What Is Mold Remediation?

Mold remediation is often considered the removal of mold from walls, furniture etc. and this is correct, but there is more. The following article from NC State University outlines how resolving the source of moisture is the primary step to mold remediation.

http://www.ncsu.edu/ehs/www99/right/handsMan/air_qual/mold_remediation.htm

The following was taken from the page http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5508a1.htm

Factors That Produce Mold Growth

Although molds can be found almost anywhere, they need moisture and nutrients to grow. The exact specifications for optimal mold growth vary by the species of mold. However, mold grows best in damp, warm environments. The availability of nutrients in indoor environments rarely limits mold growth because wood, wallboard, wallpaper, upholstery, and dust can be nutrient sources. Similarly, the temperature of indoor environments, above freezing and below the temperature for denaturing proteins, can support mold growth, even if the actual temperature is not optimal (8).

The primary factor that limits the growth of mold indoors is lack of moisture. Substantial indoor mold growth is virtually synonymous with the presence of moisture inside the building envelope. This intrusion of moisture might be from rainwater leaking through faulty gutters or a roof in disrepair, from a foundation leak, from condensation at an interface (e.g., windows or pipes), or between a cold and a warm environment. Water also can come from leaks in the plumbing or sewage system inside the structure. Studies of mold growth on building materials, such as plywood, have found that mold grows on materials that remain wet for 48–72 hours (8). Flooding, particularly when floodwaters remain for days or weeks, provides an almost optimal opportunity for mold growth.

To summarize, mold remediation is not cleaning mold, but actually taking the steps to prevent any moisture from re-entering the molded area. This step of prevention can be attained by foundation waterproofing, repairing failed gutters or spouts, AC condensation problems, roof leaks, plumbing leaks. Rarely is ‘sloping the ground away from the house’ an adequate solution. The problem is nearly always in the ground not on the ground.