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Mold Mistakes to Avoid: Inadequate Mold Cleanup Plan; Incomplete Mold Cleanup InspectAPedia®  -     What are the Main Mold Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid when cleaning removing mold from buildings? How to avoid unnecessary mold cleanup cost, inadequate mold remediation plans, and incomplete mold cleanup. How to avoid unnecessary mold cleanup problems like cross contamination Can we use bleach, ozone, mold sniffing dogs? How do we avoid mold reappearance after a mold cleanup? Advice on How to Use of Fungicidal Sealants on Wood Building Materials

Here we explain how an inadequate mold cleanup plan can end up costing unnecessarily when hiring a mold cleaning company. This section of our "How to Clean Mold" article describes common mistakes people make when attempting to clean up mold. Avoiding these mold cleanup errors can save you money and may also avoid dangerous side effects of bleach, mold chemicals, or ozone when improperly applied.

We also discuss common errors made when cleaning wood surfaces, such as relying on bleach or performing expensive and unnecessary cleaning on cosmetic black mold on wood surfaces. © Copyright 2009 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Resources.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

4. MOLD CLEANING MISTAKES people make when cleaning-up moldy building materials and moldy surfaces, continued.

IMPROPER MOLD CLEANUP JOB DEFINITION - inadequate mold inspection, testing, remediation plan

Mold tests with no inspection: The most common complaint we hear from readers is that they have just paid a "mold expert" (read "weekend mold class") to "inspect and test" their building for toxic mold, but the expert, who may have been paid $600. to $2400. did not do a thorough job.

Tests for mold, used without an accompanying building inspection by an expert, are not reliable when they give a negative ("no mold found") result.

Do the job right: If a professional mold inspection and test was justified in the first place, (see MOLD EXPERT, WHEN TO HIRE), then it the job should have been done with sufficient expertise and thoroughness that the building owners and occupants can have reasonable confidence in the conclusions reached.

Our photo at left shows a very moldy pantry in a home. Even if this is all the mold that was seen, mold growth this heavy suggests damp indoor conditions - it may be appropriate to inspect the building carefully and completely.

If you are betting the health of building occupants and perhaps also many thousands of dollars on the results of a "mold test" then shouldn't the test be thorough and valid?

In our opinion, we'd rather have no tests performed than accept the "findings" of unreliable tests and screens for mold.

Mold Cleanup Workmanship, Procedures, & Asbestos: We add that during any building demolition or remodeling you should be alert for other building contaminants that might need attention and which can be most-economically addressed by combining them into the mold remediation project.

A common example is the discovery of asbestos pipe or surface insulation in a building which because of its location or condition needs to be encapsulated or removed. Since the technology for mold remediation involves similar containment and cleaning standards, if you have an asbestos problem at a different area on a moldy building you should discuss adding that work to the job.

If asbestos materials are in the mold-remediation area and will be disturbed by the mold cleanup process, removing and cleaning this material will probably be unavoidable and will, unfortunately, add to the cost of the job.

INCOMPLETE MOLD CLEANUP or incomplete removal of moldy materials, or RELYING ON of BIOCIDES, MOLD SPRAYS and MOLD ENCAPSULANT PAINTS

Spraying biocides or fungicidal sealants over moldy dust, dirt and debris that should have been removed (photo above right) is a common mold cleanup error. You may be leaving "dead" but toxic or allergenic particles at high levels in the building.

We like biocides as a final wash, and we like fungicidal sealants in problem areas because by reducing the moisture-uptake of wood surfaces they probably retard future mold growth. Our photo (above left) shows a worker applying biocide to carpeting - not a procedure that we recommend. Moldy wall to wall carpets should be removed.

But biocides, fungicidal sprays, and encapsulating mold paints are not an effective substitute for removing the problem mold reservoir in a building. See FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE for additional details. See MOLD SPRAYS, SEALANTS, PAINTS for a discussion of when where how and why to use biocide or fungicidal sprays and encapsulating mold sprays and paints.

Here we show the results of a professional and well-executed moldy crawlspace cleanup job during our clearance inspection and test. This crawl space was difficult because building management was reluctant to take the necessary steps to keep out water. See HOW TO PREVENT FUTURE MOLD for a photo of a water entry source at this crawl space.

• The remediator did their best to seal the area against future water intrusion.
• All surfaces had been physically cleaned.
• No demolition dust or debris remained in or out of the work area.
• The remediator finished by coating all wood surfaces in the crawl area with a clear fungicidal sealant - helpful protection against future moisture intrusion and mold growth.

Even with these steps, unless the property manager takes the necessary steps to prevent future water in the crawl space this area could have a new problem, especially if it is re-insulated using fiberglass batts.

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Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

MOLD CLEANUP GUIDE- HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD
CLEAN MOLDY SURFACES
  CLEANING SMOOTH WOOD
  CLEANING IRREGULAR SURFACES - MEDIA BLASTING
  CLEANING MOLDY WOOD TRUSSES
  SANDING WOOD TO REMOVE MOLD
DRY THE MOLD-CLEANED SURFACE
FUNGICIDAL SPRAY & SEALANT USE GUIDE
  ADVANTAGES
  WARNINGS
  SOURCES & TYPES
MOLD CLEANING MISTAKES
  UNNECESSARY COSTS
  INADEQUATE REMEDIATION PLAN
  INCOMPLETE CLEANUP
  CROSS CONTAMINATION
  USING BLEACH on MOLD
  USING OZONE to KILL MOLD
  HOW TO PREVENT FUTURE MOLD
  COSMETIC MOLDS
MOLD CLEANUP LIMITATIONS

• Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. (727) 595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com 11/06 and 04/2008
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More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• Action Guide for Mold: what do I do about mold in our home? Step by step instructions.
• Humidity: What indoor humidity should we maintain in order to avoid a mold problem?
• Mold Levels: allergenic or toxic mold: how much means a problem
• Not Mold, Stuff that is harmless or cosmetic-only
• Ozone Generators Indoors, The Use of for Control of Odors and Mold Removal in Buildings: A Summary of Hazards and False Claims
• Prevention: Avoiding Mold Problems in Buildings by Using Mold-resistant Construction Products & Practices
• Prevention of Mold list of articles on how to Correct the Causes of Mold and Prevent Indoor Mold or other indoor environment problems
• Standards: Mold Cleaning, Remediation, & Clearance Testing Standards list of documents

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