Avoiding The Need For Mold Remediation

Often, the best mold remediation is prevention. Most mold removal professionals will admit: The vast majority of black mold cases are entirely preventable.

Here are five ways to ensure you’ll never have to call a mold remediation contractor.

Make sure the porous surfaces in your home stay dry

Mold remediation becomes a necessity when the porous surfaces of your home become infested with black mold. Because black mold clings fast to substances with lots of tiny footholds like concrete and wood, it’s hard to simply clean off once it’s in there. Calling a mold remediation contractor is the only way to get rid of it (short of demolishing and replacing the affected area). To avoid having to call a mold remediation contractor, make sure the porous surfaces in your home don’t fall victim to moisture from leaks or excessive humidity, which helps mold thrive.

Clean your bathroom regularly

Black mold is like mushrooms – it likes to live in damp, forgotten places. Since your bathroom regularly plays host to steamy hot showers, areas of the walls and ceiling can become regularly wet enough for mold to call it home. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on those forgotten nooks and crannies of the bathroom, like behind fixtures and in the tracks of sliding shower doors. Regular maintenance here will help avoid having to engage in any sort of expensive mold remediation program.

Keep remote surfaces dry and free of humidity

A substantial percentage of mold remediation happens in the forgotten corners of houses, like eaves, attic crawlspaces, and basement cubbyholes. It’s not because these places attract moisture; it’s because when they do get wet, we usually don’t notice until it’s too late. Try checking these spaces once every few months to make sure there’s not a dangerous moisture buildup.

Enact good basement waterproofing techniques

Basements are a hotbed of activity for black mold colonies, particularly if those basements leak. A cracked foundation, poor insulation, or faulty window wells can bring in enough moisture over time to allow black mold to thrive. Make sure your basement is free from leaks.

Consult with a mold remediation specialist

If you’re selling your home or buying a new one, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s totally free of mold, or even the risk of mold. Under many circumstances this is actually required by law if you’re selling your home. But if you really want to cover all your bases, and make sure your home is entirely safe, consulting with a mold remediation specialist will offer peace of mind.