When you discover mold in your commercial building, your first instinct might be to panic. Instead, take the time to learn about emergency remediation.
Having a firm grasp of the processes involved in eliminating mold from your property will enable you to handle the situation calmly and rationally. The following guide can help you prepare for this situation.
Conducting the Mold Damage Assessment
If you schedule an annual mold inspection (and you definitely should), you’re already familiar with this process.
While a normal inspection tests for the presence of mold, a mold damage assessment assumes you already have a mold problem. The primary goal of the inspection is to pinpoint all of the places affected by mold growth. This includes hidden growth that your original search missed.
Additionally, a thorough assessment can help determine the extent of the damage, enabling the remediation team to develop a plan and select the right tools and equipment. When they begin the remediation process, they’ll have everything they need to do the job right.
Containing Mold to Prevent It From Spreading
There are two main steps involved in containing the mold in your building. The first is to address the cause of the mold. This usually involves making building or plumbing repairs.
The goal of these repairs is to ensure that moisture and humidity won’t spread and cause future mold growth. You can hire professional contractors to repair the roof, foundation, or plumbing leaks, or handle these tasks yourself if you have the equipment and know-how.
The second step focuses on containment. The remediation team will use physical barriers to block off the affected areas and keep mold spores from migrating through doorways, windows, and ducts. While these barriers will prevent exposure in other parts of the building, the remediation team might recommend evacuating nearby areas.
Removing Mold and Affected Surfaces
The next step involves demolishing the affected areas inside your commercial building. The remediation team will wear special protective clothing and gear to limit their exposure to mold spores. The barriers will keep contaminated dust and debris from filtering through to other parts of the building.
After demolishing the affected areas, the team will remove all of the moldy surfaces. They’ll then use special disposal containers to safely remove the mold from your property. The containers will remain sealed throughout the removal process to ensure that mold spores won’t escape and affect others or the surrounding environment.
Cleaning Salvageable Items
It may be possible to salvage certain items before the remediation team arrives. This can be problematic, however, since you may not be able to see all the mold growth on an item.
The remediation team can test various items to verify that they’re safe to salvage. Consulting the professionals can help you avoid serious mold-related health impacts.
If you have salvageable items, it’s important to follow the remediation team’s instructions carefully. You’ll remove the items to a clean, dry location with proper ventilation. You might also use fans to assist in thoroughly drying the items. Whether you’re salvaging upholstered, wood, or another material, it’s critical to make sure the item is completely dry.
After drying the items, you can follow through with additional restoration processes.
Solitary objects, such as chairs or picture frames, might not need additional work. Other pieces, such as upholstered furniture, might require deep cleaning, repairs, or other services. Professional restoration services can restore these items to like-new condition.
Restoring the Affected Areas
Your mold remediation team will likely finish with a restoration phase, though some companies leave this part of the process up to the property owner.
You’ll want to make sure the remediation team rebuilds and restores any surfaces they demolished at the start of the remediation process. The affected areas should match the rest of your commercial building.
Afterward, the remediation team will perform one final inspection to ensure the complete removal of mold from your property. Once they draw up the final report, they’ll gather their equipment and tools and be on their way. Upon their departure, your mold-free building should look just as it did before you discovered the mold.
Some mold remediation companies offer a warranty. If this is the case, the professionals will leave you with information regarding your warranty protection.
Manage Mold Damage With Minimal Disruption
Finding mold in your commercial building is always an unpleasant surprise. Now that you know more about how to deal with it, though, you’ll be better prepared for this possible occurrence. Use this information to create an effective mold-response plan and handle the situation with the care and immediacy it deserves.
Contact our mold remediation specialists at Palmetto Environmental Solutions today for expert help!
