Anyone who has mold in his home needs mold remediation, since it is the only effective way to eliminate the growing mold and floating spores present inside a commercial or residential property, explains Guy Oliver of Affordable Carpet and Duct Cleaning.
Oliver’s company is a premier mold remediation business in Boston, Massachusetts. Because of this, he has become known as a mold and mildew expert in the local area. He tells us that mold remediation is especially beneficial to anyone who has recently had water damage or any type of water leak in his home, since that is a primary cause for new mold growth.
Even if a recent water leak or spill hasn’t occurred though, Oliver says it may be worthwhile for homeowners to get in contact with him to find out about the benefits of remediation. In basements especially, high humidity levels can lead to the growth of dangerous types of toxic molds without the homeowner having any idea of what is occurring. When he goes into a home in Boston to perform mold remediation, Oliver tells us that he pays special attention to the attic area and the basement, where improper ventilation is common.
Even among vigilant homeowners, mold growth problems can come up. Oliver says that he has seen many cases where people who were trying to be vigilant about preventing mold growth had exhaust fans installed in their bathrooms as a way to increase ventilation. This is great under normal circumstances, of course, but unfortunately, some improperly trained technicians will install bathroom exhaust fan ventilation so that it goes into the attic. This, in turn, turns the attic into a breeding ground for mold.
Even worse, the mold that commonly grows in the attic is known as black mold, and it can oftentimes be toxic. Of the thousands of different types of molds in existence, Oliver tells us that only 100 are known as toxic black molds. Many of these black molds have toxic elements that make them dangerous to anyone who lives in the vicinity.
Oliver says that beyond vigilant homeowners and those who have recently had water damage, the third most common group of people he hears from are real estate agents and people looking to sell their homes in the near future. The home inspectors who are hired by the homebuyers are known for finding traces of mold in many homes in Boston, and mold remediation has been shown to be the best way to get this mold out for good. Oliver says that he is occasionally called out to do an inspection before the home is even put on the market, but that it is more common for him to be called once a problem has come up that could jeopardize a sale.
When he comes out to do a mold remediation on a Boston property, Oliver says that he will always offer the homeowner a free inspection before anything else. “We will walk them through the areas with mold and then send them a detailed proposal,” he says. “And that is all free.”
Once a homeowner decides to accept the proposal and go with Oliver’s company for the mold remediation job, he says that he and his crew will get to the home as quickly as possible to start sealing rooms off and containing the issue. “We go through all the certified steps of mold removal,” he says.
Among the “certified steps” for mold removal are using a “negative air machine,” which can capture all of the mold spores in the air while Oliver’s crew is working. After that, Oliver’s crew will begin the process of disinfecting the residence with the use of a chemical called Microban. Microban is an antimicrobial disinfectant that is used to seal off the surface of the walls and flooring so that mold cannot grow in the future.
If the mold remediation is being done in a basement where there is drywall and a heavy mold buildup, then Oliver says that demolition work may be necessary in order to do the job correctly. “We seal off everything before we start ripping out the drywall and cutting it out,” he says. “We remove the insulation, the drywall, the pad and the carpet. It just depends on if it is a finished or non-finished basement.”
This type of major demolition work is not necessary in all mold remediation jobs in Boston, of course, and Oliver says it is only necessary when the mold had grown to levels that cannot be reversed without getting rid of the wood material that the mold has become a part of.
