Black mold damage is sometimes the unfortunate reality of owning a property, and knowing how to handle it is key.
Mold is a problem many property owners face, but not one that should always be handled themselves. Sure, there are some instances where tackling mold issues yourself is fine and manageable. However, the United States Environmental Protection Agency says, along with other factors, one thing to consider who does the cleanup is the size of the mold issue.
If the area is less than 10 square feet, homeowners can handle the job in most situations. If the area is larger or you’re facing a certain type of mold, especially black mold, leaving it to the professionals is always best.
Even if you haven’t noticed a musty smell in your property or that your paint or wallpaper is peeling, black mold can be present and is a serious issue. Black mold can lurk beneath sinks, behind tiles, walls, ceilings, window sills, and countless other places in your house. It can go undetected for months or years, resulting in serious health issues.
Finding black mold and adequately dealing with it is essential to ensure you and your loved ones are not harmed. Since most homeowners do not possess the knowledge, skill set, or necessary equipment to effectively and correctly remove it, a professional should handle any attempt to manage black mold damage.
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How to Repair Black Mold Damage: Do It Yourself
Mold can be found just about everywhere on Earth. But, finding black mold in your home can feel unnerving because of the dangers and threats it poses, so getting rid of it as soon as possible is essential. As soon as mold spores are exposed to moisture and moderate temperatures, they can multiply and grow, resulting in illness and making it challenging to coexist in the same environment.
Various places in the house, such as damp basements and bathrooms, can provide nearly perfect environments for mold to grow and thrive. So, what should property owners do when they find mold in their homes?
All homeowners should know how to repair black mold damage, and the following tips are key:
- Before beginning, ensure there is adequate ventilation in the affected area.
- If one method doesn’t work, rinse the area completely with water before trying another.
- Always wear protective gear, such as eye protection, gloves, and old clothes that can be tossed or washed in hot water to kill stray spores.
- Effective products for eliminating black mold include:
- Chlorine bleach
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baking soda
- Borax
- and, most effective, distilled white vinegar.
- For tricky areas that are hard to reach, soak cotton balls in your cleaner of choice and place them along affected areas.
- Reduce moisture and humidity levels in your home with the help of a dehumidifier and installing moisture barriers where necessary. Humidity levels should never exceed 60%.
- Repair leaks that are keeping surfaces wet.
- Clean and inspect mold-prone areas regularly to keep black mold and other types of mold and mildew in check.
A mold issue can be grave; however, in many instances, it can be handled by yourself. As mentioned, the EPA states that areas smaller than three square feet can usually be handled by the homeowner. But that doesn’t mean that’s the best, most effective way to handle the situation. Even if the mold issue in your house is “small enough” to tackle yourself, many homeowners opt for professional help anyway.
How to Repair Black Mold Damage: 5 Reasons to Opt for Professional Help
There are many reasons black mold removal should be left to the pros. Here are just some:
1. Thorough Mold Inspection and Accurate Evaluation:
Generally speaking, the average property owner does not know how to repair black mold damage. Despite what many DIY-type homeowners believe, a lot goes into a mold inspection, and accurately assessing the situation is critical.
Mold is notoriously elusive and challenging to eliminate, so finding the source of the problem is crucial and highly necessary.
Black mold removal professionals know precisely where to look to find problem areas. Once they conduct their mold inspection and assess the situation, they can begin an effective remediation.
2. Total Black Mold Remediation and Treatment
Treating black mold is not easy. Professionals know what needs to occur to effectively, correctly, and completely remediate the problem.
Only trusted specialists with experience and the necessary tools and equipment can correctly manage humidity levels in the surrounding environment, seal off black mold for good, remove it, and clean up and repair the damage.
If you’ve ever considered removing mold, you are not alone. You and countless other property owners have considered making black mold removal a DIY job. While some sources say you can do it and some DIY methods might work, the fact is mold is so challenging to eliminate.
If you do it yourself, there isn’t a way to know for sure that you’ve gotten it all.
Yes, cleaning the visible areas is necessary and a great first step. However, there’s almost a 100% chance that not all of the mold and black mold spores were addressed. Hiring a mold remediation professional means not worrying about this. They have the experience, knowledge, and equipment to address all affected areas.
3. Prevent Future Mold Problems and Spreading Spores
Did you know that mold will almost always come back when it is not correctly handled and when humidity and moisture are not controlled?
One of the tricky and challenging parts of getting rid of black mold is that mold spores spread extremely easily. When black mold is not properly removed, it can settle in other areas throughout your property and spread without you knowing about the problem until it’s a big one.
For example, black mold and other mold spores can get into your home’s HVAC system and quickly and easily spread into other rooms throughout your house, leading to further mold infestations. The more it spreads, the more work, time, and money it takes to remove it from your property.
A professional from a trusted and experienced mold removal company will know exactly what to do to prevent future mold issues from occurring and can eliminate it without it spreading to other areas in your house.
A professional can easily contain and remove mold between their equipment, methods, and products, making your home a mold-free environment. Bringing in the professionals means the spread of spores and the likelihood of a future problem is significantly reduced.
4. Insider Tips and Professional Tricks
There is a lot of information online about ways to remove mold, but there is nothing more accurate and effective than the tips and tricks a mold remediation professional can offer. They can fill you in on ways to keep your property mold-free, avoiding future issues totally.
They can share their suggestions on proper ventilation and safe practices property owners can implement to avoid another black mold infestation. A professional will thoroughly investigate high-risk areas and provide useful information on how to clean and maintain the ducts of your HVAC system to avoid spreading spores.
A Good Long-Term Investment
One of the biggest reasons property owners opt for a DIY project is because they believe it will save them money. But the reality is that this does not always end up being the case.
On top of purchasing the necessary equipment, products, and other supplies to remove black mold effectively, these individuals dedicate precious hours of their time to address the issue. Despite the valiant efforts, it often fails, and the mold problem remains.
As time goes on, black mold will spread, and the need to address the issues still stands. Actually, in most situations, the problem ends up becoming bigger than it initially was. Skip the heartache, hassle, and headache of throwing your valuable time and hard-earned money down the drain and call the professionals immediately.
Have a Black Mold Issue? The Professionals at Utah Disaster Clean Up & Restoration Can Help!
If you want to effectively address the black mold in your home, calling in a trusted professional is always best, and the experts at Utah Disaster Clean Up & Restoration are here for you.
Mold can be harmful to the structural integrity of your property and can pose a serious threat to your health. If you notice discoloration on your walls, condensation buildup on your windows, a musty odor, or even the slightest bit of mold growth, give our trusted team a call! We also help our customers with fire, sewer, and water damage and more.
We know how taxing and tedious it can be to deal with a disaster in your property. Whether it’s a fire, flood, storm, or something else, it can be overwhelming just thinking about it. That’s why we pride ourselves on our timely and quality service.
With over 20 years of restoring homes, we are proud to be a trusted restoration and reconstruction company in Northern Utah. We are located in Murray and serve residents and businesses all across Salt Lake Valley for your convenience. Contact us online or at 435-512-1584 today.
