Mold after water damage: the short answer
Mold follows moisture, so the first step is always to stop the water and dry the area. Small patches of mold on hard surfaces can often be cleaned, but large areas, mold after significant water damage and anything involving sewage call for a professional. The EPA says water-damaged areas should be dried within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Call (770) 555-0186 to speak with a local water damage restoration contractor in the Kennesaw area.
Is it mold, and is it from water damage?
Mold often shows up as fuzzy or blotchy spots in black, green, gray or white, along with a musty smell. It grows where water lingered: behind baseboards after a leak, on basement drywall, on crawl space joists and around windows. The CDC advises assuming a home that flooded and stayed closed up for several days has mold. To understand the water problem behind it, see our overview of water damage restoration in the Kennesaw area.
How urgent is it?
Fix the moisture or the mold comes back.
Cleaning mold without fixing the leak or drying the structure only buys time. In Georgia's humid summers, damp materials can stay wet for a long time, which is why drying after water damage matters so much.
Do it yourself or hire a professional?
The EPA says you can usually handle a moldy area of less than about 10 square feet yourself, roughly a 3-by-3-foot patch. It advises hiring a professional if there's been significant water damage, if the moldy area is larger, or if the water was contaminated, such as sewage. The EPA also notes that absorbent or porous materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.
Testing
The EPA says that in most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary. Sampling can help confirm an area was adequately cleaned, but should be done by experienced professionals. Be cautious of anyone who insists on expensive testing before addressing visible mold and the moisture that caused it.
What happens during the visit
Find the moisture
The source of water is identified and fixed, and moisture readings map the affected area.
Contain the area
Plastic sheeting and air filtration help keep spores from spreading during removal.
Remove and clean
Moldy porous materials are removed, and hard surfaces are cleaned.
Dry the structure
The area is dried with dehumidifiers so the conditions for mold are gone.
Rebuild
Materials are replaced once the area is clean and dry.
The IICRC's S520 standard covers professional mold remediation. Ask whether the crew on your job is trained in it.
What affects the cost
- Size of the affected area: more square footage means more containment and removal.
- Location: crawl spaces, attics and HVAC systems are harder to reach.
- Materials: drywall, insulation and carpet may need to be replaced.
- The water problem: fixing the leak or drainage is separate work.
Our cost guide explains the factors in more detail.
Preventing mold from coming back
The EPA recommends keeping indoor humidity below 60 percent, ideally between 30 and 50 percent, fixing leaks promptly and drying wet areas within 24 to 48 hours. Run bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans, keep gutters clear and check the crawl space after heavy rain. See mold after water damage: the 24 to 48 hour window.
Questions to ask before you hire
- What's causing the moisture, and will it be fixed first?
- How will you contain the area during removal?
- Is your crew trained to the IICRC S520 mold remediation standard?
- Why do you recommend testing, if you do?
Mold calls around Kennesaw
Mold after water damage turns up in basements in Legacy Park, crawl spaces near the Kennesaw Mountain area and older homes near Downtown Kennesaw, as well as in Acworth and Holly Springs.
What to have ready when you call
- roughly how large the moldy area is and where it is
- what water problem came first and whether it's fixed
- whether anyone in the home has health concerns