Before

After

How prevent mold growth after a water damage

The first priority in water damage cleanup is to prevent the growth of black mold. Black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) in a home is difficult and very expensive to remediate. As devastating as it is to deal with repairing water damaged homes, if addressed quickly enough, you may be able to avoid mold problems. How do you ensure the walls and everything behind them is completely dry?

All water soaked building materials, drywall, insulation etc, should be removed as soon as possible. These materials cannot be reused even once they have been dried. Fans should be placed throughout the affected area to increase air flow and dry out any wooden studs or structural elements of the home. Moisture meters can be used to determine the level of residual moisture in any material you are attempting to dry. The goal is to completely dry everything including wooden studs and sub-floor within 48 hours in order to prevent black mold growth.