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MOLD
REMEDIATION
/CLEANUP SEATTLE
800-492-2537
Mold remediation,
repair,
removal,
cleanup,
inspection, services
in
Seattle
and surrounds;
Lynnwood,
Everett,
Mill
Creek,
Marysville , Camano Island , Anacortes
Bremerton, Poulsbo,
Mt Vernon, Smokey Point,
Arlington,
Granite Falls,
Lake Stevens,
Snohomish,
Edmonds,
Mountlake Terrace,
Kenmore,
Monroe,
Bothell,
Woodinville,
Redmond,
Kirkland,
Bellevue,
Mercer Island,
Renton,
Gig Harbor,
Issaquah,
Sammamish,
North Bend,
Fall City,
Duvall,
Carnation
,
Maple Valley
and more.
Bales uses a variety of
mold cleanup
methods to remediate damage to building materials and
furnishings caused by
moisture control problems and
mold
growth in the greater
Seattle area. The specific method or group of methods used
by Bales to remediate will depend on the types of
material affected. Please note that Bales'
professional remediation experts may use some
methods not covered in these guidelines as there are
sometimes technological remediation procedures not
regularly updated on this site.
The purpose of mold remediation is to remove the
mold to prevent human exposure and damage to
building materials and furnishings. It is ultimately
necessary to clean up mold contamination, not just
to kill the mold - but to protect the health of
people living in the space. Dead mold is still
allergenic, and some dead molds are potentially
toxic.
Method 1: Wet
Vacuum
Wet vacuums are vacuum cleaners designed to collect
water. They can be used to remove water from floors,
carpets, and hard surfaces where water has
accumulated. They should not be used to vacuum
porous materials, such as gypsum board. They should
be used only when materials are still wet -- wet
vacuums may spread spores if sufficient liquid is
not present. The tanks, hoses, and attachments of
these vacuums should be thoroughly cleaned and dried
after use since mold and mold spores can stick to
the surfaces.
Method 2: Damp Wipe
Whether dead or alive, mold is allergenic, and some
molds are also toxic. Mold can generally be removed
from nonporous (hard) surfaces by wiping or
scrubbing with specific fungicidal solutions. Our
remediation team then speed dry all surfaces
thoroughly to discourage further mold growth. Porous
materials that are wet and have mold growing on them
might have to be discarded. Since molds will
infiltrate porous substances and grow on or fill in
empty spaces or crevices, the mold can be difficult
or impossible to remove completely. Our team will
carefully remove and bag all unsalvageable porous
materials and remove from site as to not contaminate
non-affected areas.
Method 3: HEPA Vacuum
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air "filter")
vacuums are recommended for final cleanup of
remediation areas after materials have been
thoroughly dried and unsalvageable contaminated
materials removed. HEPA vacuums are also recommended
for cleanup of dust that might have settled on
surfaces outside the remediation area. Our
remediation team takes care to ensure that all
traces of contamination are properly removed during
this stage.
Method 4: Dry Ice Blasting
Sometimes removal of mold is
best done with blasting with dry ice pellets.
These pellets implode on contact with
materials and act to effectively destruct mold.
In addition, the pellets are often able to
improve the visual appearance of the material being
cleaned. Bales uses this method selectively as with
all methods.
Biocides
Bales use's disinfectants and biocides, killing and
encapsulating the mold. We take extra precautions
not to distribute mold spores throughout all
unaffected areas. Containing the
affected area (we put a barrier around) is
crucial to the prevention of further contamination.
Negative air machines, equipped with HEPA
filtration, are utilized to remove bacteria and
other contaminants from the air during restoration
work.
Sampling
Sampling for mold should be
conducted by professionals with specific experience
in designing mold sampling protocols, sampling
methods, and interpretation of results. Sample
analysis should follow analytical methods
recommended by the American Industrial Hygiene
Association (AIHA), the American Conference of
Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), or other
professional guidelines. Types of samples include
air samples, surface samples, bulk samples (chunks
of carpet, insulation, wall board, etc.), and water
samples from condensate drain pans or cooling
towers.
A number of pitfalls can be
encountered when inexperienced personnel conduct
sampling. They might take an inadequate number of
samples, there can be inconsistency in sampling
protocols, the samples might become contaminated,
outdoor control samples can be omitted, and you can
incur costs for unneeded or inappropriate samples.
Budget constraints will often be a consideration
when sampling; professional advice might be
necessary to determine if it is possible to take
sufficient samples to characterize a problem on a
given budget. If it is not possible to sample
properly, with a sufficient number of samples to
answer the question(s) posed, it would be preferable
not to sample. Inadequate sample plans can generate
misleading, confusing, and useless results.
Keep in mind that air sampling
for mold provides information only for the moments
in time in which the sampling occurred, much like a
short movie. Air sampling will reveal, when properly
done, what was in the air during the moments when
the sample was taken. For someone without
experience, sampling results will be difficult to
interpret. Experience in interpretation of results
is essential.
Bales Restoration does not take
samples. We recommend you hire an independent
hygienist to sample space before and after our
remediation process.
If you currently
have an emergency situation, call us at
800-492-2537 NOW! We will dispatch a
crew to your location usually within the hour.
Our emergency services line will connect you to a
certified technician 24 hours a day; 365 per year.
We invite you to give us a call and our trained
customer service staff who are all certified
mitigation specialists would be happy to assist you
with any questions or comments.
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