The Difference Between Mold Removal and Remediation

Many companies advertise Mold Removal services, while others claim to perform Mold Remediation. Is this a simple play on words, or are the services different? How do you know if you need Mold Removal Services or Mold Remediation Services?

You may have already noticed that Guardian Recovery Services has a service page for both and that they are very similar. As Michigan’s premier recovery services provider, you can trust us to offer professional-grade, safe, and effective mold removal and mold remediation services.

Mold Removal Facts

Mold spores can only be viewed with a microscope, and they exist almost everywhere, both indoors and outdoors. This makes it impossible and even undesirable to remove all mold from your residential or commercial property. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold. Beware of such businesses that do not know the science behind mold and healthy ecology.

More About Mold:

• Mold exists almost everywhere, both indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and can easily float through the air. This means they can enter your home or business through windows, doors, and HVAC systems. They may even land and ride on pets and clothing.
• Mold thrives on moisture. Tiny mold spores can quickly grow into visible colonies when enough moisture is present. These colonies may produce dangerous allergens and other health hazards.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed.
• A dangerous growth of mold produces a strong, musty odor.

Do You Need Mold Removal or Mold Remediation?

If your home or business contains a harmful amount and type of mold, the short answer is that you need both. Mold removal, mold remediation, mold mitigation, and mold abatement are all interchangeable terms that basically mean fixing a potentially dangerous mold problem. In most cases, mold remediation services include some amount of mold removal.

Because certain types and amounts of mold are part of a normal ecology, you need a professional service like Guardian Recovery Services, based in Madison Heights, to perform complete scientific mold testing that includes surface and air samples to determine your level of mold infestation and the necessary measures to restore your property to a safe and healthy ecology.

What is Included in a Typical Mold Remediation Service?

Our Mold Testing Process

GRS collects material from surface samples and air quality samples in and near areas that may contain mold. From these samples, we can determine what types of mold, and the level of infestation, are present on your property. Our NAMP-certified Mold Remediator then prepares a complete lab report that explains our mold testing findings. This kind of scientific mold testing can typically discover all types of mold on your property as well as find underlying issues that are causing the mold to proliferate.

Mold Remediation Estimates and Personalized Service

Guardian Recovery Services will then provide you with a thorough estimate outlining individual processes. Our technicians can answer any questions about every step of the mold remediation process, including costs and insurance claims. Our staff can handle all communications with your insurance company to help your mold remediation project be as pain-free as possible. We even provide removal, cleaning, and storage of your personal property from affected areas until mold remediation is completed.

Our Mold Remediation Process (Including Necessary Removal)

Containment is vital to keep mold from rapidly spreading while remediation efforts are taking place. After ascertaining the extent of your mold infestation, our mold team builds ‘containment chambers’ on-site to prevent cross-contamination while cleaning the affected areas. Your property is then removed and separated into clean and contaminated categories in secure areas off-site.

Following NAMP and IICRC guidelines, the affected areas are set up under negative pressure by use of HEPA air scrubbing units and temporary containment measures. All visible mold growth on porous materials is safely removed from the premises. If there is mold growth on framing or substrate, mechanical or chemical removal is performed. This either kills the mold spores or removes them from the surface to allow them to be collected by the air scrubbers or HEPA vacuumed.

Once all visible mold is removed or treated, the entire contained area undergoes a thorough HEPA vacuuming that includes walls, ceilings, floors, and any other surface that can be physically touched. Then we perform an anti-microbial wipe-down on every surface. Then, the second round of HEPA vacuuming is performed. The HEPA air scrubbers are left on-site for 24 hours to finalize cleaning the air.

To ensure your peace of mind, final clearance mold testing is then performed by a third party to ensure the project has been returned to normal fungal ecology and is deemed safe and healthy.