Mold Remediation

Mold growth in your home or business is a cause for concern that should be addressed at once. When left untreated, mold can result in damage to your property and potentially create health issues for individuals who have mold allergies or other respiratory conditions. Due to the serious problems associated with mold growth, it’s critical to work with a professional mold remediation expert who can ensure the job is handled properly so that mold regrowth doesn’t occur.

Burke’s Restoration is the leading mold remediation provider in Spokane, Coeur d’ Alene, Post Falls, and the surrounding areas of Washington and Idaho. We have extensive experience addressing mold issues in both residential and commercial properties. No job is too large or too small. Our team can eliminate any mold issue you may have and restore a healthy environment to your home or business.

What Are the Signs of Mold?

It’s important to understand that mold growth isn’t always visible since it can grow in places that aren’t easy to detect. For example, a slow leak in your roof can result in mold growth in your attic; condensation on a wall behind a piece of furniture can result in mold growth that you just don’t see; or excess water from a leak in your bathtub or an appliance can result in mold growth in walls, floors, or insulation.

Since mold growth is often hidden from view, it’s important to make annual mold checks a part of your property’s routine maintenance. During these mold checks, you should have a professional look for leaks or signs of mold growth both in areas that are visible as well as areas that are out of sight. This will ensure a potential issue is discovered and addressed in a timely manner before the mold spreads throughout your home or business.

It's common for mold to grow in the following areas:

• Basements
• Attics
• Ducts
• Crawl spaces
• Kitchens
• Under sinks
• Bathrooms
• Furnaces
• Wall interiors
• Under window unit air conditioners
• Near foundation air vents

The following warning signs may indicate that you have a mold problem:

• Dam, musty odor
• Mildew on your furniture
• Noticeable mildew buildup in the grout of bathroom tiles
• Spots, odors or, stains on carpets and rugs
• Presence of black or white spots on clothing that feel slimy or fluffy to the touch
• Warped walls which cause distorted wallpaper or bubbled paint (this is a sign that moisture may be present behind the walls, which provides effective conditions for mold growth)
• Condensation on the walls and floor around your water heater (this may be a sign that you have a leak which can result in mold growth)
• Musty smell when you turn on your air conditioning
• Black, fuzzy spots on the air conditioning filter
• Previous water damage to your home or business
• Persistent cough or cold that won’t go away
• Flare-up of allergy or asthma symptoms, especially those related to respiratory issues

What to Do if You Notice Signs of Mold

You should take the following steps anytime you detect signs of mold in your property:

• Turn off the HVAC system, fans, and any other air moving equipment to minimize the spread of mold or spores to other areas of your home or business
• Restrict access to the area containing the mold – in situations where the mold is contained in a room or space with a door, close the cabinet or door to prevent the spread of mold
• If possible, try to identify the water source causing the mold growth and take any steps necessary to prevent additional water from exacerbating the mold growth
• Call a professional mold remediation company right away to address the issue

You should also avoid the following actions:

• Blowing air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth
• Touching or disturbing areas containing mold
• Trying to dry the area yourself
• Spraying bleach or other disinfectants on the moldy region
• Painting over the mold

When Is Mold Remediation Required?

You should enlist the services of professional mold remediation company anytime mold removal from a building is required. In particular, professional mold remediation is necessary in the following situations:

• HVAC contamination – Anytime mold growth occurs in your HVAC system, it requires professional mold remediation since your HVAC system can quickly spread the mold throughout the building, transforming a small issue into a massive problem.
• Disaster recovery – Professional mold remediation is necessary anytime flooding is the cause of your mold growth. Flood water is often contaminated by sewage, bacteria, and harmful chemicals, and it’s critical that this water damage is treated by a professional who can ensure all potential health risks are eliminated and prevent additional structural damage from developing.
• Specialized item cleaning – Anytime valuable or sentimental items are impacted by mold growth; they should be cleaned by a professional mold remediation company to ensure they are properly sanitized and decontaminated.
• Structural drying – Mold growth caused by large leaks or flooding is more likely to regrow if proper structural drying isn’t performed as part of the cleanup. In these situations, air purifying and dehumidification equipment is required to reduce moisture levels to where mold regrowth won’t occur.

What Steps Are Involved in Mold Remediation?

Before our mold remediation services can start, it’s important to obtain independent assessment/testing by an industrial hygienist. During our mold inspection service, we will provide guidance on how to acquire this essential report.

Once the type of mold and the extent of the growth are determined, our experts can effectively remediate and remove the source of the mold. This will stop the mold growth before it can further spread throughout your property.

At Burke’s Restoration, we follow a meticulous, multi-step process to ensure all mold is properly removed and regrowth won’t occur:

• Address the water source – For mold to grow, there must be a water source to create damp conditions. This water source must be identified and addressed. Once the water source has been remedied, the affected materials and area will be removed or dried.
• Containment – When mold is disturbed, thousands of spores can be released into the air and travel throughout the building. Before mold can be removed, we’ll set up a negative-air containment and air scrubbers to trap the mold spores during the removal process.
• Removal – Our mold remediation technicians will treat hard surfaces to get rid of all mold growth, and we’ll remove any porous materials that can’t be cleaned effectively. Our team will monitor mold levels throughout the entire removal phase to ensure they return to the normal range.
• Reconstruction – If building materials are removed during the mold remediation process, our team will make all repairs necessary to restore the property to its pre-damaged condition. This can potentially include replacing drywall, insulation, flooring, or cabinets.

How Much Does Mold Remediation Cost?

The actual cost of your professional mold remediation services will depend on the location of the mold and extent of the contamination. Factors impacting the cost of mold remediation include:

• Size of the contaminated area – When large areas are affected by mold, it may require more extensive treatment to eliminate the problem.
• Location – Mold located in areas that are difficult to access and remove may create a more involved and challenging remediation process.
• Damage repairs – The cost of any repairs to damaged property and the replacement of removed materials must be factored into the final price of your services.

Who Pays for Mold Remediation?

In many instances, mold remediation will be covered by insurance. However, insurance coverage often depends on the specific situation causing the mold. If the mold growth was caused by a condition that is covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy, then your mold remediation services will usually be covered.

Common situations where mold remediation is covered by insurance include:

• A damaged toilet overflows
• A washing machine or other appliance leaks
• water heater hose leaks or bursts
• A pipe bursts
• Excess water accumulates from a leaking roof after a storm

Purchasing a hidden water damage supplemental insurance policy covering damage from leaks that aren’t visible is a great way to increase the chances that your mold remediation services are covered. These policies can be purchased to cover damage from issues such as sewer line backups, sump pump overflows, and drain backups.

However, homeowner’s insurance policies often don’t cover mold remediation associated with flooding. You’ll typically need a separate flood insurance policy to cover any flood damage, including mold growth.

Other situations where mold remediation may not be covered by insurance include:

• Poor ventilation that increases the humidity in areas prone to mold growth such as basements or bathrooms
• Situations where mold growth is caused by neglect, such as failing to repair plumbing leaks

Burke’s Restoration Can Help

Whether you’re dealing with a small area of mold growth or an extensive mold problem, Burke’s Restoration can help. Our team of expert technicians use the most advanced equipment and techniques available, ensuring that the mold remediation process will be handled correctly, and your home or business will be safe, healthy, and free of mold growth moving forward.

If you have visible mold growth or suspect you have a hidden mold issue, contact us today to schedule an appointment. We provide professional mold remediation services in Spokane, Coeur d’ Alene, Post Falls and throughout the surrounding areas of Washington and Idaho.