When you are undergoing a large project, like remodeling a room in your home, one of the last things you may want to be surprised with is the discovery of mold that permeated your floorboards and is growing behind the walls. As unpleasant as this news can be, it was a reality for the Nashville, TN homeowner from our story today who called into their local mold remediation experts at Smoky Mountain Crawl Space Systems for assistance. The next day our professionals arrived on the scene and got to work improving the quality of their home by removing the mold from further infiltrating their floors and walls.
The homeowner was remodeling his basement and had begun to pull up the old sleepers from underneath the raised flooring. This sleeper system is designed to allow for adequate drainage and ventilation in heavily moist areas to protect the floors from moisture build-up. Unfortunately, it was no match for the high water table under this Tennessee home and became covered in a dark-colored mold. Mold being present almost always points to a much greater amount that can be found behind the adjacent walls or other areas.
This can prove some negative health effects for the family in the home such as allergic reactions, itchy and watery eyes, headaches, and respiratory discomfort. The removal process would not only remove the mold, but would also make way by removing the building materials for a vapor barrier to be properly installed and prevent future mold growth.
The area was first prepared for the mold removal job. Preparation is important for the health of the workers involved and to ensure the mold does not spread anywhere else in the home. To do this, a poly sheeting secured with duct tape help isolate the work area and keep in all of the disturbed spores. A HEPA filter maintains a negative pressure, keeping the air sucked into the room and not blown out. Our team wore suits fitted with HEPA filtered respirators, were equipped with HEPA filtered vacuums, and began working.
Once the mold and building materials were removed, it was time to wash the surfaces to remove any remaining spores. A hydrogen based peroxide cleaner containing surfactants is sprayed down on the walls, floors, and even the poly sheeting to kill anything left.
The last step, and perhaps one of the most important, is to address the moisture intrusion issue at the source to avoid future mold growth problems. Our team discussed with the homeowner the importance of installing a vapor barrier or even installing another layer of foundation slab to keep the moisture out. There are several options, one of which needs to be installed to keep the moisture from building up and harboring mold growth all over again.
If your basement, crawl space, or foundation is experiencing mold growth, give Smoky Mountain Crawl Space Systems a call at (865) 299-2315 and request some information about our professional mold removal services.
