Mold Remediation
Rochester, NY
Professional Commercial and Residential Mold Remediation Services in Rochester, NY
Mold Remediation, also known as Mold Removal, is the process of finding and eliminating traces of mold. Once the mold has been found and removed, specific measures are taken to ensure it does not return. Mold can be sneaky and show up in areas you’d never expect.
All mold needs to thrive is a food source (organic materials like paper, drywall, and wood) and moisture. Areas more susceptible to moisture can include bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. However, there are other causes for moisture and other causes of mold growth.
Signs of Mold in Your Home or Business
Damp or Musty Odors: One of the first signs of a mold issue is the strong odors. The more significant the mold problem, the stronger the odor. Often, you can follow the smell and find where it is coming from, usually leading you to a leak or standing water left over from flooding or a larger leak. Additionally, just because you don’t see mold doesn't mean it isn't there.
Visible Mold Growth: Seeing visible signs of mold growth is the tell-tale sign you are having a moisture issue. There may be mold growing on ceilings or walls caused by poor ventilation. When moisture seeps into porous materials, it becomes the perfect breeding ground for mold. The smaller spots can often be cleaned easily, but if they keep coming back there might be a bigger problem.
For more information on the side effects of mold exposure, check out this article.
Health Changes: Mold can cause allergy-like symptoms after long exposure. There are other more serious health effects such as headaches, respiratory problems, and allergic reactions. Those who are sensitive to mold spores may have worsened symptoms if there is a mold problem in the home. The indoor air quality ultimately becomes poor with prolonged mold exposure.
Types of Mold
There are hundreds of types of mold, and many of them can be found in and around homes. Some mold types are harmless and can be super quick and easy to clean up. However, there are some types of mold that can be toxic and very difficult to get rid of properly.
Below are some common molds you may encounter at home, but if you want to learn more about the mold you can find in your home, check out this blog from our sister company.
Alternaria Alternata - This mold contains over 50 species of mold and is the most commonly found in homes. This mold spreads extremely fast and can be found on windowsills, showers, and bathtubs.
Aspergillus - Also very common in households, this mold type can be found basically anywhere. It starts out as a fuzzy white mold and changes colors as it grows. This type of mold could potentially be toxic and cause serious allergic reactions.
Black Mold - Being a toxic mold type, all black mold should be removed by a professional. If you are unsure if it is the actual black mold (Stachybotrys Chartarum) you could have a mold inspection completed as well as sampling is done. This type of mold is the most difficult to remove and can cause a lot of damage to the areas it has affected.
Penicillium - Another toxic type of mold, penicillium, can be found in many homes. This mold grows best on old, decaying food products, carpets, plants & soil, and other water-damaged materials. This mold type has a very musty odor and should only be remediated by Rock Emergency professionals.
Mold Remediation Process
The Rock Emergency crew members have all been HAZWOPER trained and certified in mold remediation. Meaning, all mold will be effectively removed, cleaned, and disinfected to help prevent mold from returning. Our goal is to get your home back to pre-mold conditions quickly.
We will start with a visual inspection of the mold-affected area. We will then contain the area to ensure mold spores don’t contaminate other areas of the home. A plan will be created for the most effective way to remediate the mold in your home.
We will use the various factors of how large the mold area is, what type of mold it may be, and what restoration work may be required. Various pieces of equipment will be used during the process of removal, cleaning, and restoring your home.
Equipment May Include
Moisture Meters
Various cleaning products and supplies
Proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
High Powered fans
Air filtration systems and dehumidifiers
Odor removing cleaners
Costs of Mold Remediation
There are many factors that come into play when assessing for mold remediation. Professional services are called in for a variety of reasons, but often it is because the area of mold is large, or significant damage has already occurred. Depending on the different factors, mold remediation costs can range anywhere from $500 to $25,000 or more. See the different factors below and why they can affect the cost of remediation.
The severity of Damages - The severity of damage will change the costs of mold remediation significantly. Some damage may be minor requiring some cleaning and disinfecting while other damage may require full teardowns of walls and plumbing issues to be fixed. Additionally, if the damage was caused by flooding or sewage backup, there will likely be more restoration work needed. The end goal is to restore the area and make sure mold doesn't grow back again.
Size - The area with the mold infestation can also alter the costs of mold remediation. Smaller areas may not require in-depth investigation as to what is causing the mold growth. If the affected area is bigger, there is likely more of a problem to resolve.
Sometimes trying to clean the area yourself may increase the area with mold if not done properly. It is best to get the problem resolved professionally because the costs could just increase the longer it goes without resolution.
Type of Mold - Mold types can also determine price variances. The more difficult the mold is to remove and eliminate from the home the more work that will be involved. Additionally, if the mold is a known toxic mold there may be additional charges since it would be more of a risk to you and the Rock Emergency team.
Where is the Mold - Depending on where the mold is, and how easy it is to access will affect the prices for remediation. If the area is closed in (behind a wall) or hard to get to (in a crawl space) it may be more difficult to complete simple remediation. We have compiled a list of the common areas we have effectively remediated from mold.
Where Mold Can Be Found
- Bathroom: Bathrooms are the perfect environment for mold to grow. There is moisture, humidity, and porous materials. When improperly ventilated, mold can grow out of control. Often found in and around the tub/shower, under the sink, and on the floor around the tub.
- Attic: Attics can be prone to moisture when there is not the right amount of ventilation in the roof. Additionally, if there is not enough insulation moisture can become trapped causing various forms of mold to grow. Often found are mildew and wood rot.
- Basement: Basements are often known to be damp, and many people keep a dehumidifier running during months that are wetter. If a basement is not sealed, water can seep through the walls and come up from the ground as well. During months of heavy rain or snowmelt, sump pumps can overflow causing flooding.
- Drywall: Most rooms in a home will have drywall. Because of the porous nature, mold can grow rampant within the wall itself. Ofter caused by water damage, mold can completely take over a wall from within. Often, it can’t be seen which means it is causing more damage than you may realize.
- Crawl Space: Most crawl spaces are under the home and are often very small and confined. Mold growing here may not be realized until the wood starts to rot away. Finding and remediating mold in these small areas takes professional expertise.
- Air Ducts / HVAC System: The ducts throughout your home are meant to move air and moisture. If the moisture settles in, mold has the opportunity to grow. If this occurs, the mold spores can be spread throughout the entire home. It is best to have the mold removed, and then the ducts cleaned through regular maintenance.
DIY vs Professional Mold Remediation
The EPA guidelines on mold remediation are pretty clear when it comes to taking care of it on your own. Where there are several factors that are used to determine if you need a professional, the basic guideline says if the mold area is less than 10 square feet you can DIY mold removal. See below for more information on if you should DIY or hire Rock Emergency Professionals.
10 Square Feet or Less - You’ll first need to find the cause of the mold. There may be a hidden leak or other signs of prolonged moisture. You’ll need to remove any damaged area first. Ensuring you are wearing proper PPE (gloves, eyewear, N95) you’ll clean the area using mold-killing cleaners.
Once mold has been removed and cleaned, you can repair the area once it has thoroughly dried. Lastly, you may want to use an air purifier for a while to make sure there are no lingering mold spores in the air.
10 Square Feet or More - Larger areas of mold often mean a more serious underlying issue. The source could be somewhere hard to access and could be causing severe damage to the surrounding area. The damage could require full drywall replacement, removal of flooring, or other features in the home (cabinets/counters).
It is best for the professionals to handle larger jobs since they have all been properly trained to do so. The team at Rock Emergency has all been HAZWOPER trained to safely and effectively remove mold and repair mold damages.
How to Prevent Mold From Coming Back
Rock Emergency has tips on preventing mold from growing in your home. Below are some long term ways you can prevent the need for mold remediation:
- Use dehumidifiers in areas that might be more prone to moisture or poor ventilation, like a basement or attic.
- Don't let the water dry up on its own, especially on a carpet. Use sponges, dry towels, and anything else to soak up as much water as you can.
- When you first see mold, clean using approved mold-killing agents. The CDC has some guidelines you can check out!
- If there has been a recent flood or water damage, make sure the room and belongings have been properly removed, dried, and cleaned. The remaining mold can easily spread to other things in the home.
- If you are unsure if you have a mold problem, contact the mold remediation crew at Rock Emergency for an assessment.
Why Choose Rock Emergency?
Your safety and peace of mind is our number one priority. We are a 24 hour emergency service dedicated to our customer’s needs that services Rochester, NY and the surrounding areas. Rock Emergency takes pride on our reliability for any size job.
We seek to satisfy our clients with our expertise, cost and time-efficacy and our cleanliness. Rock Emergency is an experienced service provider that has a list of resources at our disposal, through which we perform an array of demolition and restorative services. We don't stop at just mold remediation, we can do it all!