Garage Mold Removal & Mold Prevention

Garage Mold Growth & Garage Mold Removal In New Jersey Homes

Just like any other area of your New Jersey property, your garage can be vulnerable to mold development. With an adequate moisture source, mold spores can root into the porous, cellulose-based building materials in your garage and spread. Conditions like elevated humidity and water intrusion can provide a sufficient water source that can cause and sustain fungal growth. Like mold growth anywhere else in your NJ home, excess mold growth in your garage needs to be actively removed by a trained mold removal professional in NJ following specific cleanup procedures and strict safety protocols. If left unaddressed, garage mold can spread, cause additional property damage and potentially put you and your family at risk.

Why Do I Have Mold In My New Jersey Garage?

At the end of a moldy trail, there usually is a moisture source that caused the mold growth and is continuing to sustain the growth. Mold growth in garages is often the result of a combination of conditions like water intrusion, humidity, lack of ventilation and insufficient air circulation. Unlike the interior spaces of your home, your garage gets a lot of exposure to the elements. Generally, garages have wide entrances that not only allow vehicles but also water to get through during heavy precipitation, such as rain or snow. Additionally, there is often a lot of traffic in and out of your garage, whether it is wet foot traffic or wet tires. Bottom line, your garage can be exposed to quite a bit of moisture thorough the year. Without proper ventilation or dehumidification, moisture latent air will remain trapped in your garage and create the ideal breeding ground for mold growth that will likely require professional garage mold removal.

Getting Rid of Mold Growth in New Jersey Garages

With an adequate moisture source, mold spores can germinate and root into your porous, cellulose based garage building materials. With time, mold can spread and leave you with some serious property damage. If a history of moisture related problems have left you with a possible mold problem in your garage, you should consult a garage mold inspector in South Jersey. A certified mold inspector will have the necessary tools, training and experience to assess the conditions within your garage, determine the full extent of the mold contamination and get to the bottom of what caused it in the first place. With the information gathered during a thorough mold assessment, your mold inspector will develop an appropriate garage mold remediation scope of work to safely and effectively meet your garage mold removal needs.

Mold is considered a bio-contaminate the typically required specialized removal and cleanup. If you discover a mold problem in your South Jersey garage, you should leave it to the garage mold removal professionals. Professional mold remediation technicians follow a very specific mold remediation process that ensures a safe and effective cleanup.

Professional garage mold remediation includes the following:

1. Containment of the areas of concern to prevent cross contamination to unaffected areas
2. HEPA filtered air filtration to ensure safe indoor air quality during remediation
3. Demolition and removal of contaminated & non-salvageable building materials
4. HEPA vacuuming to remove surface mold from the affected building materials
5. Application of an antimicrobial to destroy surface spores & aid cleaning process
6. Application of a concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution to remove embedded mold roots
7. Treated areas are thoroughly scrubbed and wiped down to clean the affected areas
8. Re-HEPA Vacuuming to remove any remaining spores & roots
9. Application of a mold-resistant coating to aid mold prevention

Following garage mold removal, your mold remediation company will provide you with valuable information regarding preventatives. The right moisture control tips can go a long way in preventing future mold growth following garage mold removal.

Preventing Mold Growth In New Jersey Garages

Ideally, we all want to take every measure to prevent mold growth before it begins. The key to mold prevention is moisture control. If you can keep your garage nice and try, that can go a long way in protecting your property from mold and other property damage.

Garage Mold Prevention Tips:

1. Dry-Out Standing Water Immediately – As we already discussed, your garage gets exposed to a great deal of water. Whether it is water intrusion during periods of heavy precipitation, people tracking water in and out during normal foot traffic or wet cars coming in and out during rain fall, it needs to be dried out. When possible, try not to let water sit in your garage. Instead, remove it immediately (dry it out with a fan, wipe it down, shop vac, etc.).
2. Proper Ventilation & Dehumidification – Proper ventilation to ensure adequate air circulation and prevent buildup of warm, moist air that could contribute to mold growth. Poor ventilation allows warm, moist air to remain trapped in your garage. Over time, moisture buildup from trapped water vapors can lead to a serious mold problem. Installing a properly rated dehumidifier can help to maintain appropriate indoor humidity levels below 50%.
3. De-Clutter & Optimize Air Circulation – Most of us are guilty of using our garage as storage space, which is perfectly as long as items are stored strategically. Stored items should be organized and strategically stacked with spacing to encourage air flow. South Jersey homeowners should try to avoid stacking things right up against each other or against the wall. This will help to optimize air movement. It is good practice go through your stuff a couple of times a year and de-clutter.
4. Minimize Porous Materials & Contents – Porous items like fabrics, cardboard boxes or other paper products are more vulnerable to mold growth. When possible, trade out the cardboard box and store your items in hard, plastic totes that you can easily wipe down and clean as needed.
5. Use Mold Resistant Building Materials – When building or remodeling- try to use mold-resistant building materials and products when possible. While mold-resistant products are not invincible against mold, it will help with prevention.

Often times, garage mold preventatives and moisture control can be simple, affordable and can go a long way in protecting your South Jersey home and your family. New Jersey homeowners should set aside some time to routinely check their garage for vulnerabilities to mold growth or moisture build up. Like any other area of the home, regular maintenance checks are important.