Mold Removal and Testing Services of Nashville

Our Mold Services Include

• Mold Evaluation of Existing & Possible Mold Contamination
• Mold Consultation on Mold Remediation & Mold Removal
• Mold Consultation on Reparation of Water Damage
• Mold Remediation & Mold Removal of Mold & Water Damaged Areas
• Decontamination of Home or Business Area(s)
• Restore Home or Business to a Safe Environment
• Mold Air Sampling  

 

Stars & Stripes Cleaning is certified in air quality mold testing for mold. We use a Bio Pump Plus and spore traps to collect the air samples throughout your home. This testing indicates if you have mold present in your home and helps us determine the proper course of action. We provide you a detail mold report from the lab, overview of sampling data, a summary of the findings, and recommendations to remediate the mold problem.

Mold Remediation

When it comes to mold remediation, you want a company that specializes and is certified in mold remediation. Not your local handyman or contractor. Stars & Stripes Services has been trained and certified. We specialize in water and mold remediation and have the experience to handle your unique needs.

The Purpose of Mold Remediation to Remove Mold, Not to Kill It

The goals of mold remediation are;

1) Provide for the safety and health of the occupants and workers
Because of the adverse health associated with mold, performing mold remediation can expose workers and occupants to health and safety hazards. It is essential to implement engineering controls such as containment of the work area, air pressure controls using air-scrubbers/negative air machines and appropriate personal protective equipment (for the workers) to prevent cross contamination.

2) Documentation of the conditions and work process
In order to properly conduct mold remediation it is necessary to first perform an inspection of the building to determine the extent of the mold contamination. This should be done by a certified mold inspector or remediator. In most cases if the mold is visible it is not necessary to perform air samples. If there is no visible mold but mold is suspected then a visual inspection along with moisture, temperature and humidity readings are necessary. Air samples can then be used to reveal mold colonies and determine the extent of contamination throughout the building. By gathering this necessary data a certified mold tester and remediator can provide you with a written protocol for remediation. After the work is completed and to avoid conflicts of interest an air sample conducted by an independent third party should be performed to verify the remediation is complete. Watch out for companies that test their own work it is like grading your own papers.

3) Control the contamination at its source
It is imperative that mold contamination be controlled as close as possible to its source. When remediation is under way mold spores become aerosolized becoming hard to capture. A properly installed containment can prevent cross contamination, protect occupants and make it easier to properly clean the air of mold spores.

4)

Physically remove the mold

The best way to get rid of mold is to physically remove it, place the contaminated debris in 6mil plastic bags and remove from the site. Many companies will attempt to kill or encapsulate the mold. Dead mold is just as bad as living mold and it still needs to be removed from the site. Encapsulating mold is covering up and not solving the problem.

5) Eliminate the water source to prevent re-contamination
Mold growth is inevitable if moisture is not controlled. In order to prevent re-contamination after remediation the source of water needs to be eliminated and once the materials are dry reconstruction can begin.

What is Mold?

Molds are fungi similar to mushrooms and yeast. There are over 100,000 species of mold and at least 1,000 are common in the United States. Fungi are heterotrophic, they do not produce their own food like plants. They must get their food from their environment. They do this by secreting digestive enzymes to dissolve organic and inorganic materials. They absorb the soluble products from digestion.

Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. Mold growth will often occur when excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed.

**WARNING** - DO NOT attempt to remove mold on your own, it could make the situation much worse! Disturbing mold can cross-contaminate your home or business and can increase the risks to persons in the area!