I found black mold in the laundry room, under the tile. What is the first step?
J to K asked:
The was a fire on the 3rd floor last week, and I live on the 1st floor of the condo. We just had insurance people come by the other day to have them to check out damages. Most of water leakage happened in the laundry room, and through out the inspections, they found black mold underneath the tile. We don’t know how bad it is yet and how long it’s been there. But the insurance companies(homeowner’s & buiding insurance)told me that they dont cover mold. They also said that they won’t even touch the area where the mold is and we really need to fix up the damges from the fire. What do I need to do? Do I have the contractor hire someone for the mold inspection? My neighbors are urging me to get somebody out right away to check out the mold. How much would this cost out of my pocket? I need some help.
Black Mold
The was a fire on the 3rd floor last week, and I live on the 1st floor of the condo. We just had insurance people come by the other day to have them to check out damages. Most of water leakage happened in the laundry room, and through out the inspections, they found black mold underneath the tile. We don’t know how bad it is yet and how long it’s been there. But the insurance companies(homeowner’s & buiding insurance)told me that they dont cover mold. They also said that they won’t even touch the area where the mold is and we really need to fix up the damges from the fire. What do I need to do? Do I have the contractor hire someone for the mold inspection? My neighbors are urging me to get somebody out right away to check out the mold. How much would this cost out of my pocket? I need some help.
Black Mold
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The first step is to get all clothing away from that area (it will end up smelling like mould if you don’t), and keep any infants away (they are not as impervious as adults to foreign organisms).
You need to have it tested before you can really say its black mold. And from my understanding the only way to get rid of black mold is to either replace everything the mold is touching or have a professional remove the mold.
Years ago mold was treated with bleach and removed by contractors or people by themselves, but these days black mold is considered “toxic” and also can cause breathing problems and allergies, and may need to be removed by specialists and may be costly. First check out all you can about black mould on the internet, and then Contact someone at the EPA and ask their advice and suggestions.
one of your answers is mostly correct. people used to clean they’re own mold may be true, alot of us still do it ourselves. The cheapest and easiest way to do it is as follows: 1)strap up, definately wear gloves and a mask, it can make you ill but if you take these two simple precations you should be fine. i do it all the time.
2)scrub the affected and surrounding area with strait bleach.
3)let it dry completely 4)seal with a paint product called Killz primer (slop it on thick) available at any home depot or lowes. facts to keep in mind: while this mold is now considered DANGEROUS, so is the air you breathe, the water you drink and swim in, the pesticides on your fruit. Good luck!
I’m in the middle of a mold problem myself & have spent hours doing research on the internet.
I’ve learned that fungicides (mold killer) with BORATE (which is a form of Boric Acid) are also used/effective against many insects (like termites, roaches, crickets, various bugs & spiders). For the initial cleanup phase of mold a good cleaning solution can be made of just 20 Mule Team Borax (about 98% pure Boric Acid) and any type of soap mixed with warm water. The temperature of the water is important, because the warmer it is the easier the Boric Acid will disolve.
Here are a few links to info I’ve found both educational & helpful:
Why we should NOT USE BLEACH on porous materials
List of products with water soluble “Boric Acid”. This list can be extremely helpful to find the best priced, yet effective product.
New York City Health Department mold info
Mold Accross America
Center for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) search page
Water Damage & Mold Remediation (This site is very informative & covers the steps involved regarding fire &/or water damage.
Trask Research Inc. (Step by step procedure for mold removal)
DSP Inspections (Interesting general info about a home’s insulation & various ventilation sources, or lack thereof, can cause mold growth)
Here are some links to buying appropriate mold killing (not just cleaning) products:
Mold Stat Plus (is one step of a 3 step process, but inexpensive!)
Moldstat™ Mold Resistant Coating & Encapsulator: This Stops the mold from coming Back (You “paint” this stuff on after the clean up process. It prevents molds from comming back. Don’t let the price scare you off too much. Everything EFFECTIVE I’ve found for mold remediation is in this price range. Compare the cost to what you’ll be charged by a professional & you’ll suddenly feel like buying enough to cover your whole house!
Go with the bleach. Soak the affected area with bleach, let it dry and then follow some of the other practical suggestions. Not the ones that are trying to scare you to death. I’ve dealt with mold for over 50 years. Been in it, scrubbed it, etc. Bleach works every time. Just use gloves, ventilate the area, wear safety glasses. Use common sense. Something the government and insurance company’s don’t have.