How to tackle Mold Remediation

What is Mold Remediation?

Mold remediation is a niche service that many do not think about until they’re put in a position where they may need it. Mold inside homes across the country is common, and can sometimes lead to constructional damage in homes. Additionally, personal possessions and furniture can be damaged by the aftermath of being exposed to mold. Cleaning up and removing mold is harder than what meets the eye. There are many precautions you must take to limit the spread of mold to other areas in your home. Similar to COVID-19, mold can be spread easily to several surfaces in your home, office, or business. Keeping an eye out for this and contacting professional help will make all the difference in your home. Although one cannot see the tiny particles of bacteria mold released into the air, they can sometimes even be detrimental to your health. Mold develops rapidly but can take time to be seen by the naked eye. 

What is the process?

We sat down with Blu’s Mold remediation expert and IICRC certified, Alberto Marchan. Blu Commercial cleaning has been offering mold remediation services since 2017. We sat down with Albert and asked him about the ins and outs of mold remediation in the Chicagoland area. 

What is the process Blu goes through for Mold remediation? 

Typically, the very first thing we do at Blu is set up a walk through with the client to see what the source of the issue is. Oftentimes, a client can have a water leak, or structural damage, and not even know it. It’s during these walk-throughs that the discovery is made. Once the source of the issue has been addressed, we can start to remediate all mold issues. 

What made Blu initiate the mold remediation service? 

We noticed a need for this service once a current client asked if mold remediation was a service that we offered. Once we did a little bit of research, we realized that cleaning and remediation go hand in hand. We got to work right away. 

What should clients expect from mold remediation services?

They should expect that their properties and overall needs will be met with the utmost professionalism when it comes to mold remediation, but also any other needs they may have, as we truly strive to be that one-stop-shop of services. 

Does Blu mold test? 

There are a few methods we use here at Blu, we can do cotton swab tests that render results in minutes, or we can do an air sample testing, which usually gives us a more accurate result as to what type of mold we’re dealing with, as well as how many spores the test sample detected. Side note: if a homeowner is not sure if the surface they’re looking at is impacted by mold, they can simply spray peroxide on the surface. If it fizzes, the surface is in fact mold, if it does not, then nothing to worry about. 

What are the different types of molds we have treated in the past? 

They range, the most common is Stachybotrys, which is the black mold that is commonly found. Others range from aspergillus, penicillium, etc. The list is pretty long. 

What is the most common type of mold we treat? 

Stachybotrys is the one we’re usually called out to treat the most.

What has been your favorite and worst part of working on Mold remediation projects? 

My favorite part of working on mold projects is the sense of relief our clients get once we’ve had a conversation about their properties. The worst part, I’d say, is that these projects can arise at all hours of the day. There’s no way to plan for these. 

What equipment do we use for these projects? 

It all depends on the project, it can all differ. If there’s a water issue, usually air movers, and dehumidifiers are a must. If there’s a mold issue, decontamination chambers might be necessary, so the supplies to build these would be needed. AFD’s air filtration devices would be needed also. HEPA filtered vacuums are a must for these two.

Should people be checking their homes for mold year-round? Is there a peak? 

YES! Usually, springtime is when mold can show its ugly face, however, it can also happen year-round.  

Think you have a mold issue? The faster it’s addressed, the less damage your home will take. Time is of the essence!