Mold Cleanup & Remediation
Has mold taken over your property? At Valley Restoration, we know how to properly block off the contaminated part of your residence or business and properly remove mold to restore everything to pre-infestation conditions. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help with your mold remediation efforts.
Are You Dealing with a Restoration Emergency?
How Does Mold Grow?
Mold is all around us. When spores find the right conditions, they multiply and create colonies. You know you have a colony when you see a mold patch on your wall.
There are over 100,000 types of mold species. They all have specific characteristics in common. For example, they thrive when there is humidity, something to feed on, and warm temperatures.
Dripping pipes or water damage create the right humidity conditions for spores to grow into a colony. If your humidity index is above 60%, you have the perfect conditions for mold to grow. As for temperature, the sweet spot is between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mold can remain dormant for long periods. Once the right circumstances arise, the spores will awaken and start growing. Mold will happily grow on drywall, paper, dust, wood, carpets, linen, fabric, and upholstery.
Client To-Do’s
What To Do When You Spot Mold
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mold can lead to numerous health complications, especially if left to grow within your home or business. These symptoms may start with a sore throat, stuffy nose, or coughing but can quickly become more serious. Therefore, you should follow these steps as soon as you spot even early signs of mold growth in your home.
Avoid Disturbing The Mold
Refrain from cleaning large areas yourself, as this can release spores into the air, spreading them to other areas of your home. You may also want to turn off any moving air within the room, including fans, your HVAC system, and similar equipment.
Restrict Access
Because mold can cause serious health complications, you must restrict access to the area where it was spotted. Keep children, pets, and elderly family members away from the mold area. You can close the door and prevent access if it’s in a single room. If it’s spread in parts of the house you must use, try to block it off so that no one can touch it or bump into it.
Find the Source
Mold typically grows in damp environments, so it’s crucial to identify the source of the moisture. This could be a leaky pipe, a window that doesn’t seal properly, or even high humidity. Addressing the source of the water is critical to preventing mold from returning.
Contact Valley Restoration and Construction
If the mold covers a large area, or if you’re dealing with toxic black mold, it’s best to contact a professional mold remediation company like Valley Restoration. We have the training and equipment to remove the mold safely and can also help address any underlying moisture problems contributing to mold growth.
Don't Wait and Let Mold Spread
Valley’s Process
Our Mold Removal & Cleanup Process
When you call Valley Restoration and Construction for mold remediation, you can expect us to walk through the same steps we do for each project.
Identify and Isolate the Mold Area
When Valley Restoration receives your call, we will first identify and isolate the area to prevent mold spores from traveling to other parts of the house. We will also turn off the HVAC system to stop mold from further invading the air ducts and moving throughout the house.
Identify And Fix the Humidity Source
For a colony to grow, a source of humidity is usually required. This can be a dripping pipe or other water-related problem. Once the area is isolated, we need to find this source of humidity and fix it to prevent future moisture buildup.
Clear the Mold
People often make the mistake of cleaning mold with a wet sponge and detergent, thinking this solves the problem. The dark spot on your wall is just the top part of the colony. Think of it as a flower: the stem and petals release spores into the air. Underneath your plaster or drywall lies its sturdy roots, which will survive any simple wall scrubbing.
Prior to any disruption of the mold surfaces, we contain the area. To eradicate the entire colony, including the parts not ordinarily visible, we scrub the surface where mold has grown with antimicrobial and antifungal chemicals that attack mold colonies in their entirety. Disinfecting and sanitizing the area is essential to eradicate all mold remnants.
Any cleaning is completed under negative air conditions using a HEPA filtered commercial negative air machine. After cleaning and sanitizing the area, any raw materials (framing, joists, subfloor, etc.) is then coated with a mold resistant paint.
We take extra care to clean floors, windows, the HVAC system, upholstery, and any other place where colonies may have formed.
We remove any items that we cannot clean. Sometimes, drywall, carpets, and subfloors need to be removed. We judge the extent of mold damage and the type of surface. Any salvageable item is treated and sanitized.
For anything that must be removed, we will repair or replace these items so that your home is fully put back to normal. This may require us to replace drywall, carpets, or subflooring. We may also need to repair the source of the mold, like burst pipes, portions of the ceiling or roof, and other areas in your home or business.
Clean the Air
Since spores are tiny, they can readily travel through the air from one room to another. Once we have dealt with the source of the problem, we use HEPA filters, HEPA vacuums, and air scrubbers to capture even the most minuscule spores that may still linger in the air, thus preventing a future colony from forming.
Make Sure the Moisture Levels Are Normal
While our air purifiers ensure clean and spores-free air, we also run professional dehumidifiers to remove excess humidity. We measure the humidity levels with moisture meters and test your home or business to evaluate how much moisture has been removed and whether the humidity levels are back to healthy.
Valley Restoration & Construction
Your Mold Remediation Experts
Mold damage can be challenging, especially when it invades your home or business. Thankfully, Valley Restoration and Construction is here to help you through every step of the mold remediation process.
Certified Mold Remediation Experts
Our technicians specialize in residential and commercial mold cleanup and remediation. They are trained to locate the mold’s source, repair anything causing it to grow, and safely remove all signs of mold. You’ll be able to breathe again once we finish our process.
“Locally-Owned” Means We Care About You
We are a locally-owned and operated business. Our professionals live in Montrose and the surrounding communities we serve. At Valley Restoration and Construction, we care about helping you.
A Proven Record of Quality Work
Since 2014, we’ve consistently provided high-quality work. Customer testimonials highlight our reputation and ability to deliver on our restoration and construction promises. We will make sure the job gets done properly and exceed your expectations regardless of the size of the project.
Available Anytime
We know that restoration emergencies occur at unpredictable times. That’s why we’re available to take your call 24/7. When mold emergencies happen, we will be there for you.
Learn More About Mold Removal & Cleanup
How can you Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home
When found in nature, mold has many benefits. However, issues can arise when the fungus takes root in your home. What issues are caused by mold growth? Mold harms your home’s air quality. Mold can grow on any surface and disperse its spores within the interior of your...
FAQs
Common Mold Damage Questions
What is mold remediation?
Mold remediation removes mold and addresses the underlying moisture issues that led to its growth. It involves cleaning, sanitizing, and restoring affected areas to prevent future mold growth and to ensure a healthy living environment.
What causes mold growth?
Mold growth is usually caused by excess moisture or humidity in the indoor environment. Common sources include water leaks, flooding, poor ventilation, high humidity, and condensation on cold surfaces.
How can I tell if I have a mold problem?
Visible mold growth, musty odors, and allergic symptoms (such as sneezing, coughing, or irritated eyes) can be signs of a mold problem. If you suspect mold, a professional inspection can confirm its presence and identify the extent of the issue.
How can I prevent mold growth?
Preventing mold growth involves controlling moisture levels in your home. Fix leaks promptly, ensure proper ventilation, use dehumidifiers in damp areas, and maintain indoor humidity levels below 60%. Regularly clean and maintain HVAC systems and air filters to improve indoor air quality.
Is it safe to remove mold on my own?
Small areas of mold can often be cleaned with household cleaners or a bleach solution. However, if the affected area is larger than 10 square feet or you have health concerns, it is best to hire a professional mold remediation company to handle the removal safely and effectively.
What are the potential health risks associated with mold exposure?
Mold exposure can cause allergic reactions, respiratory issues, and irritations of the eyes, skin, nose, and throat. People with asthma, allergies, or weakened immune systems are more susceptible to mold-related health problems.
How long does the mold remediation process take?
The duration of mold remediation depends on the extent of the mold growth and the materials affected. On average, mold remediation can take anywhere from 1 to 5 days. However, more extensive projects or those involving hard-to-reach areas may take longer.
How much does mold remediation cost?
Mold remediation costs can vary depending on the problem’s severity and the affected area’s size. On average, homeowners can expect to spend between $1,000 and $4,000 for mold remediation services, but severe cases can exceed $10,000.
Will my homeowner's insurance cover mold remediation?
Some homeowners’ insurance policies may cover mold remediation if a covered peril, such as a burst pipe or storm damage, causes mold growth. However, mold resulting from lack of maintenance or neglect may not be covered. Reviewing your policy and consulting with your insurance agent to determine coverage is essential.
What should I look for in a mold remediation company?
When choosing a mold remediation company, consider the following factors:
- Licensing, certification, and insurance
- Experience and expertise in mold remediation
- Comprehensive services, including inspection, removal, and prevention
- Positive customer reviews and references
- Transparent pricing and written estimates
How can I prevent mold from forming in my home?
There are several ways to help your home stay dry and well-ventilated.
- Open your windows regularly to let in fresh air and remove any lingering humidity. Your kitchen and bathroom should have fans that run when you cook or shower so that steam doesn’t build up.
- If you have a dehumidifier, use it around the house to drop the relative humidity levels below 60% and, ideally, closer to 40%.
- Even a small leak can cause mold. Make sure you fix even the tiniest leak immediately to prevent excess humidity from building up.
- If you are painting or repainting your house, use mold-resistant paint to stop mold from taking hold in the future.
- When you return from a walk in the rain, let your clothes dry thoroughly before tidying them into the closet.
- A leaky gutter can lead water to lap on external walls. The extra, constant moisture can create the perfect conditions for mold to develop. Make sure your gutters are sturdy and properly secured and that they direct the water away from your home.
How Does Mold Spread?
Mold spores are everywhere: tiny and light, they travel through the air. We also carry mold spores on our skin, pet fur, and clothes.
Mold has a way of traveling because it feeds off the material that carries it. For instance, wood, insulation, dust, paper, drywall, upholstery, and carpets are excellent food sources for mold. They are also the same materials that can help carry mold across spaces.
Once mold has moved from one space to another, it only requires damp, warm, and dark conditions to reproduce. If it finds these, it rapidly creates a mold colony: within as little as 48 hours, you may see the results of mold infestation in your home or business.