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MOLD INFORMATION CENTER |
This section of our "How to Clean Mold" article discusses the importance of drying the surfaces to be cleaned. If an expensive mold remediation effort is begun before the moldy area has been dried and leaks stopped, it is likely that the cleanup cost will have been wasted as mold growth will simply recur. This article offers advice on cleaning mold found on surfaces of un-finished wooden building materials such as framing lumber (rafters, floor joists, wall studs), and building roof, wall, and floor sheathing such as plywood, tongue-and groove pine boards, and other structural wood surfaces in buildings. We discuss the pros and cons of using fungicidal sealants and bleach on wood surfaces and give sources and list types of those products. We also discuss common errors made when cleaning wood surfaces, such as relying on bleach or performing expensive and unnecessary cleaning on cosmetic black mold on wood surfaces. © Copyright 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Resources. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. 2. DRY THE SURFACE - Dry the cleaned, previously moldy surfaceNo mold remediation project can be successfully completed unless:
When can mold cleanup begin in a building?Certain steps can begin immediately and in some cases are essential:
What I'm emphasizing, however, is that while initial demolition and even some cleaning can begin before the building has been successfully dried and protected from further leaks, no mold remediation project can be completed under those conditions. If the building remains wet, mold growth will recur on remaining building materials and surfaces. How Dry do Things Have to be in a Building to Complete Mold Cleanup?Let the cleaned lumber or plywood surface dry thoroughly. When lumber surfaces have been washed or otherwise are wet, they should be dry (less than 18% moisture content) before further treatment. For wood framing and sheathing surfaces which have been cleaned of problem mold, a simple contact probe system or Tramex moisture encounter system is adequate since wood surfaces are directly accessible. In more broad investigations we measure moisture in wood and drywall using either a pin-probe type moisture meter such as the Delmhorst(TM) model BD-7, the Tramex Compact(TM) or for impenetrable surfaces such as tiled walls and floors we use the Tramex moisture encounter which uses a pair of pads and an electrical signal to perform non-destructive moisture detection. The Delmhorst moisture meter also offers sets of long pin probes which can penetrate a wood frame wall or ceiling to sense moisture within insulation or on the far side of that cavity. We also use the Exergen infra-red scanner to find moisture based on variations in temperature. (A study comparing the effectiveness of various moisture measuring tools in the detection of moisture in inaccessible building cavities and a comparison of use of these instruments, a bore scope, and direct visual inspection by test cuts has been completed and is in process of being added to this website.) Remember when measuring moisture that looking only in the center of a surface, such as 4 ft. up a drywall-covered partition, is not the full story. :Moisture may still be present at problem levels in slow-to dry areas including building wall and ceiling cavities and on drywall behind wood trim. Measure at the locations most-likely to still be wet, not the locations most-likely to be dry, if you're trying to avoid an indoor mold problem. Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website. More expert information on this topic More Information on Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs
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09/08/2008 - 10/1/01 www.inspect-ny.com/sickhouse/cleanmold2.htm © Daniel Friedman 2006 2001 all rights reserved
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