How to Prepare Your Home for a Mold Remediation Crew
The day a remediation crew shows up goes more smoothly when the home is ready for them. Time spent moving a loaded bookcase or waiting on a condo elevator reservation is time not spent on the actual problem. Most of the preparation is simple, takes an evening or two, and costs nothing but effort. This guide covers what to do, and just as important, what to leave alone.
A week ahead: paperwork and logistics
Start with the things that depend on other people, because they take the longest.
- Make sure the water source is handled. If a plumber or roofer still needs to fix the leak, schedule that first or confirm with the remediation company how the two visits will be sequenced. Removing mold while the pipe is still dripping wastes everyone's effort.
- Notify your building. Condo and co-op associations commonly have rules on contractor hours, service elevator reservations, loading areas and proof of insurance. Ask management what they need and pass it along early.
- Sort out parking and entry. Crews bring a van or truck full of equipment and will be hauling out bagged debris. A close parking spot, a gate code and a guest pass save a surprising amount of time.
- Call your insurer if you plan to file a claim, and ask what documentation they want before anything is removed.
Two days ahead: clear the work area
The crew needs open floor around the affected walls and a clear route from the door to the work area. Think about four to six feet of working room where possible.
- Move furniture, rugs and floor lamps out of the affected room, or to the far side if the room is large.
- Take down wall art, mirrors, curtains and shelves on and near the affected walls.
- Empty closets and cabinets that are part of the work. Under-sink cabinets and linen closets are frequent culprits.
- Clear the hallway and entry so equipment can roll through without squeezing past a console table.
- Remove valuables, medications, important documents and fragile items from the area entirely.
One caution: if items in the room have visible growth or a strong musty smell, do not carry them into clean bedrooms. Set them aside, on a balcony or in the garage if you have one, and ask the crew how they should be handled. Moving contaminated belongings around the home is one of the most common ways a contained problem gets spread.
What not to do before they arrive
Well-meaning preparation can make things worse. Resist the urge to:
- Scrub or scrape the moldy area. Dry brushing sends spores into the air before any containment exists.
- Spray it with bleach or paint over it. It hides the extent of the damage and adds moisture.
- Pull off baseboards or cut into drywall to see how far it goes.
- Aim a fan at it. Moving air across visible growth distributes it.
- Run a household vacuum over it. Ordinary vacuums exhaust fine particles straight back into the room.
Leaving everything as it is also gives the crew an accurate picture of what they are dealing with.
The day before: people, pets and the AC
Decide where everyone will be. If you have arranged to stay elsewhere during demolition, pack as you would for a short trip, including chargers, medications and school items, so nobody needs to go back into the work area.
Pets need a plan. Loud machines, strangers and open doors are stressful for animals, and an escaped cat in a condo stairwell is nobody's idea of a good morning. Boarding or a friend's home is the easiest solution. Move aquariums and bird cages well away from the work area; birds in particular are sensitive to airborne dust and fumes.
Leave the air conditioner running normally unless you have been told otherwise. In our climate a closed-up home with the AC off can climb in humidity quickly. The crew will seal the vents in the work area and tell you if any setting needs to change. Do swap in a clean filter if yours is overdue.
The morning of: last checks
- Make sure the crew can reach an electrical panel, working outlets and a water source.
- Photograph the affected areas and nearby belongings for your records.
- Unlock gates, storage areas or the AC closet if they are part of the job.
- Clear a spot near the door for equipment staging, and protect nothing yourself; crews lay their own floor protection.
- Be available by phone. Hidden conditions sometimes turn up once a wall is opened, and a quick decision keeps the work moving.
A final word on questions
Before the start date, confirm the daily schedule, which rooms will be closed off, and who your contact is on site. Good preparation is mostly good communication. If you have not yet had a company look at the problem, request an on-site remediation estimate at drymiami.com or call (954) 778-7999. The visit is $79, credited in full toward the job if you hire DryMiami.
Mold problem at home?
We come out, find the moisture source and give you a written remediation estimate. The visit is $79, credited in full toward your job if you hire us.
