Do you have a mold problem in your commercial property? Do you find yourself growing more and more concerned about the potential for mold to be present inside the walls or lurking out of sight? Even if your property has never suffered any significant water damage, there may still be mold wreaking havoc without you knowing it. If you have reason to believe your property has mold—or if you have recently suffered a flood or other water damage to your property—then you may need to think about mold remediation.
Mold remediation is simply the cleanup of mold. However, although the definition may be simple, the process is anything but. It takes know-how and experience to understand just how to clean, treat, and kill mold, and it can be very difficult to prevent it from growing back again after the fact. For this reason, you may need to think about calling professional disaster restoration services to handle the task.
But what does this entail, exactly? What will a team of professionals do if you contact them to handle your mold issue? Read on to learn more.
1. First, the area is assessed and investigated.
The professionals you contact for your disaster cleanup will take a look at the property and search for hidden mold. They will make note of all visible and hidden issues and will look for the source of the mold (if it isn’t already obvious, such as in weather-related flooding).
If you are a property manager and the mold is present in some of your apartments, townhouses, or condos, the team will examine the other units on the property for signs of mold as well.
2. Next, a plan is formed and the proper gear is gathered.
The plan your restoration service providers choose will be custom-fit to your specific situation and needs. This plan will involve getting started right away, and if you are a property manager, it may require evacuating tenants in your properties while the cleanup process is underway. In other businesses, you may need to close your store, pause access to your warehouse, or shut down the office for a few days while cleanup occurs.
3. Next, the source of the mold is repaired (if required) and structural drying is implemented.
Depending on what caused the mold in the first place, repairs may need to be made. However, if the mold has occurred due to a weather-related issue, this may not be necessary.
The structure will need to be dried as quickly as possible if water damage has occurred. This will prevent mold from spreading even further, and it may be accomplished with fans, dehumidifiers, or a combination of the two.
4. Next, molded surfaces and structures are cleaned and disinfected, when possible.
As the walls, interiors, and hidden areas within the property are being dried out, the surfaces and structures will be as well. They will also be cleaned and any mold present will be removed, either through cleaning or removal of the molded materials.
In some instances, this may not always be possible. If any surfaces or structures within the property cannot be completely cleaned and mold cannot be removed entirely, your service professionals will let you know this. You will have options with how to proceed, but these will vary depending on your individual situation.
Although many business owners believe bleach can be used to remove mold, keep in mind that professionals will not use bleach for this purpose. Bleach contains 80% water and can actually make mold issues worse. While bleaching it yourself may seem more affordable, this will only reduce the appearance of surface mold and will do nothing for the mold lurking out of sight. Therefore, this can actually cost you more in the long run.
5. Next, molded items are cleaned and dried, when possible.
Just like the surfaces and interiors of your property, items will be dried (if necessary) and cleaned of any mold spores present as well. Depending on the type and extent of the mold, this may or may not be a required step. However, in cases of extreme mold related to major flooding, this is a vital part of the cleanup process.
Keep in mind that, if you own a business which sells goods, you may not be able to retain all of those goods after mold damage has occurred. Your restoration team will work to repair and restore as much as possible, but items for sale on your property will likely be unable to be returned to the shelves. This is also true of warehouses that have had a mold outbreak. In these situations, you and your restoration service company will work together with your insurance provider to figure out the best solution for everyone involved.
6. Finally, after everything is dry and the mold has been completely removed, you can reenter your property.
You should never go back into your property without the all-clear from the professionals. It is also important to prevent clients and customers from entering the property as well. If you are a property manager, you will need to let your tenants know that they cannot reenter until the mold has been entirely cleared and it is safe for them to do so.
Each type of business and commercial property has its own rules and guidelines for handling mold issues. Always keep in mind, however, that it’s very important to remove all people and animals from damaged properties as quickly as possible when an issue is identified, and do not let anyone go back inside the affected building until the mold has been removed.
As you can see, there are many steps involved in the removal of mold. Although not everyone has to get in touch with professionals to handle this task, it’s usually a good idea, especially if you don’t feel very confident in your abilities to handle it yourself. Professionals will know all about water damage restoration and mold remediation, and they will be able to handle the process from start to finish. They will also know how to work with your insurance company and what must be done before you can get back into your commercial property once again.
If you live in Naperville, IL or the nearby areas and are in need of disaster cleanup, don’t hesitate to reach out to Restoration Techs. We’re available to provide estimates or emergency cleanup services 24/7. You can contact us at 1-800-600-3594 or locally at 630-761-4900, or you can fill out the form below.