When it comes to renovations, basements are one of the targets to hit. Basements can be most easily renovated to give you extra rooms like bathrooms, bedrooms and a rec room, or whatever you want. But the renovations is difficult and it can be dangerous to your health, mainly because of the potential for black mold growth. Black mold is common in the basement area because it is dark and wet downstairs which often goes unnoticed until renovations. It is likely that on top of the usual worries about renovations, you may have to deal with black mold as well.
Fortunately, a savvy renovator will take this as an opportunity to get rid of a potential health risk while making the basement into a beautiful area to live in. After all, basement renovations almost always include tearing out the walls and fixing pipework and that can help you find and remediate black mold. The hidden mold is almost invariably in places like behind walls and near duct-work and by removing and changing out the walls, you will see the black mold for yourself and it’s much easier to clean when it’s right in front of you.
Getting rid of black mold in your basement is usually something you can do by yourself with the right cleaning materials. There are black mold cleansers you can purchase on the market, or you can mix up your own by using a HEPA vacuum and biocide or a mixture of vinegar and water or bleach (though bleach isn’t always recommended). The basic method is to seal off the area with plastic, vacuum the area, scrape it down with a wire brush, and then damp the area and wash it.
Obviously if you’re going to be tearing out the affected area anyway, your workload is lessened, though you’ll still have to make sure you dispose of the affected area properly. Make sure that you still clean the area around the affected area properly because mold spores can move around easily and you may still have contamination.
Black mold remediation is a reality for many people looking to renovate their basements. The fact is that most basements are highly suitable places for mold spores to live and grow, so when you start renovating, you’ll probably run across it. Instead of getting annoyed or stressed, remember that you’re supposed to be cleaning and tearing things down anyway, so take advantage of the renovations of your home to renovate your health as well and get rid of black mold!
Black mold can be a serious problem in all most anyone’s home, and it’s become a normal decision to just ignore it in your bathrooms and window sills. Educate yourself by reading our blog on black mold remediation.
Tags: black mold, black mold removal, home cleaning, mold, Rug Cleaning, Water Damage