1300 382 826
Open 7 Days a Week
Damp Treatment, Rising Damp Repairs, Mould & Moisture Remediation, Mould Cleanup, Environment Testing, Moisture, Ventilation, Bathroom leaks, Mould & Water Damage, Moisture Remediation
1300 382 826
Open 7 Days a Week
Damp Treatment, Rising Damp Repairs, Mould & Moisture Remediation, Mould Cleanup, Environment Testing, Moisture, Ventilation, Bathroom leaks, Mould & Water Damage, Moisture Remediation
There is a lot of misinformation about mould and its presence in homes. Mould remediation must include the altering of the atmosphere which has caused the mould growth. If this service is not included in any mould remediation process the mould will simply return.
Mould and moisture go together - and condensation is the primary cause of mould growth in Melbourne homes during winter. Mould growth forms when mould spores meet up with moisture and a food source.
The most common cause of moisture in any dwelling is typically condensation. So eradicating condensation (which is a ventilation issue) is the fastest way to eradicate mould growths form any building.
There are only two forms of mould:
Visible mould is simply mould growth that can be viewed by the naked eye without reliance on microscopes or swabs. Visible mould forms when mould spores come into contact with food and moisture. A common food source is particles from many common porous materials used in constructing a house - wood, paint etc.
When moisture in the dwelling condensates on porous surfaces in the dwelling, the conditions for mould growth have been established. Visible mould is remediated or removed from the indoor atmosphere by hand cleaning of the affected areas, or in extreme situations, blasting techniques using dry ice blasting technology can be utilised. With badly contaminated porous surfaces (plaster, wood etc), replacement may be required if cleaning is deemed unsuccessful. Where possible, the area to be cleaned is isolated from the rest of the property to avoid cross contamination.
Non visible mould can only be detected with either monitors which can measure airborne particulates or by the taking of swabs and having them tested under laboratory conditions. Mould spores are invisible airborne particles which are simply one particle which forms the many particles that may be found in normal household dust. In other words, think of mould spores as dust and treat them in the same manner. Apart from any respiratory issues that people may have when confronted with airborne dust particles - asthma, coughing, coughing etc - the presence of mould spores in any dwelling is only an issue when they match up with moisture and food and become mould growths (visible mould).
Dampco has equipment which can test for the amount of airborne particles in the indoor atmosphere.
All buildings have some airborne mould spores/particles, and our job is to ensure that they are below the acceptable level. Our air scrubbers (pictured below) filter the indoor air, removing airborne particles to below acceptable standards. Our before and after testing ensures the buildings' compliance with these figures. Contrary to common misconceptions, removing visible mould growth is simple. The difficult part comes in ensuring the mould will not return. With mould removal, there is no need for fancy and expensive chemicals - simply mix naturally fermented vinegar with a small amount of water and wipe or rub vigorously.
Some companies involved in the mould remediation industry only clean the mould from the affected areas without considering how or why the mould grew in the first place. This approach is both negligent and a waste of the customers' money as there is no guarantee that the mould will not regenerate itself. The answer is that the cleaning of the affected areas MUST be combined with both identifying the reasons for the mould generation and then the drying of the areas. One without the other is a waste of time - and cleaning without drying can also be dangerous for occupants' health, as airborne mould spores will continue to be an issue until the affected area is 'sterilised'. Typically, our mould remediation jobs involve both cleaning and drying the property simultaneously.
Once the cause of the mould is identified - a lack of ventilation or an increase in moisture or both - it must be reversed or eliminated (increase ventilation or decrease moisture or both). At the same time, the cleaning of the affected area must be initiated. This entails cleaning both the hard surfaces where mould has grown as well as the indoor atmosphere where mould spores lurk.
Call us on 1300 382 826 or email us for more details or to arrange for a free inspection and a report on mould removal and treatment options.
