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Having mold in your garage, including the walls, and the floor can become a potential health problem. It can cause some serious damage to your property and health.

Why Is Mold in Garage Walls Considered Toxic And Dangerous?

There is a variety of different ways in which mold can be hazardous, however, it is mainly due to the mycotoxins that it produces and disperses into our atmosphere. The species and the amount of mold present are all factors in how dangerous or toxic it is. For instance, there will typically be more mycotoxins produced and released in black mold in comparison to white mold.

The following are several effects that people will commonly experience after spending a period of time around mold:

• Fatigue
• Foggy memory and even memory loss
• Trouble focusing
• Allergic reactions

Should you suffer from any of the symptoms listed above directly after there has been water damage to your garage, then it is possible you have mold in your garage floor or wall. Keep in mind that even if you don’t see the mold it still can be there. If there is no visable mold, but you are expeiancing syptoms of mold exposure, it is recommended that you get it tested using a mold testing kit. We also suggest that you give the number on our website a call to set up a free estimate by a local mold remediation professional.

How Common Is It to Get Mold in a Garage?

Mold is more common than you might think. Climates that are continuously wet will be at a greater risk to grow mold, but mold can be growing in nearly all areas in the world.

What Is Necessary for Mold to Grow?

The main two factors that are needed in order for mold to grow is a source of food and moisture. Anytime the moisture rises inside your garage, no matter the reason, it is more than likely that there will be mold present. In order to avoid it growing inside the walls and the floor of the garage it is important to make certain you are in control of the moisture.

Some factors that help mold grow faster include:

– Areas that have temperatures around 68 degrees Fahrenheit
– Lower lighting
– Poor air circulation

How Long Does Mold Take to Grow?

The length of time it will take for mold to grow will depend on several different factors. However, it generally has the ability to begin growing anywhere from 24 to 48 hours. That is why it is key to act quickly whenever there are issues of water damage to your garage.

Professional Remediation Process for Mold in Detached Garage

The remediation process for mold takes a while and it is something that a person is able to do themselves, however, it is our recommendation that you call the number provided on our website to speak with a professional.

Professionals usually take the following actions when remediating the mold in your garage:

1. Remove Items Out of the Garage

Prior to a professional restoration contractor starting the cleaning process, they are going to need all personal belongs out of their way. This is also done because it is possible that your personal belongings have already been contaminated, or will become contaminated with mold.

2. Remove All Damaged Items

If the floor is moldy, there will be a good chance that it is no longer any good. In this case, it may be best for it to be removed.

3. Stop and All Leaks

Generally speaking, there must be a source of moisture for mold to grow. Therefore, the professional you contact should locate the root source by using a moisture meter. After the moisture source has been located, that source will need to be shut-off or fixed in order to prevent any mold from returning.

4. Setup Drying Equipment

After the source of moisture has been handled, the next thing for the professional to do is make
sure that the area with water damage is dried. This is done with the use of fans and dehumidifiers
until the area is dry.

5. Clean and Sanitize

At this stage in the process your restoration contractor will clean and sanitize the contaminated areas using an antimicrobial spray and wire brushes. This helps to remove any residual mold that may still be there.

6. Reconstruction

It goes without saying that you probably don’t want to live in a house where the floor is demolished. In this part of the process new building materials will need to be installed to replace the ones that were demolished. To reduce your chances of getting water damage again, we suggest that you have waterproofed materials installed instead of the same material as before.

7. Clean and Replace Non-contaminated Items

Once the reconstruction process is finished, you need to clean and sanitize any of your personal belongings before placing them back. The contractor may suggest that some of your personal belongings be thrown out, if they have been affected by too much damage and are not worth cleaning. Should this happen, your insurance company may be willing to reimburse you for the items.

How to Prevent Mold in Garage from Returning

Mold can be prevented if any outbreaks of it are properly remediated and the proper steps have been taken to keep out any moisture.

The following are the things to do in order to be sure that the mold does not return:

• Make certain that the original water damage which caused the mold to grow in the first place is completely dried. You can use a moisture meter to confirm this.
• Have your property waterproofed by a processional to be sure to prevent future issues.
• Use a HEPA filter for cleaning the mold spores from the air. Mold is able to grow back if any of these spores are left behind.
• There should be proper air circulation in your garage. This can be done by leaving garage doors when possible. Fans can also be used to for this process.

Mold in Garage Conclusion

If you find there is mold growth, you should call the number on our website right away to get a free quote from a mold remediation professional. These services are available anywhere within the United States.