How Long Does Mold Remediation Take

One of the biggest nightmares for a homeowner is the moment mold shows up. Fortunately, homeowners can take various steps to limit the breeding ground for mold. Ensuring that your HVAC system is keeping the home relatively low in humidity is key. Also, using your bathroom exhaust fans for an extended period of time, after a shower is important.

If you happen to have a large area of mold become present, you will need mold remediation. How long does mold remediation take? Typically, mold remediation ranges from 48 hours to several weeks depending on the amount of mold.

Let’s take a look below at the mold remediation process.

How Long For Mold Growth

Believe it or not, mold can grow fairly quickly. On average, most molds will grow within 24-48 hours. Anytime the conditions are conducive to a breeding ground due to high moisture and humidity in the home.

Keep in mind, that mold will rarely grow in conditions below 40 Fahrenheit or above 100 Fahrenheit. Let’s look below at the areas most likely to see mold growth.

• Insulation
• Wood
• Wallpaper
• Carpet
• Sheet Rock
• Ceiling Tiles
• Paint

Unfortunately, black mold is the most toxic mold around. If you happen to have Stachybotrys chartarum growing in your home, you will undoubtedly experience sneezing, coughing, irritated eyes, nausea, rash, joint pain, headaches, and nose or throat irritations.

Mold is more often found in your basement or bathroom. These rooms typically have high moisture and humidity level. Additionally, these are dark and damp rooms.

Since mold can be so dangerous to your health, you must utilize a professional mold remediation company the moment mold is detected. Watch the video below to learn more about mold remediation.

Mold Remediation

When it comes to mold remediation, the company that you hire is the biggest factor. You will want to hire a company with an extensive background in mold removal. They will first inspect the area of the home where the mold was first discovered to determine the depth of mold in the home. Many companies will utilize thermal imaging to see through the walls to detect any water leaks and other issues that might not be visible behind the wall.

Then the removal process will begin. Identifying the mold species, water damage, and mold issues in the affected area are key. The mold removal and remediation and killing of mold in the mold-contaminated area are necessary to increase the air quality of the home.

The complete removal of mold spores from the discovered area requires the use of high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) and specialized equipment. Your contractor will need to build a containment area and use negative pressure to assist in mold removal. Also, it is imperative that the contractor follows the IICRC S-520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation. Following this guide ensures that mold will not linger in the home.

Length of the Process

Mold remediation timing can vary greatly depending on what is involved and how much mold is present. Let’s take a look below at some areas that determine the length of mold remediation.

• Mold type – Removal of black mold can take longer than other molds. This is based on the need for extreme safety measures prior to removal.
• The extent of damage – if the mold has damaged your wallpaper, carpet, floorboards, drywall, wooden beams, or ceiling tiles, it is going to take some time to remove the mold and replace the damaged material. Having mold take over any of these areas could mean some serious damage has occurred to the home and must be immediately attended to.
• Removal length – homeowners can count on a window of 48 hours to several weeks, depending on the extent of the damage.
• Post removal – once the mold has been removed a re-inspection will occur. This ensures all mold has been properly removed and materials have been correctly replaced.

Recommended Maintenance

Now that you know about mold in the home and the process for remediation, let’s take a look at some other areas in the home. One of those areas is mold from a humidifier. We know that a humidifier helps add moisture to the air, but if you don’t clean it, it can grow mold.

After checking for mold in areas of the home, it is a good idea to have a 4-point inspection if you live in Florida. This covers the areas of the roof, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC inspections, and your insurance company will require it for an older home.

Lastly, over time, we may get mold under the seal of the washing machine. To get rid of it, it takes a good mixture of hot water and chemicals. This can be prevented by using the right type of detergent, as well as keeping the washing machine door open, not leaving wet clothes in the washing machine, and using a dehumidifier in the room.

When to Contact a Professional

When it comes to hiring the right mold remediation company, it is important to get multiple estimates or quotes. Also, you will want to search for any business reviews on each company. This can become an expensive project and you want to be sure that it is done correctly.

You should get a home inspection company to conduct a mold inspection in order to understand the gravity of how much mold is in the home. Utilize the professionals to assist with this major project.

Conclusion

Mold remediation becomes necessary when the area of mold discovered is larger than 5×2. Keeping mold under control can only be achieved if the humidity and moisture levels of the home are low. It is a great idea to have your home inspected the moment you believe that mold could be a contributing factor to changes in your health. Call on Advantage Inspections to have a mold inspection conducted here in West Central, Florida.