There are 8 important steps to proper mold removal in a home or officeor any other state. Once a mold clean-up project is at a point where drying (if applicable) aggressive removal, thorough cleaning and secondary cleaning are complete, it is now time to prepare to apply an antimicrobial coating to properly cleaned framing. This is a step that is not without some draw backs and confusion. Many people including far too many remediation firms think that this step is to encapsulate or cover up mold. This is absolutely not the case!
Some of the main reasons to seal coat cleaned framing after mold remediation are to put a non-organic antimicrobial coating on framing to prevent mold growth in the future, to create a less porous surface which prevents accumulation of particulates over time, it helps to reduce dust in the future by preventing the wood from shedding fibers, and it prevents moisture from penetrating the wood as easily. With proper cleaning, seal coating should not be required to pass air quality testing, however it can be a very beneficial step to put a finishing touch on a remediation job.
Some of the drawbacks of seal coating can be that if the framing does get wet in the future it will dry much more slowly because of the coating, it can be a cover up for an improper or incomplete mold remediation and it does add some cost. In our opinion and in the opinion of most industrial hygienist, any coatings applied should be clear - not white - so that surfaces can be thoroughly evaluated for cleanliness and so no improperly cleaned surfaces can be covered up. It makes it much more difficult to sell a home if an attic or basement is painted white because every party involved will wonder what is being hidden behind the coating.
Antimicrobial sealants can be very beneficial to the mold remediation process and we recommend it on almost all of our projects. However it must be used responsibly and in accordance with industry standards. Far too often we see firms using it improperly and without properly cleaning underlying surfaces. On balance we feel that the pro's greatly outweigh the con's on this mold removal step.
You can review our previous professional mold remediation steps on our blog found at our website. The next two steps we post will complete the 8 steps of proper mold removal which all home owners and business owners should be aware of.
Hope this helps!
Robert York
General Manager
Maine Cleaning Services - water damage, mold removal, carpet cleaning and more!