What Materials Need to be Discarded During Mold Remediation?

9/10/2019 (Permalink)

Home mold growth can be very dangerous for a variety of reasons. For starters, mold can weaken building materials and spread over time, making what was once a seemingly small problem a large, complex and expensive one. And secondly, it's estimated that up to 30 percent of all humans have some sort of a mold-related sensitivity. These effects from being around mold range from minor to major, and may consist of things like runny noses, watering eyes to chest pain and respiratory issues.

As we said, mold can be dangerous on multiple levels, and it's why you should always rely on the professional to remediate any issues in your home or business. In California's Bay Area, SERVPRO of San Mateo is that professional for you. Whether it's minor mold growth or a major outbreak, we've got the experience, tools, and knowledge to remediate the mold in a safe and effective manner. We follow all the industry standards for mold remediation and structural repair, and the latter aspect of mold issues is important for consumers to understand. When it comes to water damage and subsequent mold growth, there's a good chance that we'll need to remove at least some building materials that have been affected. Here's a closer look.

What Moldy or Water-Damaged Materials Can be Salvaged?

Generally, anything water damaged or experiencing mold growth that is porous must be discarded of. This includes the likes of drywall, carpeting and carpet padding when it comes to building materials. For example, if the lowest level of your home flooded, SERVPRO of San Mateo would come in, pack out salvageable contents and then work to remove drywall in the room up to the point where it was affected. In these situations when you're dealing with porous materials, it's crucial to remove drywall and paneling down to the studs or else mold will surely begin to grow — that is if it hasn't begun to grow already. You can't safely dry out porous materials, and that's why we take the necessary steps to remove them. Following mold remediation or water damage cleanup, porous materials — such as drywall — will need to be replaced to restore the area to a preloss condition.

Non-porous materials are a different story and typically do not have to be removed unless there is significant rotting or other damage to them. Even in the event that they have mold growing on them, it can be fairly easily removed with a hand brush and then disinfected so that any remaining mold spores are destroyed. These materials can then be dried and drying can be sped up utilizing the likes of air blowers, dehumidifiers, and other fans.

Other Contents

Contents restoration, or the successful restoration of personal items, belongings, and materials, has drastically improved over time to the point where nearly everything can be restored if it's gotten to in time. This includes the likes of clothes, electronics, books, textiles, hard goods, photographs and more. Technology has advanced so notably that if these items are packed out and restored in a timely manner, the success rate is very good. If they're not addressed quickly enough, however, then they may have to be discarded — another reason why it's so important to call in the professionals promptly whenever there are those first signs of water damage and/or mold growth. Ultrasonic cleaners, ozone washing, special electronic cleaning stations and more can all help restore a variety of contents to preloss conditions.

Contact SERVPRO of San Mateo Today

Obviously, you hope that nothing ever happens to your home or business — but at the same time, it's best to be prepared in the event of a disaster. That's where the professionals at SERVPRO of San Mateo can come in handy. As experienced restoration and remediation professionals, we pride ourselves in being the complete solution for damaged property in California's Bay Area. And when disaster strikes, you can count on us to respond promptly, create an action plan and get to work. For more information on our mold remediation services, contact us today.