Understanding the Intricacies of Commercial Mold Remediation

6/11/2023 (Permalink)

Welcome to the world of mold

Have you ever caught a whiff of a musty scent in your commercial property and wondered where it could be coming from? Welcome to the world of mold – an intricate, invisible, yet essential subject that affects building. This blog post aims to unravel the complexities of mold remediation, drawing from real-world experiences of locally-owned businesses in our community.

 Let’s start with the basics: What is mold? Mold consists of microscopic spores that float in our environment, both indoors and outdoors. They enter buildings through open windows, doors, and HVAC systems, and can even be carried in on clothing or pets. Despite their seemingly innocuous nature, these spores can rapidly evolve into a major problem when exposed to moisture.

 The story gets more complicated when you consider the various factors that affect mold growth. These include the amount of water present, the frequency of the water source, the type of food source (substrate), the water affinity of the substrate, and the temperature range. As conditions change, different species of mold can colonize, with each presenting unique challenges for remediation.

 So, what happens when a commercial building or home encounters a mold issue? The remediation process goes beyond merely cleaning visible mold patches. It begins with the identification and repair of the water source causing the mold, otherwise, mold will simply return. Utilizing moisture meters, experts can pinpoint the precise location of dampness fueling the mold growth.

Subsequently, professionals must navigate the painstaking process of containment, cleaning, treatment, and removal of mold. This involves specialty equipment such as high-quality HVAC filters for capturing mold spores and humidity gauges to monitor indoor humidity. An experienced team will be trained in these techniques, transforming contaminated buildings into safe, habitable spaces.

 Prevention, as in many things, is better than cure. Regulating indoor humidity levels (ideally within 30%-50%) can help inhibit mold growth. It's also vital to have an action plan ready should a mold problem arise. That's where an Emergency Ready Plan comes into play. This is a strategic response plan that allows businesses to minimize disruptions and resume operations as quickly as possible following a mold outbreak.

 In the end, understanding and addressing mold hazards is a complex task requiring specialized knowledge and a proactive approach. But with awareness and effective planning, businesses can effectively manage and mitigate these risks. Stay informed, stay prepared, and most importantly, stay safe.

How Long Does Mold Remediation Take?

3/24/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® of Central Oklahoma City has you covered. We prevent future mold growth so you can live in a healthy home or business.

Oftentimes, mold will show up in a home or business and homeowners may wonder how long it takes to clean up this issue. The answer to this question is a little tricky because there are several factors that determine how long it will take for the mold remediation process to be complete.

The First Step: During the initial stage of the process, SERVPRO of Central Oklahoma City will remove any contaminated materials and cordon off any areas that are being treated so no one can enter the area that is being cleaned. Once the team is ready to get to work, they will apply professional cleaning solutions and antimicrobial agents to contaminated areas such as walls and floors. Once this is done, the team will seal off these areas with plastic to prevent spores from re-entering and spreading throughout the home or business.

Next, SERVPRO of Central Oklahoma City will treat any areas that are particularly impacted by mold with special chemicals or techniques such as fogging, UV light, ozone, or blasting. This will take a few days and the team will be sure to stay away from any contaminated areas while the chemicals are being used.

Depending on the severity of the mold, the team may also apply an encapsulant to certain areas to help with their removal and inhibit future growth. This is especially helpful when there are stubborn mold spores present that cannot be removed by simple biocide treatments or a thorough cleaning.

After the entire process is complete, the team will inspect and ensure that all of the areas that have been contaminated are clean. This will be done by testing for any traces of mold or fungus. If there are any traces of fungus, then the team will reapply the antimicrobial solution or encapsulant to these areas until they are completely clear.

Once all of the mold is gone, SERVPRO of Central Oklahoma City will then thoroughly dry the areas that have been contaminated. This can be done by running dehumidifiers, fans or air scrubbers. This is an important part of the cleanup as moisture is one of the key factors in mold spore growth and spreading throughout a property.

SERVPRO of Central Oklahoma City will Re-Inspect & Repair Damaged Items Once the contaminated items have been properly disposed of and all areas that have been cleaned are dried, the team will then replace any damaged areas with new ones that have been cleared and repaired. This will help to restore a home or business to its original condition.

The most common time that mold remediation will be required is after a major leak or water damage has occurred in a building. This can take a little longer than other types of mold removal due to the fact that the mold needs to be dealt with before it can spread throughout the structure and create further problems.

It is important to realize that although it is possible to remove mold, there will always be a small number of spores in a home or business that will cause issues for the residents and workers in the building. Luckily, with the proper mold removal procedure, most of these spores will be killed and won’t cause any serious issues. This is why it is so important to hire SERVPRO of Central Oklahoma City  to handle these issues, as they are trained to properly remove all of the mold spores and make sure that the problem isn’t going to re-occur in the future.

Can I Free My Crawl Space From Mold

1/26/2023 (Permalink)

mold in the bathroom of a residential property

SERVPRO of Central Oklahoma City knows crawlspaces are tricky exactly because of what they are: crawl spaces with little room to move, and even less room to get in difficult areas to clean up mold damage. These spaces are usually dark and dank and very poorly sealed, as well, making them ripe for mold infestation as damp and water damage set in – especially after a flood. So if the crawlspace in your home is infested with mold…how do you clean it?

Try Media Blasting

Despite how it sounds, “media blasting” isn’t playing your boombox loud enough to get reported to the neighborhood homeowners’ association. Media blasting is the practice of spraying tiny particles of non-harmful substances at a surface at extremely high speeds, causing the particles to abrade away anything on that surface as if sanding it. In fact, the practice used to be called sandblasting until sand was replaced as the medium due to the dangers of inhaling particles. Media blasting can:

• Sand away any mold on the surfaces in your crawlspace without damaging the surface underneath
• Allow you to access hard-to-reach places
• Let you clean away mold without having to actually come into contact with the substances
• Enable you to also clean underneath homes, and not just in crawlspaces

Media blasting can actually be pretty messy, but it leaves you with mold-free surfaces that have been scoured entirely clean.

So How Can I Media Blast My Crawlspace?

Media blasting requires some pretty heavy duty equipment, so it’s usually best to leave it to a professional. Specialists who understand media blasting have the appropriate equipment and protective gear to ensure the process can be done safely and thoroughly to minimize mold exposure and ensure complete eradication of your mold problem. Media blasting can also be used for mildew, and various other growths you may wish to remove from your home – or for removing old paint before repainting your house.

Safety Mold Tips To Know

1/23/2023 (Permalink)

mold in living area

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold spores throughout your home or business. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home or business.

What to Do:

Stay out of affected areas.

Turn off the HVAC system and fans.

Contact SERVPRO of Denton for mold remediation services or a visual inspection

What Not to Do:

Don’t touch or disturb the mold.

Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.

Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.

Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of Central Oklahoma City specializes in mold cleanup and restoration, in fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business.  Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – (405) 252-9400

Does Your Home Have a Mold Problem

1/23/2023 (Permalink)

mold in bathroom

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.

Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.

Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.

Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.

Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.

Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If your home or business has a mold problem, SERVPRO of Central Oklahoma City can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.