Mold After a Leak: Why Testing and Removal Are Two Different Jobs

A slow leak behind a wall, a roof that let rain in during a storm, or a water loss that sat too long can all end the same way: a musty smell, a dark patch on drywall, or spots on a ceiling. Mold needs moisture and something organic to feed on, and a house has plenty of the second. Where the first is present, mold can grow.

Stop the moisture first

Mold cleanup that ignores the water source fails. If a pipe still drips or a roof still leaks, the mold comes back. Fix or shut off the source first, then dry the area. Drying is a trade skill of its own: air movement, dehumidification and moisture readings taken in the materials, not a guess based on how the surface feels to your hand.

Two jobs: assessment and removal

The first job is assessment. A mold assessor, often an environmental company, inspects the home, finds where the moisture is, takes samples where that is useful, and writes a protocol that spells out what needs to be removed and how. The second job is remediation. The crew that removes the mold follows that protocol. It does not set its own scope.

Keeping the two jobs apart has a practical benefit. The party writing the plan is not the party selling the work, so you get an independent answer to how much mold there is and a clear standard the work has to meet. Paschall Restoration's certified mold specialists work within the assessment and protocol set by the environmental company.

Paschall Restoration also says its mold specialist will meet with you to discuss a plan for mold testing and remediation. That conversation matters, because most people have never read a lab report and should not have to translate one alone.

What removal involves

Real remediation looks very different from spraying a stain. A typical job has these parts:

• Containment: plastic barriers and controlled airflow keep spores from drifting into clean parts of the house.
• Removal: affected materials such as drywall, insulation or trim that cannot be cleaned are taken out and bagged.
• Cleaning: surfaces that stay are cleaned, and the air is filtered during the work.
• Dry-out: the structure is dried and checked so moisture does not bring the problem back.
• Repair: the walls, ceilings and floors that came out are rebuilt.

Paschall Restoration describes its mold services as removal, clean-up, dry-out and repair of mold and water damage to a home or office. It adds contents restoration and storage, and demolition, construction and reconstruction when the damage calls for them. That matters because mold is rarely a stand-alone problem. It usually comes from a water loss, and the same walls that held the mold often need to be rebuilt once it is gone.

What not to do yourself

• Do not scrub, sand or scrape moldy material. It can throw spores into the air.
• Do not aim fans across the area, which can spread spores through the house.
• Do not paint or caulk over a stain. The mold stays underneath.
• Do not mix cleaning chemicals in a closed room.

If someone in your household has breathing problems or allergies, say so when you call, and ask your doctor whether you should stay elsewhere while the work is underway. Keep children and pets out of the work area, and do not open the containment to check on progress. The crew can show you the results once the area is cleared and dry.

Mold, water damage and your insurance

Whether a policy covers mold varies, and it depends on the cause of the water and the wording of your policy. That is a question for your insurance company, and nobody outside it can promise you an answer. What you can do is document the damage early, keep your records and report the loss promptly.

Paschall Restoration works directly with your insurance to file your claim for mold and water damage, so the documentation from the inspection and the work can go to the insurance company without you carrying every piece of paper yourself.

Where to start

If you see or smell mold after a leak, call 866.336.4070. The line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and the company serves homes across Dallas, Fort Worth, Arlington, Plano, Denton and the surrounding North Texas cities. Tell them where the leak was and what you have noticed, and they can begin with the right first step, which is usually an assessment and not a demolition.