The Key to mold control is moisture control. Typical moisture sources include burst pipes, excessive humidity coupled with the lack of ventilation and moisture infiltration from the exterior to the interior of your property.
This image reflects the common structure of mold on a microscopic level. The small circular images (mold spores) found toward the top of the structure can be considered similar to tree leaves. Much like the seeds of a tree the spores are released and seek out a viable substrate on which to grow new structures.
Given proper temperature, moisture content and substrate mold can begin to grow in as little as 24-48 hours. As pictured here, mold spores have colonized and formed the mycellium or body of mold. It is at this stage that mold will begin to reproduce as it casts off blooms of spores into the environment.
This image reflects the resulting damage caused by the colonization of mold spores. As you can see the wallboard has become heavily damaged and all contents within the room are now subject to mold growth via spore settlement.
Before mold remediation can begin a containment barrier is erected over the entry way to isolate the affected room from adjoining or common areas. In some cases an extra chamber also known as a decon or clean room is adhered to the containment. Once containment is established negative pressure (vacuum) is created within the containment. Negative pressure minimizes the spread of mold spores during the demolition process to non-affected areas.
With containment and negative pressure now established the demolition process can begin.
Once removed, all affected materials are bagged separately according to type and recycled.
Once the affected materials have been removed the cleaning process can begin. All salvageable non-porous materials (wood framing, plastic, cement etc.) that have come into contact with the mold are now HEPA vacuumed and damp wiped using an Eco-friendly detergent.
Finally all surfaces within the contained area are HEPA vacuumed and damp wiped with an Eco-friendly detergent twice. This approach will ultimately insure a healthy home and environment.