Better Information Eases Raleigh Mold Damage Management

4/17/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians in Raleigh are trained and experienced in all phases of mold damage remediation.

Certified SERVPRO Technicians Tackle Mold Restoration Easily

Mold might have developed beneath the surface when you notice dark or brownish patches appearing on walls or ceiling panels. Other signs of trouble include materials like drywall swelling and crumbling at the slightest touch. You may have heard of people dealing with mold damage, but it is only when it develops in your Raleigh home that you get a clear idea of its full effects. 

When your Raleigh property has mold damage and requires remediation, you can get satisfactory results if you understand how and why it develops. Mold falls in the fungus family, and it contaminates any surfacae, provided the conditions it requires for growth are prevalent. These conditions include organic food sources and abundant moisture. These conditions allow microscopic spores that cannot be seen with the naked eye to sprout and start colonizing surfaces. Any remediation process must address the colonies on the surface and prevent new spores from germinating. SERVPRO provides the resources necessary to facilitate such steps.

Necessary mold remediation resources:

• HEPA filtration equipment
• Physical agitation equipment
• Chemical agents
• Cutting or drilling equipment

Mold colonies consist of the residues at the surface and the hyphae buried deep within materials. Mold also develops openly or within enclosed areas. With such variations in its development, abundant resources are necessary to facilitate remediation. Filtration devices help remove fine mold residues from different regions of a property. For instance, our SERVPRO technicians use HEPA filtered vacuum cleaners to dry clean structural surfaces and contents, removing fine residues and spores. The filters are also essential in addressing particulate matter released into the air during cleaning or demolition. An air filtration device layered with different types of filters and the High-Efficiency Particulate Absorbing filters helps restore indoor air quality after an incident of mold contamination.

Physical Solutions to Fight Mold

Unlike other forms of contamination, mold involves significant physical changes such as debris from the colonies accumulating on surfaces and physical material deterioration when mold consumes them to fuel its development. The physical aspects of the problem require physical solutions such as cutting away deteriorated materials from the structure.

Typical materials to remove:

• Carpets and pad
• Drywall
• Wallpaper

Removal is usually necessary when an affected material is organic and porous since hyphae penetrate deep into its core, where even the most aggressive cleaning processes cannot significantly impact the outcome. During removal, drilling or cutting materials helps limit unnecessary damage, debris, and time wastage. Our SERVPRO crews have various tools, including drills, circular saws, pry bars, and rubber hammers, to tackle the tasks necessary for physical material removal.   

Another critical aspect of mold remediation is using chemical products to help manage soils or stop microbial growth processes. Chemical agents are also helpful in combating odors that develop in contents or structural areas affected by mold contamination. When addressing mold, it is essential to pick the right class of chemical agents. Generally, antimicrobial products should be good enough. However, a special category of products such as sporicides or disinfectants may be necessary when addressing specific challenges. For example, after wet cleaning surfaces, our SERVPRO technicians must take steps to ensure any residue moisture does not prompt the rapid growth of new mold colonies. Using a cleaning product with antimicrobial properties or applying such a product after cleaning helps delay growth. 

SERVPRO of East Raleigh / Zebulon is well equipped to handle mold damage. You can call us at (919) 250-0455. We can manage any incident at your property "Like it never even happened."