
The men in white suits shouldn’t scare you. Like any hazardous material removal, such as asbestos or lead-based paint, mold remediation requires full protective gear. Workers will be dressed in white suits, N-95 masks, goggles, and booties, looking like space explorers. This is not necessarily because they will be handling toxic mold, but as a standard operating procedure for handling hazardous materials.
Whether it's black mold or any other color, the remediation process follows a similar procedure:
Step One: Access Required
The remediation team will need clear access to the mold area, so please remove pets and cars from the vicinity. They will park their vehicle near the doorway, lay down plastic sheeting, and run hoses through the house to reach the affected area. If the mold is accessible from the outside, this is even better. A quality mold remediation company will take care to ensure your house stays clean during the process.
Step Two: Biocide Treatment
The next step is to isolate the moldy area from the rest of the home with plastic sheeting and tape. The team will then spray the area with an EPA-approved biocide that kills the mold spores. Bleach is not an approved method of mold removal. The team should spray well beyond the moldy area to ensure no further growth. The biocide will work its magic while the team leaves.
Step Three: Mold Removal
The following day, the team will return to remove the dead mold from its food source, usually a part of your home. There are various methods for removing mold, including sanding, scraping, and media blasting with baking soda, dry ice, sand, and other types of media.
Step Four: Clean Up
Once the dead mold is removed, the area will be vacuumed with a HEPA filter attachment to capture any mold spores that were released during the process. Mycotoxins and allergens will also be captured and disposed of.
Step Five: Sealer Application
To prevent mold from returning, the previously affected area will be treated with a sealer. The remediation company will spray an area greater than the affected area to ensure complete coverage. If the attic or crawlspace is involved, the whole area should be treated.
Step Six: Final Clean Up
The plastic sheeting and tape will be cautiously taken down to avoid disturbing any remaining mold spores. The area will be vacuumed again with a HEPA filter attachment, and a spore count analysis will be taken to ensure the home has normal levels of mold.
Ready to start breathing better at home? Call us today! ARLO Environmental Inc.
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