The Difference Between Mold Removal and Remediation|

 

The Difference Between Mold Removal, Mold Remediation and Sanitization

 

If you notice mold in your home, getting rid of it is your number one priority.  

It’s important to know what you’re looking for so you can find the right help for your home.

To assist you in your search, here is our guide to the difference between mold removal and mold remediation. 

It would seem that these all mean the same thing, but there are few things that separate these activities.

Mold Removal Vs Mold Remediation 

The difference between Removal and Remediation is: “Remediation is the act of the removing damaged construction materials when said materials are irretrievable or non-salvageable. Such remediation should be done with precaution due to health concerns for the occupants and the contractor who is doing the work.”

“Mold Removal is the act of removing the mold from the home or building.” In some cases, mold is only on the surface of non-porous or semi-porous material.

You can remove mold using a combination of cleaning techniques, but always keeping in mind that mold will release spores when agitated.

Sanitization

Sanitization is the reduction of airborne contaminants and surface mold that is less than 10 square feet.  The goal is a dramatic reduction of airborne spore count.

Mold Zero Can Do All Three

Mold Zero can do all three. What we are known for is a non-toxic sanitization process, using a cold sterilant to sanitize the entire home.

We use our “Dry Fog” in combination with traditional mold remediation techniques.

This has made Mold Zero the first choice for families and Functional Medicine doctors.

At Mold Zero, we apply our same thoroughness to all aspects of the the process, whether, remediation, removal or sanitization. 

Deciding which approach to use comes down to the square footage of the impacted area, the type of material impacted and what type of mold is present.

For example, toxic black mold would never be something you would just wipe down.

The Simple Answer to the Question

To simplify: Remediation is removing contaminated material and mold. 

Mold removal is the removal of actual mold from surfaces, but not removing the material. 

Sanitization is simply treating the home and the air.  This would be only done when the problem is less than 10 square feet and is not a water type mold.   

Sanitization is more to address the air quality and high spore count, when visible mold colonization is not present.  

The Three Broad Categories of Mold:

There are three categories of mold: allergenic, pathogenic, and toxic.

Each of these categories causes their own health concerns, and their presence can pose a threat to you and your home or building.

1) Allergenic molds: The can cause hay fever type reactions, itchy eyes, runny noses, congestion and more.

This can come from even the most common molds, like Cladosporium, that have gotten into the air of your home. 

2) Pathogenic molds:  Molds like Aspergillus have been linked to more serious health issues, impacting the nervous system.

Studies have found a link Pathogenic Molds to Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s and even cancer.

3) Toxic molds: Toxic molds like Stachybotrys can destroy the immune system of even a healthy person if exposed for an extended period of time.   

A simple answer is there aren’t any type of molds that you want in your home, but some molds are worse than others.  

Normal Fungal Ecology

Because these microscopic mold spores are always in your home, it is next to impossible to completely remove all mold. But you can get it to a point of “normal fungal ecology”.

A professional mold inspector, using a certified laboratory can give you the data you need as to whether you are in a safe zone.

So, the purpose of mold remediation is not to completely remove all mold spores in your home.  But more importantly, to get it back to a healthy level for you and your family. 

Fortunately, it is possible to get mold levels down to a harmless state that is safe for your health.

Mold Remediation Services

Mold often grows due to water damage or high humidity in your home. 

A successful mold remediation process will tackle mold spores in every corner of your home—including airborne spores. 

If you’re looking for mold remediation in Clearwater, Florida, Mold Zero can remedy the problem affordably and safely for you and your family.

 

22 replies
  1. Shaylee Packer
    Shaylee Packer says:

    I didn’t realize that there was a difference between mold removal and mold remediation. My sister has just found mold in her home, but it is on a non-porous surface. I will have to let her know that this can be solved with a simple mold removal service, as you mentioned.

    Reply
    • Marketing
      Marketing says:

      Excellent Shaylee. Glad you found the article helpful. Let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

      Reply
  2. Derek McDoogle
    Derek McDoogle says:

    I appreciate how you suggest checking for potential water leaks coming from your roof. My mom told me that she saw that the walls of her basement have mold on them. I will recommend her to contact a professional company that can get rid of the mold.

    Reply
    • Marketing
      Marketing says:

      Great Derek! The sooner your mom can take care of the mold on her basement walls, the better. Let us know if we can help. Mold can spread quickly and also greatly affects the air quality of the home. Checking for potential water intrusion is key to maintaining a mold free environment and mitigating a potential problem early

      Reply
  3. Erika Brady
    Erika Brady says:

    Thanks for explaining how mold has three categories with their own health concerns and dangers to your health. Knowing how to recognize the different options would be helpful so that you can then identify them to contact the right mold remediation service. This way, you can ensure they have the right experience, equipment, and methods to get rid of the mold you have, and you can also get their advice on how to prevent the problem from happening again.

    Reply
  4. Zachary Tomlinson
    Zachary Tomlinson says:

    I find it concerning to learn that prolonged exposure to molds could cause various conditions, such as cancer and other nervous system illnesses. My friend saw a couple of flyers regarding mold remediation around his area, and he got curious why he’d need one. I’ll be sure to educate him about molds so he’d consider hiring that service for his old home.

    Reply
  5. rachel frampton
    rachel frampton says:

    There was a flooding incident in my house about last week, and this caused mold and mildews in my basement area, which is why I’m currnelty looking for a service that may help address this concern. I never knew that there molds like Aspergillus that triggers Parkinson’s diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also interesting to learn that mold remediation shall be done with precaution because it will involve the removal of damaged construction materials.

    Reply
  6. Kurt House
    Kurt House says:

    Thanks for sharing. What do you think – is an independent inspection of mold necessary separately from mold remediation? Or is it most convenient for one company to do all the work?

    Reply
  7. Kate Hansen
    Kate Hansen says:

    It’s good to know that you should fix leaks before calling a remediation service. There was a leak in my basement a couple of weeks, that caused mold to grow on the carpets and walls, and we want to make sure that we do everything right when hiring a service to help with getting rid of it. We’ll make sure to keep these tips in mind once we find a mold remediation service to help us!

    Reply
  8. Sam Chadwick
    Sam Chadwick says:

    It was mentioned that remediation is needed when the surfaces need to be removed in order to completely get rid of the mold. My neighbor was telling me the other day that she is thinking she may have a mold issue inside her walls. I will have to let her know that it may be a good idea to have it checked out by a professional.

    Reply
  9. Taylor Hicken
    Taylor Hicken says:

    I liked it when you shared that mold removal is the process of removing the mold from any home or building by using a combination of cleaning techniques. My aunt just told me last week that she is bothered with the appearance of mold in her bathroom and it got her worried if the problem might get worse. I will suggest to her hiring a reliable service to remove it from her bathroom.

    Reply
  10. Thomas Clarence
    Thomas Clarence says:

    It was really informative when you talked about how mold remediation is used to get your home back to a healthy level for your family to live in. This past weekend, I was helping my parents clean out their attic when I found some black mold that is growing underneath some of the boxes that haven’t been moved in a while. My parents’ health isn’t the best right now, so I am worried that the black mold will cause their lungs to get worse. They are going to have to contact a remediation company that can fix things for them.

    Reply
  11. Fred Gibbons
    Fred Gibbons says:

    Thanks for pointing out that it is important to have all mold removed from your home in order to protect your health. My home’s basement has a moisture problem, so I’m considering hiring a mold removal company. I’m going to search for a reputable mold removal service in the area that I can use.

    Reply
  12. WWW.XMC.PL
    WWW.XMC.PL says:

    You realistically make top quality articles I would say. This is the first time I visited your web site and so far Im impressed with the research you made to make this document amazing. Fantastic Job!

    Reply
  13. WWW.XMC.PL
    WWW.XMC.PL says:

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  14. Fred Gibbons
    Fred Gibbons says:

    Thank you for pointing out that mold remediation can help protect your health. I suspect that my home has a mold problem, so I’m thinking about hiring a professional to fix it for me. I’m going to look for a good mold removal service in the area that I can hire.

    Reply
  15. Kristofer Van Wagner
    Kristofer Van Wagner says:

    I am thankful that this post explained that mold removal service is when mold is removed from a home or building. My sister mentioned that her basement is infested with mold following a pipe burst. I will definitely keep this information in mind and ask my sister to hire the right service.

    Reply
  16. Victoria Addington
    Victoria Addington says:

    Thank you for explaining that mold remediation involves removing contaminated material and mold and should be done with precaution due to health concerns for the occupants and the contractor who is doing the work. My grandmother’s old house is now full of mold because it has been ages since she last visited, and it was left unattended since then. We should hire a reliable contractor that can do the mold damage repair in the necessary safety precautions.

    Reply
  17. Eli Richardson
    Eli Richardson says:

    It really helped when you talked about mold removal and remediation and their main differences. Recently, my sister realized she has a mold infestation in her basement! My sister needs to find a professional service to help remove the mold, so I’ll be sure to share your tips with her! Thanks for the advice on mold remediation and how it eliminates your contaminated area.

    Reply
  18. Victoria Addington
    Victoria Addington says:

    I’m glad you clarified the distinction between mold treatment and eradication because my mother was considering hiring one for her home. As you indicated, remediation is the process of removing harmed building elements when they cannot be recovered or saved. I’ll be sure to share this with my mother so she can pay experts for the job rather than do it herself because doing it herself could be harmful to her health.

    Reply

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