If you have a black mold problem, you may be curious about the kind of attention that your home needs. Of course, if the problem is advanced enough, you’ll need to hire a professional Richmond black mold removal contractor. And if you do, you should be prepared for the sorts of approaches he’ll take to alleviate your problem.
Mold removal in your home may be an easy affair that involves little more than a few hours of work. But sometimes mold removal can be a multi-day affair that includes parts of your home’s support structures — like beams, wall supports and parts of the foundation — needing replacement.
Here’s a brief rundown of the kind of tasks a Richmond mold removal contractor might set out for himself in ridding your home of toxic mold.
Wiping It Down. Where non-porous surfaces like glass, tile, and smooth plastic are affected, mold removal is simply a matter of wiping the mold away and making sure the surface in question stays relatively dry. But question any Richmond mold removal contractor who says this is all your home needs. If that’s the case, you don’t even need a contractor — you can do it yourself.
Using a Shop-Vac. Your mold removal contractor may need to rid an area of excess moisture, which might mean using a wet-dry shop vacuum to deprive the mold of the conditions it likes best. If you have mold infesting part of a carpet, a shop-vac might be a vital component in the mold removal process.
Using a HEPA Vacuum. You may have heard of HEPA filters if you’ve ever shopped for a high-end vacuum cleaner like a Bissel or a Dyson. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air, and a HEPA filter can go a long way toward eliminating the spores that black mold uses to reproduce. While he’s scrubbing clean the surfaces in your basement (or wherever black mold grows), he’ll use a HEPA vacuum to clean the air.
Disposing of It. If your mold problem extends deeply into your home’s porous surfaces, your Richmond mold removal contractor may need to remove material — like wood, concrete or drywall — from your home. He’ll have to take special care to keep the affected material sealed in a closed container until the job is complete, so the mold doesn’t have a chance to spread its spores elsewhere in your home.
Biocides. These are chemical substances that can kill living organisms. A quality Richmond mold removal professional should be able to do his job without resorting to these, as they’re potentially hazardous. The fumes from using them indoors could have even worse effects than the black mold itself.
