Mold is a byproduct of water or moisture. Fixing the source is step one in remediating mold.
Mold Remediation is a multi-step process that includes the removal of the mold from impacted surfaces (Hepa Vac), the application of a post-cleaning fungicide, and lastly application of a fungistatic coating on organic surfaces.
The fungistatic coating is typically white or clear and applied to organic wood surfaces to allow the treated surface to resist mold growth. The coating can also stop the wood from absorbing moisture, which is what allows mold to start to grow.
This is all performed in a manner to try and contain the mold spores, so they are not spread to other rooms in the building. You must also be diligent in looking for additional sources of water/moisture that fueled the mold growth. Commonly, there are more than one cause of the mold growth.
Since only 11 states have mold regulations, the work performed in all other states is questionable as you have no specified quality of service. Meaning what should be performed to remediate mold is not always completed. If the white coating is not a mold-resistant coating i.e., paint, mold would be expected to grow as paint contains organic material that can foster mold growth. Mold-resistant coating (fungistatic) costs significantly more than paint, and many people will use paint to save money.
Mold Remediation Failures
If the company performing mold remediation is unlicensed, which most are and they do not follow industry protocols, expect corners to be cut and your mold remediation to be a failure. Mold remediation failures come from a lack of clear objectives and protocols that the company should utilize to remediate the mold.
The photo below shows areas that were missed when applying a mold-resistant coating which allowed mold to grow.
While a remediated space does not necessarily have to appear like a freshly painted room, the area should visually indicate that treated surfaces are coated or covered. As the name implies “fungistatic coating” must coat all organic surfaces to be effective. The better coatings come with a 10-year warranty to prevent mold growth.
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