Home Improvement

It’s enough to see entire basement wall panels infested with mold to make a homeowner want to put up his house for sale as soon as he can. Cleaning mold may seem like a daunting task but it actually only takes a few days of conscientious work. First, you need to check all of the affected areas and try to find out the source of the seepage. Next, thoroughly clean these areas and throw away any material that could no longer be salvaged to keep the mold from growing back. Lastly, take steps to waterproof your home and choose finishing that would deter the growth of harmful molds and fungi.
Solving the Problem of Basement Mold

The simplest fact about mold is that it cannot exist without the presence of moisture. If basement mold if restricting your usage of the basement, you should try to find out the source of the water. Once the cause of the moisture problem is found, it can be tackled and treated in an appropriate fashion. Remember, for basement mold to develop, affected areas need to remain wet for a long period of time. Basement mold could therefore be caused by a broken pipe in the wall or continuous rainwater seepage.

The next step in eliminating basement mold is to find out the extent of the contamination. Before cleaning up, carefully examine the affected area. If the moisture problem started in an enclosed cavity like a wall, there may be much more mold than is visible to the naked eye. In such a case, the damage may be extensive; and it would be better to get an expert to look at the damage. You can also use a pocket knife to find out the depth of the damage.

If only one part of the floor or one wall is affected, and you can identify the source of moisture as an external source should, you try to clean up yourself. Use soap and water to clean the affected area. In case the mold has penetrated the surface of the gypsum board, it is necessary to remove the affected board totally. Do take some part of the adjacent unaffected gypsum also out to ensure complete removal of the mold. Allow the surface to completely dry out and re-paint if necessary.

When implementing basement mold remediation, remove damaged material that cannot be cleaned or that is easier replaced than cleaned. Clean and salvage materials which are not badly damaged. As a rule, cut out rotted substances as they would have lot their structural strength. Some areas may get discolored after cleaning. Paint them if this bothers you.

All in all, act fast when you discover basement mold. Evaluate and implement remedies for a safe and healthy basement.