About Mold Remediation
- How do you remediate mold?
- How can you tell if remediation is necessary?
- How do you know if remediation was successful?
- Are you licensed in mold remediation?
- Do you place a warranty on the work you perform?
About Mold
Q. What is mold?
Mold is a common term for types of fungus (fungi) characterized by growth as a collection of long filaments. Fungi are found throughout nature, particularly in moist environments. Fungi are known to be highly adaptable and capable of growing almost anywhere.
From an indoor air quality perspective, fungi are grouped loosely into two basic categories: Toxigenic and non-toxigenic (to humans). Toxigenic species, which are often referred to simply as toxic (commonly referred to as “black mold”), produce chemicals called mycotoxins which are known to have negative human health effects. Mold remediation is concerned primarily with the removal of moisture and the resulting presence of toxigenic species
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Q. Which species of mold are toxigenic?
The EPA identifies the following species of mold as being toxigenic:
- Aspergillus versicolor
- Aspergillus Niger
- Aspergillus Flavos
- Stachybotrys atra
- Stachybotrys chartarum
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Q. What factors cause indoor mold growth?
Moisture is the single most important factor for mold growth. Like other biological organisms, mold will grow anywhere that there is sufficient food and water to support its growth. Because mold is capable of using many common building products as a food source, the availability of water is the primary limit on mold growth.
Certain events within homes are well known to promote mold growth, mainly because they introduce unusual levels of water into the home. Leaking pipes often exhibit some mold growth at or near the site of the leak. Homes which have been flooded either due to water intrusion, plumbing or sewer malfunctions are also susceptible to mold growth particularly in walls and furniture where water damage is common.
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About Mold Remediation
Q. How do you remediate mold?
In theory, mold remediation is a straightforward process. If necessary, remediation begins by establishing critical barriers to prevent the spread of mold spores while remediation is taking place. Surfaces or items containing mold which can not be remediated are then removed, when possible, and disposed of as solid waste or demolition debris. Mold impacted items which cannot be removed are treated with a fungicide to kill the existing mold and help to prevent regrowth. Finally, powerful HEPA air filters are run to remove mold spores from the air. Depending on the material type and porous nature, a mold-resistant coating may be applied once the material is thoroughly dried.
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Q. How can you tell if remediation is necessary?
Sometimes, the need for remediation is visibly obvious or easy to determine from a simple visual inspection. When mold is visibly growing, particularly over a large area, mold remediation is usually needed.
Other times, mold may grow hidden behind wallpaper, in air ducts, around difficult to access basement pipes, or in other hard to see areas. In these cases, the need for remediation is usually driven by suspicion that mold is causing negative health effects. In order to determine if mold is actually to blame, TSP uses a combination of air and bulk sampling (using special tape to collect samples from surfaces) to determine the concentration of mold spores both inside and outside the building. When indoor concentrations are significantly higher than outdoor concentrations, there is a strong likelihood that mold remediation will be necessary.
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Q. How do you know if remediation was successful?
The primary way to determine if mold remediation was successful is to test for the remaining presence of mold spores after remediation is complete. Air and bulk samples are collected from inside and outside the building just as would be done for determining the presence of hidden mold. The samples are then analyzed by an independent laboratory and if the sample anlaysis results indicate the absence of toxigenic species (or normal levels of non-toxic forms present in the environment), the remediation is considered successful. Note, however, that the long term success of the remediation effort depends critically on the successful resolution of the underlying water problem which allowed mold to grow in the first place.
Successful remediation does not mean the total absence of mold spores. Mold is a part of the natural environment, so it is unreasonable to believe that mold spores will not enter buildings through normal air flow. However, as long as the mold spore concentration is not significantly higher inside than outside, it is unlikely that mold is still growing indoors.
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Q. Are you licensed in mold remediation?
At this time, neither government regulators nor the indoor air quality industry have established standards for licensing or certifying mold inspectors or mold remediation contractors. TSP does, however, hold numerous licenses which are relevant to performing mold remediation including licenses as an asbestos abatement contractor, lead abatement contractor, and residential builder. TSP is also a member of the Indoor Air Quality Association and members of our staff have taken Certified Mold Remediator training courses.
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Q. Do you place a warranty on the work you perform?
Consistent with standard industry practice, TSP does not warranty mold remediation. Because mold is a biological entity which is present in the environment, it is not possible to entirely and permanently remove all mold spores from the air. As such, even after a successful remediation, there is a possibility that mold from the environment will take root and begin to grow.
That said, TSP does take steps to reduce the likelihood of mold regrowth. Because most mold growth is really a symptom of a deeper problem, TSP works with building owners to identify and eliminate factors which create a mold-friendly environment. TSP also uses a form of fungal-resistant coatings during the restoration process to reduce the exposure of surfaces on which mold may grow. By taking these steps, TSP is has a long track record of providing long term relief from mold growth.
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