Mold Removal & Remediation in Raleigh, NC

Mold remediation is the process of containing mold, removing the materials it has damaged, cleaning the area and fixing the moisture that let it grow. Mold removal is the part most people picture, but removal alone rarely solves the problem. If the leak, humidity or water damage behind it isn’t fixed, mold comes back.

Raleigh’s humid summers make mold a common problem in basements, crawl spaces, attics and bathrooms. It often starts after a leak or water damage that was never fully dried, and it can grow behind drywall or under flooring where you can’t see it.

Signs You May Have a Mold Problem

• a musty, earthy smell that is stronger in one room, closet or the crawl space
• black, green or white spots on walls, ceilings, wood or insulation
• stains or peeling paint where there was a past leak
• condensation on windows and pipes or high indoor humidity
• allergy-like symptoms that improve when you leave the house

Do You Test for Mold?

No, and that is on purpose. Testing and remediating by the same company is a conflict of interest. We recommend testing by an independent, licensed indoor environmental professional before the work starts. They write a remediation protocol that tells us what needs to be done, and they can test again afterward to confirm the job was done right.

1. Review the Protocol and Plan the Work

We review the independent assessment and protocol, walk the affected areas and plan containment, equipment and the order of work.

2. Containment

We seal off the work area with plastic sheeting and zipper doors and put it under negative air pressure. Containment keeps spores from spreading to clean parts of the house while materials are disturbed.

3. Air Filtration

HEPA air scrubbers run throughout the job to capture spores and dust in the air.

4. Removing Mold-Damaged Materials

Porous materials with mold growth, such as drywall, insulation, carpet and ceiling tiles, can’t be reliably cleaned and are removed and bagged. Following the IICRC S520 standard, we then clean the framing and other surfaces behind them with HEPA vacuuming, damp wiping and additional cleaning products. Some contents can be cleaned by a professional contents cleaning company.

5. Drying and Moisture Correction

We dry the structure and help correct the moisture source, whether that means a plumbing repair, crawl space moisture control, better attic ventilation or drying after an old leak. This is the step that keeps mold from coming back.

6. Verification and Rebuild

After the independent professional confirms the area passed, we can handle the reconstruction: new insulation, drywall, paint and flooring.

Black Mold Removal

“Black mold” usually refers to Stachybotrys chartarum, a dark mold that grows on materials that stayed wet for a long time, like drywall paper after a slow leak. Many molds are dark in color, and color alone doesn’t tell you the type. Treat any large area of dark mold seriously, keep people out of the room and don’t try to scrub it or dry-sand it yourself. The removal process is the same: containment, HEPA filtration and removal of the affected materials.

Crawl Space Mold Remediation

Crawl spaces in the Raleigh area hold a lot of moisture in summer. Wet soil, poor ventilation, plumbing leaks and standing water after storms lead to mold on floor joists, subfloor and insulation. We remove damaged insulation, clean and treat the wood, dry the space and recommend moisture control steps so the problem doesn’t return.

Attic Mold Removal

Attic mold usually comes from a roof leak, bathroom fans that vent into the attic, or poor ventilation that traps warm, moist air. We clean the roof decking and framing, replace wet insulation and point out the ventilation or venting problem that needs to be fixed.

Bathroom and Basement Mold

Bathrooms grow mold when steam has nowhere to go. A fan that doesn’t vent outside, a leaking shower pan or a slow drip behind the toilet can keep drywall damp for months. Basements stay cool and humid, and moisture can come through the foundation after heavy rain. In both cases we remove the damaged materials and point out the ventilation or leak that needs attention.

Mold Abatement, Remediation and Removal: Same Job?

People use these terms in different ways. “Mold abatement” and “mold remediation” usually mean the same complete process. “Mold cleanup” or “mold removal” sometimes means only cleaning visible mold. When you compare quotes, ask whether the price includes containment, HEPA filtration, removal of damaged materials and correction of the moisture problem.

What to Do Until We Arrive

• keep doors to the affected room closed
• turn off fans and HVAC that blow air through the moldy area if you can
• don’t scrub, sand or spray large areas of mold
• fix or stop any active leak if it is safe to do so
• move people with allergies or asthma away from the area

Mold Services We Offer

• mold remediation and mold removal
• mold containment and HEPA air filtration
• black mold removal
• crawl space mold removal
• attic mold removal
• bathroom and basement mold cleanup
• removal of mold-damaged drywall, insulation and flooring
• moisture repairs and drying
• post-remediation reconstruction