Remediating mold requires attention to detail and an understanding of what will be effective, three area experts told attendees at a workshop November 25. The event, held at the Land of the Sky Association of Realtors, was organized with the help of the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Key Tips for Safe and Successful Mold Remediation
With so many Western North Carolina homes suffering water damage in Tropical Storm Helene, mold should be top of mind for impacted homeowners. Even when mold isn’t easily visible, it can be growing and could lead to anything from headaches to fungal infections to respiratory issues.
At the event, Evan McIntosh of Ducky Ducts, Stephanie Maresca of Green Home Solutions and Rick Bayless of A Healthier Home gave a number of dos and don’ts for homeowners looking to remediate mold or hire a company to do so.
Here are three do’s and three don’ts:
- Do make sure those doing the work take proper precautions. This should involve using the right type of respirators and properly sealing off the areas being remediated.
- Do take the time to closely inspect areas for signs of mold. Use a flashlight and get close after learning what mold looks like. And make sure you remove areas that are wet, after using a moisture meter. The meter will tell you if an area is wet, even if that isn’t visible to the eye.
- Do cut walls 6 inches above the water line, and that far above where you have discovered evidence of mold.
- Don’t think painting with products like Kilz will address mold. Using Kilz, or bleach, can help address cosmetic issues after remediation is done, but use products specifically made to eliminate mold when you are addressing this issue.
- Don’t assume you can do all this yourself if you’ve had significant water damage to the home. In that case, consider hiring an expert who can thoroughly check for evidence of mold and take the proper steps to make sure the house is safe.
- Don’t wait to take action. A mold issue won’t go away on its own.
There are a number of quality remediation companies in Western North Carolina that can help, including A Healthier Home, run by owner and founder Rick Bayless. It’s definitely important to move quickly, but it’s also critical that the work is done correctly, so you can be sure there are no issues in the future.
