Mold Remediation

Plano’s Mold Remediation and Removal

The right plan of action for mold remediation can make a huge difference in minimizing damage to your home and minimizing health concerns for your family.

Mold Problem Facts

It is imperative to remove mold from your home as soon as possible and in a safe manner after it has invaded. In less than 72 hours, mold can spread throughout your home, resulting in negative health effects for your family and property damage. You can reach AquaTex Water Damage Restoration within minutes of calling so we can assess the situation. AquaTex Water Damage Restoration professionals use advanced equipment and extensive mold mitigation experience to determine the source of your mold problem. Our mold cleanup and mold remediation process will cause the least amount of disruption to your family possible.

Mold Remediation for Business

Like homeowners, business owners who find themselves faced with a mold problem must act quickly to prevent the mold from spreading further and causing their businesses to suffer excessive downtime. You and the occupants of your building will work closely with AquaTex Water Damage Restoration professionals so that remediation work can be completed with minimal disruption to your business.

What is Mold?

A good place to start when learning about mold is by learning what it is not. Because these elements are part of nature, they cannot be completely controlled in your home. Doors, windows, HVAC systems, and even your pet or your clothing can allow mold to enter your home, indoors or outdoors. Moisture promotes the growth of these microscopic spores, which can lead to a serious problem very quickly. There may be an odor of mustiness growing in the room, and then you should get started. Mold remediation begins with locating and repairing the water source, otherwise, the mold will return. Controlling mold growth indoors begins with maintaining a 30%-50% humidity level.

Mold Remediation: Is It Necessary?

It is only natural to want to eliminate mold from your home or business as soon as possible after you discover it, and it can be frustrating to find. As mold can spread quickly, and can be inconspicuous sometimes, it might be a good idea to call in a professional like AquaTex Water Damage Restoration who can help you diagnose and contain the problem.

Can I Stay in my House During Mold Remediation?

Depending on the severity of the mold, mold remediation can sometimes be done while you live in the house. AquaTex Water Damage Restoration erects containment around the affected area before beginning remediation work in order to isolate the affected area and minimize cross-contamination. Our drying and dehumidification process is second to none after water damage to ensure as little mold accumulates as possible.

Is it Possible to Clean Mold Yourself?

The best way to clean mold is to hire a professional who has been trained to do so instead of doing it yourself. Finding out what is feeding the mold growth and stopping or turning off the source of water that is feeding it might be helpful.

Additional Tip

Until a professional inspects and diagnoses your mold problem, you should also turn off your HVAC system. The fans can cause mold spores to spread throughout your house if they are left running for long periods of time.

What to Do About the Mold Until Help Arrives

What To Do

Turn off the air conditioning system, fans, and any other equipment that moves air in your home.
It is important to restrict access to moldy areas for pets, kids, and even yourself.
The mold will be contained in an area with a door, if the area contains a door, so close the door or cabinet.
Make sure the source of the water is identified and removed as soon as possible to prevent further mold growth.

What Not to Do

Any contact or disturbance with the mold should be avoided.
In the presence of visible or suspected mold growth, you should avoid blowing air across those surfaces.
It is not recommended to dry the area by yourself.
The mold should not be sprayed with bleach or other disinfectants in order to prevent it from spreading.
Paint should not be applied over it.

Understanding the Mold Remediation Process

Mold damage scenarios are different and require different solutions, but the general mold remediation process remains the same regardless of the mold damage scenario. This is an example of what a typical process looks like, as shown in the steps below:

Step 1: Emergency Contact

In order to remove mold from your home or business, you first need to contact us. During an evaluation of your project, a specialist will ask a series of questions to determine what equipment, resources, and personnel are required.

Step 2: Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

A thorough mold inspection will be conducted by AquaTex Water Damage Restoration on your property. In the presence of cellulose and water, there are several kinds of mold that feed. Some of these molds are invisible. A variety of technologies are used to detect hidden water and mold sources.

Step 3: Mold Containment

Containment procedures will be used to prevent the mold from spreading. As part of the cleanup process, we may use an advanced containment method, such as a negative air chamber, to isolate the contaminated area using physical barriers and negative air pressure to prevent the spread of mold spores. It is important to turn off all fans, heating systems, and cooling systems in order to prevent mold from spreading.

Step 4: Air Filtration

In order to capture microscopic mold spores from the air, specialized filtration equipment is used. During the course of mold remediation, we use powerful air scrubbers and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while we are carrying out the remediation procedure.

Step 5: Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

Remediation of the mold depends on the extent and type of mold growth on the surface and the surface type. Using antifungal and antimicrobial treatments, AquaTex Water Damage Restoration eliminates mold colonies and prevents new colonies from forming. If mold growth has been heavy in the area, it may be necessary to remove and dispose of porous materials infested with molds, such as drywall and carpeting.

Step 6: Cleaning Contents and Belongings

Furniture, decorative items, curtains, clothing, and other restorable items may also be cleaned depending on the extent of mold damage. With a variety of cleaning techniques, we’ll use the best method to clean and sanitize your belongings. Our deodorizing products can also be used to remove odors and deodorize using fogging equipment.

Step 7: Restoration

Depending on the extent of mold damage to the home, drywall, subfloors, and other building materials may need to be removed. Restoring a home or business may require minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may involve major repairs, such as completely rebuilding a room.

Restoration Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mold remediation?

Mold remediation (removal) is the process of removing and/or cleaning up mold from an indoor environment, such as one where a person lives or works.

Mold remediation and removal professionals may be needed in order to completely remove mold from a home or business if there has been severe mold damage.

If you need mold removal or removal services in Plano, please call us at (469) 782-9857, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What makes mold grow?

In the form of tiny spores, mold enters your home as a source of contamination. Moisture is necessary for the spores to grow, digest, and destroy themselves. In addition to the surfaces listed above, mold can also grow on:

Wood
Ceiling tiles
Wallpaper
Paints
Carpet
Sheet rock
Insulation

Mold grows more rapidly in humid environments, such as those caused by leaky roofs, high humidity, or flooding. It is impossible to get rid of all molds and mold spores from your home. It is possible to control the growth of mold in your home by keeping it dry.

How does mold grow?

Besides nutrients, water, and oxygen, mold requires favorable temperature conditions to grow. Dead organic matter, such as wood, paper, or fabrics, can provide nutrients to mold. Synthetic products, such as paints and adhesives, can also provide nutrients. While some mold species may be able to obtain moisture from moist air if the relative humidity is higher than 70%, mold requires moisture to grow.

Molds grow well at normal indoor temperatures; few, if any, can grow below 40 degrees or above 100 degrees. While molds may remain dormant or inactive outside of this range, they may begin to grow again when the temperature is more conducive to their growth. Mold and mold spores can be killed at temperatures well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, but the exact temperature necessary to kill specific species of mold has not yet been determined.

How long does the mold removal process take?

Mold removal takes time depending on a number of factors, such as the amount of mold present, where it is growing (behind walls, etc.), and the type of material it grows on. Generally, mold removal (remediation) takes between one and five days.

In case you have any questions about the mold removal (remediation process) that we provide, please call us at (469) 914-4408.

How do I know when professional mold removal is complete?

The removal of mold can be determined in two different ways.

Despite the appearance of all mold being gone, hidden mold colonies and mold spores can still exist in places that you cannot see and in the air that you cannot see. Visual inspection does not ensure that all debris has been removed completely, so it is not a good method of ensuring that the area has been cleaned completely.
You should usually seek the assistance of a third party if you want to ensure that mold removal is complete.

There is a law that says mold removal companies must have certain certifications, and they cannot test during remediation. Having your mold removal company test at the same time as remediation is a conflict of interest. Home inspectors, industrial hygienists and home inspectors are among the different types of testers. If your independent tester writes and submits their tests in writing, their tests should stand up in court.

It is important to have a pre-testing procedure (mold spore tests, etc.) before mold removal, a protocol (describing how to get rid of the mold), and a clearance test after mold removal in order to verify that the spore count has been reduced.

Do I need to hire a mold remediation/removal expert to remove mold, or can I do it myself?

That’s an excellent question. Anyone can remove mold from their home or business as long as they understand that when you disturb mold (clean it, cut it out, etc.) you spread the mold spores throughout the home, causing additional mold problems.

Because of this, the only way to properly remove the mold is to create a containment area using negative pressure and to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment. As well as following the IICRC S-520 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation, you will also need to hire an industrial hygienist to remove the mold properly.

AquaTex Restoration is certified in mold remediation and mold removal by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification). For mold remediation or removal services, you can reach us 24/7 at (469) 914-4408.