How to Get Rid of Mold on Floor Joists

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How to Get Rid of Mold on Floor Joists

This article is intended to help the reader identify mold on floor joists, hard wood floors and other wood supports typically found in our home. There are literally thousands of different types of molds thriving in the environment today. Researchers have estimates that the amount of molds, mildews and fungus range in the 300,000 plus.

Moisture is one of the key factors in the growth of mold. Cellulous in the form of wood, paper and drywall are others just to name a few. Both moisture and a cellulose nutrient food source must be available for the growth of mold. In the event you experience a leaking roof or other types of flood damage, it is usually not feasible to save carpets, sheetrock or insulation from destruction. These materials are too porous and prone to rapid mold growth.

There are several things you may want to consider before tackling a mold remediation project. You may want to consider consulting a mold remediation specialist prior to undertaking this task. He will give you some insight into what may be involved in successfully completing a mold remediation project. Mold remediation specialist can also assist you with mold testing ensuring that toxic black mold is not present. Consider contacting an air quality professional that can assist you in the best course of action in preventing problems in the future and provide the best air quality for your family.

Step 1: The first thing to do in the event of water damage is to control the source of water and contain the effective area from the rest of the home. Containing and isolating the damaged area can be performed by hanging sheets of plastic over doorways and covering air ventilation ductwork leading to other uninfected areas of the house.

Step 2: Drying out the area is a priority. Mold will start to grow almost immediately after water has flooded the area. Removing carpets and water logged furniture is a priority. Wet damaged drywall will require removing and then replacing after the area is dried out and remediation is completed.

Step 3: Mold must be removed from the house. Use a thin plastic sheet of plastic to cover the floor of the affected area. You will want to catch and collect as much of the dead falling mold as possible. Dead mold can also be very dangerous to your family. I the case where the mold is heavy, you may want to scrub the area first with chlorine bleach solution. This will help to remove grease and some dirt but chlorine bleach will NOT kill mold.

Step 4: Safety first, make sure you have a respirator and the proper safety goggles and gloves before starting the application process. It is highly recommended that you use a commercial mold and fungicide killer. Getting rid of the mold and mold spores should be your main concern. The mold and fungicide killer should contain an EPA approved ingredient designed to kill mold and mildews. Use the product as recommended by the manufacture. Typical us will use a spray and scrub method. Heavy wire brush can be used in areas of heavy mold and mildew. Wipe the area with a over the counter clean wipe or something comparable. Be sure to discard after the wipe. Do not reuse dirty wipes; you may spread the mold spores to other areas of the house. Allow the mixture to work for approximately 24 hours and reapply as required until mold testing is negative.

Get rid of mold is the topic of this article and I hope that it gave you some insight as to what is involved in the process of mold and water damage remediation. It is a good idea to consult a mold remediation specialist in the event you experience flooding, water damage or mold of any kind. Some molds can turn out to be toxic mold that is harmful to humans and our pets. The sooner the problem is addressed to better off you will be. Remember, Safety first.

By: Bradley Skierkowski