When I purchased my second home after outgrowing my starter home, I was absolutely in love with it. However, after moving in, I quickly realized how much I missed having a master bathroom. I didn't think I would miss it, since the nearest bathroom is right down the hall, but since I frequently have guests over for long weekends, I realized that we were "fighting" for much-needed bathroom space. I then looked into my remodeling options and a contractor told me that adding a master bath would be a very easy task to complete. The remodeling process didn't take long, and my home is now perfect. I am very eager to share what I learned about home remodeling with others who need the tips on my new blog!
Did you have a situation where water entered your basement through flooding, and now there is mold certainly growing in places? If so, you'll need to bring in professional help to clean it up. Here is how they will get this job done so that your home is mold-free.
Remove Damaged Building Materials
If you have drywall in your basement that was exposed to water, it has to be removed. This will involve removing all of the material that is clearly damaged by water and then an additional foot or two above that to ensure that no moisture has seeped upward into the drywall. If there was insulation behind the wall, that will need to be removed as well because it is completely unusable once submerged in water.
Dehumidify Your Home
Now is the time to run a dehumidifier to remove all of the moisture out of the air. If you have a whole-home dehumidifier, you will want to run the air conditioning to get the air circulating and extract the water from the air as it is pulled in through the return vents. However, a professional will likely bring in a stand-alone dehumidifier to extract even more water from the air, which will help ensure it is done quickly. Be prepared to empty the water reserve tank frequently, as you will be surprised at how much water is removed.
Spray Chemicals On Any Exposed Areas
The wood material in your basement that was exposed to wood will need to be disinfected. This will be done by putting it in a sprayer and applying it directly to the wood. Some professionals will even use an insecticide and spray down the wood with a second pass, which will ensure that exposed bare wood is treated to eliminate pests that may have found their way into the wood.
A fungicide will then be applied to areas that were exposed to water. It is common to apply two coats of the fungicide, one coat that dries on the area that is infected and a second coat that is applied while scrubbing.
Clean The Surfaces
All surfaces that were exposed to water, even those without mold, will need to be scrubbed. This is important to get rid of the fungicide that was sprayed on the surface and ensure that the surface is mold-free. Places that are missed could become a breeding ground to mold in the future and cause unexpected growth.
For more information, contact a local mold clean up service.