Valor Mold

And Why Is Our Company So Different?

Mold remediation in the DC area takes, unfortunately, several forms. One of the more common styles is to fill the mold colonized space with air machines and let them run for several days while charging you for every second they are in place.

Another method is to rip out everything in the area and saturate what’s left with harsh chemicals, and then run machines for days on end. If you’re lucky, the remediator will find the source of the problem and solve the issue.

We tend to take a more nuanced approach to mold remediation and offer the most thorough and cost-effective method on a case-by-case basis. We don’t have a standard process – instead, we just have high standards. And most times, it takes roughly three days to complete the process to our satisfaction.

The Realities Of Household
Mold Remediation

Mold.

Is.

Everywhere.

But, mold only becomes dangerous when its spores concentrate in an enclosed space, which is why household mold is a recognized danger to a family’s health.

Unfortunately, many DC area companies consider mold a side gig and give the danger little respect, treating mold more as a marketing tool for a lucrative add-on, leading to a substandard and potentially dangerous remediation process.

While labor charges can only get so high, equipment charges are rarely challenged, so that’s where they focus their attention. Sadly, it’s labor that really gets the job done, so if you see your remediator hauling in a bunch of equipment without spending a substantial amount of time cleaning, you’ve hired the wrong company.

Remediation Done
The Right Way

The first step, once your mold source has been located, is containment. Cleaning mold can release billions of spores into the air, which is why you’ll see professional mold technicians wearing protective gear from head to toe.

The last thing anyone wants is to cause new colonies to spring up in other areas of your home, so work area containment is key. There need to be floor-to-ceiling barriers of plastic sheeting between the workspace and the rest of your home. The sheeting should be put in place neatly, with no gaps at the top or bottom.

Step two is to set up a Negative Air Machine (NAM), which creates negative pressure in the work area and helps prevent loose spores from leaving the area except to leave your home.

Only after these precautions have been taken can the removal and cleaning of infected areas begin.

Finding The Source

Finding the source of your mold problem is an early goal but not always the first step. Sometimes we have to dig past the mold-infested materials to figure out where the moisture is coming from.

Once we find the source, we will take the necessary actions or recommend what needs to be done if the issue is outside of our licensed activities.

Removal

Our technicians will carefully remove any materials damaged beyond use by the mold colony. Most often, this will include drywall and paneling and certain portions of the infected ceiling.

Any moldy material that can be saved, like wooden joists, or can’t be moved, like cement walls, is then stripped of mold colonies using sanders, wire brushing, or blasting.

Cleaning

Due to the microscopic nature of mold spores, it can take several vigorous cleaning sessions to render the area safe.

And contrary to popular belief, harsh chemicals (aka anti-microbials or fogging) are practically never needed to get the job done. We pride ourselves on using the safest yet most robust solutions available to get rid of the mold in our customer’s homes. Rarely do we have to resort to harsh chemicals.

Testing

Once remediation is completed, it is standard practice to have an uninterested third party do the testing to verify that the remediation was successful. Sometimes, our customers choose not to use a 3rd party due to cost or time delays.

In that case, we like to use our InstaScope to show them immediate testing results that the containment is safe to come down. We can and will use the InstaScope, but third-party testing is still the recommended way to go.

Why Three Days?

On average, the mold remediation process takes three days. Sometimes it takes longer for bigger jobs and goes more quickly on smaller projects. Since proper remediation involves proper containment and a whole lot of meticulous cleaning, it’s a difficult process to speed up.

If we can rid your home of mold with nothing more than a thorough inspection and advising you to throw out an infected object and keep your windows open for a few days, then that’s what we will do.

Whatever option is the most thorough and safest for your health is the option we will always recommend.

If you are concerned about mold in your DC area home, contact us at Valor Mold Removal for a free estimate.