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Tag: "remove mold"

Mold Clean Up: Should You Do It Yourself or Hire a Professional?

[ 0 ] April 11, 2010

Mold Clean Up

 

Mold clean up doesn’t necessarily have to be a difficult task if you know the proper steps to take to get the job done right the very first time. And while you may be wondering if you can just skip cleaning up the mold problem all together, it’s not a good idea since mold can wreak havoc on your immune system.

You also should keep in mind that if your mold problem is more than 10 square feet, you need to call a professional to get the job done safely, especially when you‘re dealing with toxic mold.

If however, the mold is covering less than a 10 square feet area, you should be able to do the work yourself.

But, before you begin the mold removal process, you’ll need to identify what types of mold you’re dealing with. If you’re dealing with a fungus whose color is grayish to black, you should leave the job up to a professional unless you’re absolutely certain you can handle the situation yourself.

Black mold is very toxic and can cause severe health problems if it’s not removed completely.

Once you’ve identified what the fungus is, you’ll want to assess any damages like rotten wood caused by water damage mold and repair it.

Then, remove any materials that were near or around the moldy growth and cover the rest of the room with sheets of plastic to prevent fungus spores from spreading to other areas.

Next, seal any materials that were contaminated by the mold in a plastic bag and discard it properly from the area. Then, set any items aside that were near the mold growth and keep a close eye on them for the next several weeks for a contamination problem.

Using a stiff bristle brush, lightly scrub against the affected surface area to loosen and remove as much of the fungus growth as possible.

You’ll then want to spray the affected surface area with a mold removal spray that will not only remove the mold, but kill the mold permanently.

Mold cleaners come in various types for every part of the house and then some to suit almost every fungal problem there is.

Once you’ve cleaned the affected area, you may need to dry it out using several fans or a dehumidifier. Or if possible, you may want to open some windows to air out the area. 

Then, you’ll want to seal and properly discard of any items used in the cleaning process in a plastic garbage bag to prevent further contamination from any mold that may become airborne.

If you do find that you need to hire a mold removal professional to get the job done, before you do be sure to talk to your insurance agency to find out whether or not you can file a claim for the damages the molds have caused.

And depending on your agency and the type of coverage you have, you may even be able to use some insurance money to hire a professional for mold clean up.

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Cost of Mold Remediation and Some Payment Options

[ 0 ] January 28, 2010

Cost of Mold Remediation

Not all of us can afford the cost of mold remediation thanks to the economy. In fact, more and more homeowners are finding it extremely difficult to keep their homes, so trying to keep up with any structural damage is most likely the furthest thing from their minds. And the chances of handing over thousands of dollars to a mold removal company is seriously out of the question, or is it?

With more and more homeowners losing their jobs, more and more financial options need to be explored to help pay for mortgages, home repairs and even the costs to remove mold.

Here are a few places you may or may not have already considered checking with to help get you started -

1. Your Insurance Company – Despite what you may have heard about insurance not covering mold, there are still some companies out there who are willing to help. And of course it never hurts to ask if they offer a policy that may help pay for mold removal costs. And even if their answer is no, they may be willing to say yes to covering water damage mold or any structural damages not caused by the mold.

2. Your City – Many cities are now offering help when it comes to home repairs. Whether it’s to beautify the neighborhood or make your home a safer environment to live in, your city or town may cover the costs or at the very least offer charitable assistance through a local contracting service.

3. FEMA – If the damages to your home are extreme and your city or state has contacted an organization called FEMA, you may be able to have the costs of those mold removal jobs covered depending on your income and the circumstances in which the damages occurred.

4. Bartering – Many businesses, especially smaller ones may be willing to barter their services in exchange for a service you can provide for them. Don’t have a service to offer? Why not ask a family member for friend to offer their services to the company in exchange for you to mow their yard, housesit, babysit or whatever task they may need done.

5. Payment Plan – As much as we don’t like the idea of owing more debt, you may want to consider asking the mold removal company if they’re willing to set up a monthly payment plan with you. Many companies know these are hard times and are often willing to help in any way they can.

6. Credit Line – Another option if you can afford to do so is to use your own line of credit such as borrowing from your bank or using a revolving credit line. However, if you choose this option, it’s always a good idea to borrow a little more than estimated just in case you need it.

7. Income Tax Return –With the tax season upon us once again, many of us will be owed a refund on our income tax return. If you’re expecting a refund, you may want to consider using it to cover the entire cost of mold remediation if not all least part of it.

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