· by Michael Blair, Nashville's Water Damage
Mold spores are present in every building at background levels. What matters is active growth indoors, which requires a moisture source. Fix the moisture and the growth stops; treat the growth without the moisture and it returns.
When is mold a cleaning job and when is it remediation?
Small areas of surface growth on a hard non-porous surface — bathroom grout, a window sill — are cleaning, not remediation.
Larger areas, growth on porous materials such as drywall or insulation, or anything inside a wall cavity, is remediation territory with containment.
Is mold testing worth paying for?
If you can see it, testing usually adds little — you already know you have a problem, and the remedy does not change much with the species.
Testing is useful to confirm suspected hidden growth, to establish a baseline before and after remediation, or in a dispute.
- Visible growth on hard surfaces: clean it
- Porous materials affected: remove them
- Anything above a modest area: professional remediation
- Find and fix the moisture source first, always
- Post-remediation verification if the job was large
The moisture source is the actual job
Remediation that does not identify why the material was wet is incomplete. In Middle Tennessee that source is frequently a crawl space, a bathroom fan venting into an attic, or a slow plumbing leak.
A remediation quote that does not address the cause should be questioned before it is accepted.
What to be skeptical of
Free inspections from companies that also sell remediation, very large quotes generated from an air sample alone, and dramatic language about toxic black mold.
An independent assessor with no remediation to sell is worth the fee when the numbers get large.
FAQ
Mold After Water Damage, and What Is Normal — questions
Do I need mold testing?
If you can see growth, usually not — you already know, and the remedy is largely the same regardless of species. Testing earns its place when you suspect hidden growth, want a baseline before and after a large remediation, or are in a dispute with an insurer or a seller.
Can I clean mold myself?
Small areas of surface growth on hard non-porous surfaces, yes, with appropriate protection and ventilation. Porous materials such as drywall, carpet and insulation cannot be reliably cleaned and should be removed. Anything beyond a modest area, or inside a wall, warrants containment and a professional.
Will mold come back after remediation?
It will if the moisture source remains, and that is the most common reason a remediation appears to fail. Growth requires water; remove the water and the growth stops. Any remediation plan that does not identify and correct the source is incomplete.
Does mold go away when it dries out?
Drying stops it from growing, but it does not clean up what has already grown. Active growth needs a moisture source, so fixing the water is the first step. After that, growth on hard surfaces is cleaned off, and porous materials such as drywall and insulation are removed. Background spores remain in every building regardless.