QUOTE (marek5 @ Feb 3 2008, 08:11 AM) Barnie,
I would love to know the proper procedures for mold removal. Although my minor mold issues are fixed I think it may help many of us as we invest in older properties. It would also give us an Idea of the amount of work involved when looking to buy a property with some mold issues.
Please share the process
lets assume there is mold in a 500sq ft basement (1 bed) apartment in a (triplex). A 70 sqft bathroom affected as well as a 70 sqft kitchen area on the opposite side of the unit. Most mold near the baseboards on the walls and in behind the walls.
Thank you in advance
marek
The following seems quite drastic but the steps can be completed by anyone with a good arm and who isn`t afraid of breaking a sweat (or who can manage a couple of labourers).
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Make sure the source of the mold has been corrected before going ahead with the steps below.
Check humidity levels with a meter readings (check regulations for max allowed) check the
CMHC website for more info on how to do this.
Identify the area(s) that need to be repaired. If stains return after trying to wipe them clean, then you need to follow these steps.
Check humidity levels in walls to determine / confirm high humidity levels (which is what mold thrives on). Again,
check CMHC site for more info.
If levels of humidity are too high (in Ontario levels of humidity higher than 8/9 % are considered to feeding grounds for mold), the walls will need to be opened up (in basement floods we cut and discard bottom 25" of walls using a chalk line and a `saws-all` type of tool). If you are addressing sporadic areas, then only those areas need to be opened. Look and/or feel insulation to determine if it`s wet. If so, cut out the insulation and discard it. Don`t replace anything until you`ve completed the following.
Cut and remove all drywall and wet insulation, bag and remove from site. If any trim or doors made of MDF are wet (mostly from floods) they`ll need to be replaced. If it`s wood, it can be dried and reused.
Clean up mess with broom and vacuum making sure you get all the bits and pieces (of drywall and debris) between studs.
For each room, you`ll need to rent a dehumidifier (dehum) and air movers (large floor fans) for two days. Ideally you`ll want three air movers and one dehumidifier for each affected room. Four air movers for large rooms. If it`s a small room one air mover will do.
Set up the equipment as follows:
Position furniture in center of room or remove it all to allow air to circulate. Place an air mover at each of the outside corners furthest from door and position them so the air circulates in the same direction around the room. They should be pointed in a diagonal position to the wall with air `gliding` against the wall it is pointed at. If room is empty, place the dehum in the center of the room. If not, place it right in the doorway between each door jamb or if not possible, then right in front of the door inside the room (with the door open). Dehums are equipped with a long hose which serves to carry the water the machine picks up to a nearby sink or the drain. Make sure you position the end of this hose accordingly.
Do this in all affected areas.
In small rooms, like a bathroom or storage room, position fan or air mover less than 2 feet from wall and point it directly to the wall. This will force the air to hit the wall and circulate back through the doorway. Position the dehum at the door where it will collect the humidity as the air flows by it.
NOTE: If you are addressing small areas (say... less than the size of 3 sheets of drywall, you may not need the dehum. Set up the fans and check for humidity again the next day. If it has dropped, check it again the next day. It should be dry enough the next day though. Smaller areas tend to dry faster as there isn`t much humidity to dry up.
IMPORTANT
SPRAY THE BENEFECT AFTER ALL EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN SET UP AND YOU ARE READY TO LEAVE THE ROOM. While the scent of the Benefect isn`t bad, some customers have complained about it. Spray all areas that have been opened generously with Benefect (or Microban) using a spray type of canister or manual pump that you pour liquid into.
Once the place has dried up, return the equipment and start patching/repairs. Do NOT reuse any of the drywall or insulation as it is contaminated!
I hope this helps.
