Basement mold removal

http://cdn.brownstoner.com/4e020f1749a76-

A bit of background. The molded area is a small closed partition space at the back of the house. The area is about 10×10 in size and to the right of it is the boiler room, directly to the left of the infected wall is a half bathroom. Above the infected area is our kitchen and bathroom. I noticed a couple of black patches a couple of months ago but it seem to grow exponentially the past couple of weeks. 

Has anyone dealt with mold removal? I am thinking about cutting open the sheetrock to see if I can find the source of the mold, if there isn’t. I plan to install a dehumidifier around the area to keep the humidity under 60%. Do I need to hire a mold inspector? How common is this?

Thanks in advance.

namahs

in General Contractors 13 years and 10 months ago

3

Please log in, in order to post replies!

3 replies

Newest Oldest

aboveb | 13 years and 8 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4865 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4892 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "179704"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "aboveb"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$B1YkjPTnzeqJuNQUjhtE6UUQl3Qa380"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "aboveb"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(35) "directories@abmoldremediationnj.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(48) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/aboveb/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:41:11"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "aboveb"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(179704)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

According to EPA, if an area contaminated with mold is greater then 30 square feet, you MUST reach out for specialist to perform a mold removal for you. The thing is, sometimes mold is hidden behind the walls, under the carpet, etc. Its always a good idea to have a mold inspection in case you suspect large mold contamination.
You can do it yourself, take walls apart, etc, but if you get the inspection, they would use a special mini cameras to check your wall space without taking it apart!
If you in New Jersey, here is a great company – http://www.abmoldremediationnj.com . Good Luck!

BHS | 13 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4866 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4867 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "11181"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(3) "BHS"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(3) "bhs"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(20) "smythraina@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(18) "/forums/users/bhs/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:14:48"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(3) "BHS"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(11181)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I strongly agree with the previous commenter: it’s a leak, not general humidity, and you need to fix the source of the water before fixing the cosmetic issues. Don’t bother with a mold inspector. It may be a simple plumbing fix. You’re right to be opening the wall to see what’s going on.

bowl-of-dicks | 13 years and 10 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4870 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4864 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "12647"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "bowl-of-dicks"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(17) "bowl-of-dicks-2-2"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(15) "cf80q@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(28) "/forums/users/bowl_of_dicks/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:15:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "bowl of dicks"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(12647)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If you do not remedy the source of the mold, it will just come back. And it sounds like it could be a number of culprits, given the proximity to kitchen/bathrooms. If the mold is isolated to just this one area, it reinforces that you do not have a general humidity problem like in a basement (no need for long term dehumidifer use). As for clean up, start with bleach and a scrub brush.