Our Commercial Mold Remediation Process

Our Commercial Mold Remediation Process has a long history of success.   We follow industry standards to provide safe and efficient removal of mold in contaminated buildings.  If you are looking for an organized commercial mold abatement company you are in the right place.

Assess

Testing for mold contamination on surfaces and in the air should usually be performed both before and after remediation. This helps determine the type of mold containment, the severity of the problem, and how successful remediation has been once complete. The remediation specialist will inspect all areas noticeably affected by mold damage and determine the condition of mold contamination (1, 2, or 3). They will perform moisture checks in drywall, flooring, structural cavities, and any other potentially damaged materials to help determine the extent of the damage. Pre-remediation laboratory air analysis may be performed at this time by a licensed mold assessor who will also prepare a scope of work. We will note any items that have been damaged and remove all items from the affected area.

Contain

Temporary containment barriers are constructed to prevent mold spores from spreading to non-affected areas of the building, known as cross-contamination. We typically use temporary wall systems, block HVAC vents, and create negative air pressure to achieve this. Containments may be constructed around any affected area, even in corners, around permanent objects, and in hard-to-reach places.

Establishing and maintaining negative air pressure in containment areas relative to the surrounding indoor occupant spaces important to prevent cross-contamination and remove mold spores from the air during demolition and cleaning. This is accomplished with the use of HEPA equipped negative air machines (air scrubbers) placed inside the containment area with exhaust vents leading outside the building. In some areas, venting the HEPA filtered air scrubber to the outside of the building is impractical. In these cases, air should be recirculated in the containment room.

Negative air pressure will be checked and monitored by a remediation specialist regularly. Drying equipment may also be used in buildings with elevated moisture readings. Our equipment is placed in specific positions to maximize effectiveness and should not be moved.

Remove

Bleach alone does not kill mold and attempts to isolate mold or remove visible signs from the surface are not adequate. Porous contaminated materials including drywall, flooring, furnishings, cabinets, and other items must be physically removed from the structure to remove mold. Drywall removal is done using a saw with HEPA filtration attachment to help minimize dust. Contaminated materials are bagged in extra heavy-duty bags and removed from the structure for disposal.

Structural materials such as wood framing may be salvaged by sanding, scraping, or media blasting the material to remove mold growth. Soda blasting is a great option for large mold remediation and fire damage restoration projects, as it is quicker than sanding, and also helps to deodorize. Soda blasting is the process of propelling granular sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) against a surface using compressed air. Soda is an extremely friable material that micro fragments on impact, literally exploding away surface materials from a sensitive substrate, like wood or brick, without damaging the surfaces.

Decontaminate and Clean

Decontamination should be accomplished to the extent possible by cleaning. Cleaning removes contaminants, microorganisms, and their food sources from an environment. Appropriate cleaning methods vary widely depending on the types of materials and contaminate types. When contaminants are biological, often antimicrobial agents may be used to accomplish decontamination or prevent amplification.

Once all demolition is complete, all surfaces within the containment area will be thoroughly vacuumed and cleaned using HEPA-filtered vacuums and an antimicrobial disinfectant to kill and remove any remaining mold spores on surfaces. Areas to be cleaned include remaining drywall and ceiling, contents,
windows, light fixtures, wall cavities and studs, and any other surface in the area.

Verify

The affected area is checked for debris and additional hidden mold growth by the remediation specialist. Once visual inspection is passed, post-remediation air sampling is performed. All post-cleaning surface samples should indicate the absence of mold growth and residual levels of fungal elements are similar to those found on visibly clean surfaces in uncontaminated buildings and on new building materials.

Prevent

To limit future contamination or recontamination, moisture problems such as leaks or high humidity problems must be identified, located, and corrected or controlled as soon as possible. Mold growth is inevitable if moisture is not controlled.