Mold Damage and Encapsulation In Nashville

7/25/2017 (Permalink)

Mold Damage and Encapsulation

Mold growth does not get the attention like floods or fire. A picture of a mold colony growing on a piece of wall frame is not shocking like a foot of water in a child’s bedroom or a burned-out roof. It can still cost the homeowner thousands of dollars and is responsible for millions in restoration costs every year.

Mold damage can start and grow in a Nashville home for weeks and months before residents see or smell anything. One of the places SERVPRO has dealt with over the years is the crawlspace. This area under the house usually stays ignored unless there is a broken pipe that needs repair or if residents use it for storage.

To stop mold and prevent future growth, we recommend encapsulation and drawing down the moisture levels. Encapsulation is an inexpensive method to seal off a crawlspace from mold and water. It is also our preferred method to prevent future mold growth. We begin the process by installing a water vapor barrier. Technicians hang up sheets of polyethylene and reinforce them with a polyester mesh. This method is very effective to lock out further moisture leaking in through the walls or dirt floor. We seal all of this in place with two-sided, foundation tape along the walls and a polyurethane caulk on the walls and floor. The caulk is particularly useful with a dirt floor. If the walls are high and require multiple sheets, our technicians can build-in a metal or wood frame to augment the tape and caulk.

With the crawlspace now sealed, we can effectively draw down the air moisture level. We use a combination of dehumidifiers and space heaters to accomplish this. Technicians set up the heaters to slowly raise the air temperature, which helps the dehumidifiers draw moisture from the area at a faster rate. Depending on the air content (humidity) and the machine used, we can draw 20 gallons of water from the air in the crawlspace every day.

Without encapsulation, any attempt to stop mold damage in your home’s crawlspace is only a short-term fix. SERVPRO of Madison /Goodlettsville wants to provide the best (and permanent) solution so you can return to your home with confidence. If you need us, call today at (615) 868-5324.

Visit https://www.nashville.gov/ for more information about Nashville, Tennessee.