Mold Clean Up

6/8/2018 (Permalink)

Moldy Drywall

Mold damage on a water loss

A lot of different materials in your home can be affected by water damage, and some of these materials can grow mold if not taken care of right away. Here are a few examples:

Drywall:

The paper backing on drywall is organic, and is susceptible to mold growth. Humidity and moisture in a structure can aggravate the growth of mold. Drywall that is contaminated by mold has to be cut out and removed properly, to keep any spores and hyphal fragments from spreading.

Wood Framing:

Because wood is a purely organic material, mold can quickly form and colonize on it. This is especially true of framing that is covered by drywall. The lack of light and airflow inside a wet wall cavity creates optimal conditions for mold growth. Once moldy drywall is removed, some mold growth on the wood framing can be expected. It is important that the mold is properly removed from the framing, and that the framing is properly dried, before new drywall is installed.

 Carpet:

Modern carpets are made almost exclusively of synthetic materials. While synthetic materials are not a viable food source for mold, the carpet face, backing, and pad normally have dust trapped in or under them. This dust (dead skin cells, pet dander, etc.) can support mold growth. Carpet and pad can hold a lot of water, so it’s important to begin water removal quickly. If there is mold on the carpet, just like on drywall, properly removing carpet and pad and treating the subfloor will help prevent further spreading of spores. After structural drying is complete, new carpet and pad can be installed.

If you encounter any mold in your home, call SERVPRO of Casper at 307-235-6558 today. We can send a certified technician to inspect the damage, and guide you through the steps to remediate it properly.