Mold Remediation in Los Angeles
Maingreen Remodel & Construction handles mold remediation in Los Angeles homes from the first test to the finished wall: we find the moisture behind the mold, remove what is contaminated, fix the source and rebuild, as one licensed contractor (License #1093329).
MOLD INSPECTION, REMOVAL AND REPAIR
Mold and asbestos testing
One of our top services is comprehensive mold and asbestos testing (we work with licensed and certified scientific labs) to test samples from your walls and ceilings. We can then conduct a full removal and install new, safe and healthy materials.
What mold remediation includes
One team from the first test to the finished wall
Wiping mold off a wall is cleaning. Remediation means removing what the mold has damaged, stopping the water that fed it, and putting the room back together.
Inspection and testing
We look for the moisture as much as the mold: under sinks, behind tubs and showers, around windows, in the attic and along slab floors. Samples go to licensed and certified labs when the spread is unclear or older materials may also hold asbestos.
Safe removal
Moldy drywall, insulation and carpet are removed, not painted over. The EPA notes that absorbent materials such as ceiling tiles and carpet may have to be thrown away once they are moldy, and that mold on hard surfaces can be scrubbed off and the surface dried completely.
Signs you have a mold problem
A musty smell that stays after you air the room out.
Dark or fuzzy spots that come back after you clean them.
Stains on a ceiling under a bathroom, an AC unit or the roof.
Paint that bubbles or peels, or drywall that feels soft.
Water on window sills every morning, or a bathroom mirror that never clears.
Any leak, overflow or flood that was not dried out within a day or two.
Can you clean it yourself?
Sometimes. The EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, roughly a 3 by 3 foot patch, in most cases you can handle the job yourself. Small spots on tile grout or a window frame usually fall in that group.
Call a professional when the patch is bigger, when it keeps coming back, when it is inside a wall or ceiling, or when the water came from a sewer backup. The EPA also warns not to run the HVAC system if you suspect it is contaminated with mold, because it can spread mold through the house.
Before you scrub: in an older home, do not sand or tear out walls, ceilings or vinyl flooring yourself. The EPA lists textured paint, patching compounds and vinyl floor tiles among the materials that may contain asbestos. We test for both, and old insulation can be tested before it comes out.
Why mold comes back, and how we stop it
Mold needs water. The EPA's own summary is that the key to mold control is moisture control, and it advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Remove the mold without stopping the water and it is likely to return.
Common sources of that water:
Plumbing
Slow leaks under sinks and behind toilets, failed shower pans, and pinhole or slab leaks that stay hidden inside walls and floors.
Roofs
A leak around flashing, vents or skylights that wets the attic insulation before any stain shows on the ceiling.
Ventilation
Bathrooms with no exhaust fan or one that vents into the attic, and attics that trap warm, damp air.
After a flood or overflow
Carpet, pad and the bottom of drywall that were left to dry on their own (see water damage restoration).
Because Maingreen also does plumbing, roofing and remodeling, the repair that stops the water is part of the same job, not a second contractor you have to find.
Questions to ask any mold contractor
Whoever you hire, these answers tell you how the job will be done:
Where is the water coming from, and who fixes it?
If nobody repairs the source, the mold is likely to return.
How will the work area be closed off from the rest of the home?
Ask how the room is sealed off from the rest of the home and how the air is handled while the work goes on.
What comes out, and what is cleaned?
Ask for the materials that will be removed as a list, so you can compare estimates line by line.
Will anything be tested first?
Mold testing helps when the mold is hidden; in an older home, ask whether the walls or flooring should be tested for asbestos before they are opened.
How will I know it is done?
You can hire an independent inspector to check the area before the walls are closed. Ask whether the schedule leaves room for that.
What sets the cost and the timeline
The mold assessment and the estimate are free: one of our licensed asbestos and mold inspectors comes to your home first, because two jobs that look alike from the outside can be very different inside the wall. These are the things that move the price and the schedule, so you can compare estimates on the same terms:
How far it has spread
A spot on the surface is a small job. Mold that has reached the back of the drywall, the insulation or the framing means more material comes out and goes back in.
What it is growing on
Tile and glass clean up. Drywall, carpet and insulation are replaced.
Where it is
Attics, crawl spaces and the space under a slab take more setup and protection than an open bathroom wall.
The repair behind it
A new shut-off valve is quick. A repipe, a new shower pan or a roof repair is its own piece of work and is priced as such.
Drying time
Wet framing and subfloor have to dry before the room is closed up again; the EPA advises drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Testing
Lab testing for mold or asbestos is added when the extent is unclear or the materials are old enough to need it.
The finish you want
Putting back what was there costs less than upgrading the room while the walls are open.
Ask for the inspection findings, the scope of removal and the repair of the source as separate lines, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
How does it work?
The Maingreen Remodel & Construction Asbestos and Mold Removal
Step 1 – Call us for your free mold and asbestos assessment. One of our licensed asbestos and mold inspector will come to YOUR door and test your house for molds or asbestos and take it to the lab.
Step 2 – We will let you know our best recommendations for your specific case, saving you money and time wherever possible.
Step 3 – Our professional licensed asbestos and mold removal team get to work on the removal process.
Step 4 – Voila! Your confident and feel safe from harmful asbestos and mold in your home.
Selected mold remediation projects
What mold remediation customers say
Read the full review →“We were extremely happy with the quality of Maingreen’s work. After March’s hailstorm left us with mold and damage to our sunroom, Maingreen was the only company who not only gave us an estimate and a realistic appraisal of what mold remediation entails--but actually came back to do the work.”
Read the full review →“I need moled removed from my attic because of a roof leak by my solar panels not being installed properly on my brand new home 13 years ago. Main Green Construction came in and made it right!”
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