Mold needs only a few simple things to thrive: moisture, organic matter to feed on and moderate temperatures. Unfortunately, these components are easy to find in most modern homes where mold often grows on wood floor components.
Mold reproduces by forming spores (like tiny seeds), and disseminating these spores into the air – a common means of exposure for people. Some molds produce mycotoxins, such as the black mold Stachybotrys. Many articles can be found on the effects of mold, and toxic molds.
All year long, mold releases spores into the air of your crawl space, but the mold doesn’t just stop there. It travels into the living space. Crawl space mold spores can enter your home through open cavities in the sub floor for the plumbing and electrical wiring, register vents, inside accesses, and especially the heating and air conditioning system.
A crawl space is by far the largest source of moisture in a home. Damp, vented crawl spaces have the high humidity levels necessary for mold growth. Humidity levels from 70% to 90% are easily found in crawl spaces — even relatively dry, vented crawl spaces that have never flooded.
Cleaning up existing crawl space mold, or mold remediation, is a specialty of Weatherseal’s. Our first and foremost recommendation is that mold should not be treated or removed from a crawl space unless a drainage or encapsulation system is part of the work. Otherwise, new mold can grow in the future because of continued high levels of moisture in the crawl space.
If your basement, crawl space, attic, or other barriers to the outdoors are not properly sealed, moisture can seep into your structure. Again, wooden framing and trusses make good food for mold, especially when damp. Additionally, mold lives comfortably in the same temperatures as humans, so unless you live in a large sauna or a veritable icebox, mold is likely to be very comfortable in your home.
Any remediation company can get rid of the mold in your home. We go the extra mile to prevent mold from coming back. By taking a whole-home approach to the air quality issues in your home, we help you determine where the problem areas in your home’s building envelope are, particularly moldy crawl spaces. We will make recommendations and help you work out a plan to control moisture and protect the structure from recontamination. These solutions often include:
- Basement and Crawl Space Encapsulation
- Sump Pumps
- Dehumidifiers
- Drainage Improvements
Freeze The Mold!
Dry ice blasting is our primary method for removing mold from structures, although we will also hand-clean and HEPA-vacuum the debris if necessary. Dry ice blasting is an innovative technique that has proven highly efficient in the permanent removal of mold.
We use specialized equipment to shoot frozen carbon dioxide at contaminated surfaces. Our machinery functions at a high speed, which achieves rapid abrasion –like sandpaper, but faster. Once the process is complete, the carbon dioxide evaporates, leaving less mess to clean up than traditional methods.
Is Dry Ice Blasting Safe For My Family?
Our dry ice blasting technique is safe, leaving behind no harsh chemicals in your home and creating less airborne debris than the typical dry-brush method. Our equipment also allows us to get into hard-to-reach cracks and crevices, unlike sandpaper. Dry ice blasting is as much as three times more time efficient than traditional mold removal, cutting down not only on labor costs, but on the time you will need to have technicians in your home. Our method can help our customers save money while achieving comprehensive and lasting results.
Utilizing The Latest Technologies For Mold Remediation, Dry Ice Blasting:
What To Expect With Weatherseal’s Mold Remediation
When you call us about a mold problem, we will set up an appointment for a visual inspection of the affected area. If there appears to be microbial growth, we can perform a laboratory test to pinpoint what is growing and determine how the mold could affect the health of your family.
We perform the mold removal process, typically involving the removal of non-salvageable materials and applying our state-of-the-art dry ice blasting technique to remove mold attached to the structure of the building. If insulation or drywall has to be removed, we will replace it.
Our goal is to improve the condition of your home and the health of the people living in it. You can trust Weatherseal to get your mold remediation job done right through our whole house approach to air quality issues. Our team has more than 30 years of experience.
We know that no two problems are ever the same, which means we do not offer a one size fits all solution to mold and moisture problems. We take into account the layout of your house, the foundation and surrounding drainage when working with you. Then we develop a comprehensive solution that will improve the quality of air in your house and keep out mold that can cause respiratory irritation and other health problems.
