Mold removal is a serious concern for those who were unfortunately affected by flood waters from Hurricane Sandy.
Titanium Laboratories is honored to be a part of the community efforts in helping residents in every way that we can. Organized by the Scandinavian-American Building Managers Guild, Titanium Laboratories lends a hand to residents in Breezy Point and Nassau County. These are two areas that were hit particularly hard by the super-storm that ripped through the east coast, creating unthinkable damage in its path.
SABMG superintendent members helped residents in the clean-up efforts. Titanium Laboratories joined in the efforts, donating three days of visual mold inspections and consultations for mold removal.
We began by providing free mold inspections to 9 family homes. Following a full inspection, Titanium Laboratories devised a mold removal plan. We recommended which water-damaged materials should be removed and which materials were salvageable. Consultations were also provided to residents on dehumidification.
Two weeks later, we returned to follow up with the original 9 home owners to continue additional mold removal assistance. We applied an antifungal disinfectant application to the exposed wood and beams of the homes will help prevent future mold growth. Now, these 9 families may begin rebuilding their homes and their lives.
Mold Removal Tips for Storm Victims
Some well-intentioned contractors also donated their time assisted in mold removal. We observed that treatment was being applied after removing only portions of flooring, but with the subfloor in tact. Unfortunately, if the flooring of your flooded home must be removed, we highly recommend that you remove the subfloor, too. We saw the same tactics in Hurricane Irene, but with less than sufficient results.
If water levels rose above your floor level, the entire floor as well as the subfloor should be removed. The reason is simple. Flood water saturates the subfloor like a sponge, and most likely, will not dry adequately. Installing new flooring over the water saturated subfloor will create an ideal environment for mold growth and more costly mold removal work in the end. Removing the subfloor will not add significant time or effort to your mold removal project, so in our opinion, the benefit is definitely worth the additional work.
To avoid future mold infestations requiring mold removal, Titanium Laboratories urges residents to discard any water-saturated sheetrock, carpeting, and when flood waters have entered your home, consider removing everything down to the wood beams. These can usually be salvaged. Mold removal for wood beams generally entails an application of an antifungal disinfectant, a fairly straightforward and cost-effective method.
Before Rebuilding
You have the flooded rooms cleaned up from water damaged materials, including sheetrock, carpets, furniture, books, etc. Now it’s time to rebuild. One additional tip is to ensure that your humidity levels inside your home are less than 40%. Ensuring that excess moisture is removed from your indoor environment will help you ward off future mold infestations. There is nothing worse than having to remove building materials, yet, a second time, because mold removal tactics were overlooked the first time around.
Choosing a Mold Removal Contractor
When choosing a mold removal contractor, or any contractor, always get multiple estimates. The lowest priced provider is not always your best choice, make sure to compare each estimate carefully. Usually, the one in the middle is going to give you a good value for a competitive rate. And, caveat emptor – contractors asking for large deposits (more than 1/3 of the cost of the job) should be reconsidered. Always check your mold removal contractors recommendations, references, and look them up on the web. Two places we recommend are:
Do you have other questions about mold removal? Contact Titanium Laboratories today to speak to a certified mold inspector and get a free mold consultation.
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