By Central Valley Water Restoration Published
The Mold Remediation Process: What It Actually Is
Mold remediation means finding out why something got wet, containing the affected area, removing or cleaning what the mold has grown on, and drying the structure so the conditions that fed the mold are corrected. Wiping a spot with bleach isn't remediation, and neither is painting over it.
We're a father-and-son business based in Fresno, and we're IICRC-certified in applied microbial remediation (AMRT), water damage restoration (WRT) and applied structural drying (ASD). Here's the process we follow on mold jobs across the Central Valley, and which parts are handled by someone independent of us.
Our Mold Remediation Process, Step by Step
Every job follows the same sequence. The size and location of the affected area change how much each step involves.
1. Moisture and Visible-Growth Assessment
Mold is a moisture problem first. We trace the visible growth back to the water behind it: a slow plumbing leak, a roof leak that shows up in winter storms, condensation from an evaporative cooler, a bathroom fan venting into the attic, or ground moisture under a slab or in a crawl space.
We take readings with moisture meters on the surrounding drywall, wood, subfloor and cabinets, and check humidity with a hygrometer. That moisture mapping shows how far the damp material extends past the stain and sets the boundaries of the job. When growth follows a known leak or flood, mold from water damage tends to sit wherever the original drying didn't reach, so that's where we look hardest.
2. Containment
Before anything is disturbed, we seal the work area off from the rest of the property with plastic sheeting. When the scope calls for it, we put it under negative air pressure, so air flows into the work area rather than out of it. Disturbing mold releases spores and debris, and containment keeps them in the space being worked on.
If the heating and air system may be contaminated, EPA advises not running it, because it can spread mold through the building. Duct and HVAC cleaning isn't a service we offer. If we see signs the system is involved, we'll tell you, so an HVAC contractor can check it.
3. HEPA Air Filtration
HEPA air scrubbers run while the work is underway, pulling air through high-efficiency filters to help capture particles released as materials are cut out and bagged. On contained jobs, they also keep the work area under negative pressure.
4. Removing Materials That Can't Be Cleaned
Porous materials such as drywall, insulation, carpet and pad, and ceiling tile hold growth inside them, not just on the surface, so once they're affected they generally come out. We bag them inside containment for disposal and record what was removed and why. We don't remove more than the readings and the growth justify.
5. Cleaning and Treating What Stays
Hard surfaces like tile, metal, glass and sealed wood can usually be cleaned and treated rather than replaced. Wood framing is judged case by case, depending on how long it was wet and how deep the growth goes.
6. Drying and Correcting the Moisture
None of this holds if the space stays damp. We dry the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers, the same structural drying we do after a leak, and keep taking readings until the materials are back to normal dry levels. A plumbing or roof leak has to be repaired by a plumber or roofer. If the cause was humidity or poor ventilation, we'll tell you what we saw and what would help.
7. Documentation
We photograph the affected areas before, during and after the work, log moisture readings, and note what was removed and what was cleaned. That record is yours, for your own files, your insurer or a future buyer.
Testing and Clearance Are Done Independently
We don't do mold testing, air sampling or clearance testing. When testing is needed, it's arranged through an independent industrial hygienist, a third party who isn't the company doing the removal.
That isn't a gap in the process. EPA's guidance is that when visible mold growth is present, sampling is usually unnecessary, because the growth and the moisture behind it have to be dealt with either way. Independent testing can still make sense if your insurer or lender asks for it, if you're buying or selling, or if you can smell mold but can't find it. If you want a clearance check after our work, the hygienist handles it and we work around their timeline. Having someone other than us check our work is the arrangement we'd want in your position.
Repairs and Timing
Remediation often leaves open wall cavities or bare subfloor. We don't do the rebuild. Repairs are done by a licensed contractor, and we hand them our photos, readings and notes so they start from an accurate record of the job.
A small, contained job, such as one bathroom wall or one closet, may take one to a few days. Larger areas, extended drying, or waiting on a hygienist's schedule can take longer. We'll give you a timeframe once we've assessed the scope, and tell you if it changes.
Cost and Insurance
We don't publish prices, because mold jobs vary too much for a number on a web page to be honest. Cost depends on the size of the area, how hard it is to reach, what materials are affected, how much has to come out, how long drying takes, and whether you want independent testing. Estimates are free.
Whether insurance pays depends on your policy and on what caused the mold, and we can't tell you what yours will cover. The photos, readings and notes from step 7 are yours to give your insurer.
What to Ask Any Mold Remediation Company
- Will you find and correct the moisture source?
- How will you contain the work area?
- What will you remove, and what will you clean?
- Are you IICRC-certified and insured?
- Who does any testing: you, or someone independent?
- Will I get photos and a written record of the work?
Be wary of anyone who guarantees mold will never come back. Mold spores are present in ordinary indoor and outdoor air, and no honest company can promise that. We're IICRC-certified and insured, and we're glad to answer all of these before you decide.
Keeping Mold From Coming Back
Mold returns when moisture does.
- Fix leaks quickly, and watch previously affected areas for new staining or a musty smell.
- Keep indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent, as EPA recommends. An inexpensive hygrometer tells you where you stand.
- Make sure bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans vent outside, not into the attic.
- Give the house enough ventilation while an evaporative cooler runs, since it adds moisture to the air as it cools.
We don't guarantee that mold won't return, because nobody controls a property's moisture after the job is done. What we can tell you is that the growth we found was removed or cleaned, and the moisture behind it was addressed before we finished. If you're seeing or smelling mold now, call (559) 999-1447. We answer 24/7.
About Central Valley Water Restoration
Central Valley Water Restoration is a father-and-son restoration company in Fresno, California. IICRC-certified in water damage restoration, applied structural drying and applied microbial remediation. Water, mold, fire and smoke, sewage and storm damage across Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings, Mariposa and Merced counties. Reconstruction and repairs are completed by our licensed general contracting partner, Gostanian General Building Corp, CSLB Lic. #346866. Financing options available — ask us for details.
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