stop to it. Any work you do to remove the mold will be pointless if the source of the moisture does not get fixed. Mold can come from a variety of sources and issues that can occur in the home. For example, you could have a leak underneath a sink that you can’t see but is dampening the drywall behind or underneath it. Perhaps you experienced a pipe bursting or flooding in your home but didn’t take the proper steps to deal with the damage and the walls or floor remained wet even though they appeared dry. There is also a possibility you will not be able to determine the source of the moisture yourself and will need a professional to do a test in order to locate it. Moisture meters and other tools can test for dampness within the drywall, floors, and in areas of the home where you may not be able to see moisture with the naked eye.

Consider a Mold Test

A mold problem can look very different depending on the cause, type of mold and scale of the issue. If you can see the mold with the naked eye, there may not be a reason to get a mold test. But consider this; even if you can see the mold, there are chances it could be growing out of sight in other areas of the home. If you’re going to spend the money on fixing the problem, you want to feel confident that it’s completely handled. One way to do this is to hire a company to do a mold test. They can test every room, crawl space, attic, basement, and garage. A testing company knows exactly what to look for and understands the difference between indoor and outdoor mold. They can let you know where the mold is, if it’s spread to other areas of the home you didn’t know about and if the mold is toxic. While it’s never recommended to be living in mold, there are certain types that have been known to cause considerable health issues. If you’re experiencing symptoms like sinus problems, headaches, dizziness, rashes and more, knowing what type of mold you’ve been exposed to can be helpful to share with your doctor. You’ll have to let the mold company know you want them to speciate the mold in order to determine the specific strain you’ve been exposed to.

Make Sure They Have Experience

Finding a reputable company to remediate your mold is essential. Before you get started, ask friends or coworkers if they have ever experienced a mold issue that required remediation, or know someone who has. Mold is not an uncommon problem and the chances you know someone who has had to deal with this exact issue is likely and can be helpful as you navigate this new terrain. A personal recommendation is always the best. Ask how their experience was, if the company followed proper protocol and if the remediation was successful. If you don’t know someone personally who has dealt with this issue, do your research online. Read reviews thoroughly and check how long they’ve been in business. The more experience a company has, the more likely they are to treat your problem in the correct way.

Ask for a Mold Remediation Plan

After you’ve received the results of your mold test, have a clear understanding of where the mold has spread and discovered what’s causing it, it’s time for remediation. A company you hire to execute your remediation should follow a certain set of protocols when it comes to tackling the issue. Before you allow them to begin any work, check to make sure they have the proper equipment. The workers should be donning proper safety gear and masks and the contaminated area should be sealed off from the rest of the home. You should also expect the company you hire to use state of the art, professional-grade equipment when it comes to cleaning the mold. They should use HEPA vacuums and air scrubbers to clean the affected area and high-end dehumidifiers to help dry it out. If you see anything you could pick up at your local hardware store, they probably aren’t legit. Not only should the company you hire clean and dry the area, but they should also be removing any items with mold. Drywall, insulation, flooring or other parts of the home that have been contaminated should also be removed and discarded.

Rebuild Damaged Areas

The last part of the equation is to determine who will rebuild the damaged areas once remediation is complete. You may need to replace the flooring, drywall, or other materials in the home. You don’t need to have the remediation company complete this part of the process, but it’s great to find a company that does both. Yeager and Co. is an expert flooring company with over 75 years of experience. We have a mold remediation license to better serve our customers and make sure every job is done correctly and professionally.

Start Your Mold Remediation Today

With the information above, you now have an understanding of how to approach the mold remediation process to ensure you remove the toxic mold in your home and rebuild it in the right way. Make sure to assess the problem and know the scope of damage and then hire a professional company to remediate and remove the mold the right way so you don’t have to deal with the same problem down the road. Contact us today with any remodeling questions and be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more tips.