Trask Research, Inc. - Mold Problem Solving

Mold Remediation on Decks

By Matt Yurina, Mold Inspector/Remediator

CONTAIN- the mold from spreading into uncontaminated areas;

KILL- the mold;

REMOVE- the dead mold and materials used for remediation; and

PROTECT- the cleaned out area against future mold infestations.

Mol d c ontamination on decks is one of the more common across the country, but is far larger of a problem in the more humid areas like Hawaii and the states in the south east. In most cases it’s one of the easier remediation jobs. Outdoor jobs tend to be simpler, especially if the wood isn’t too eaten away to be effectively cleaned. Decks require very sound structural integrity, thus, if mold growth has eaten the wood away in any place so that you must cut into it more than a tenth of an inch to remove it, the wood will need to be removed and disposed of. It can be replaced once the rest of the deck is treated.

Be sure to wear a P100 respirator, gloves, goggles and coveralls when treating the deck. All salvable wood should be given time to dry as much as possible. The drier the wood is, the more successful the treatment will be. Scrub or pressure wash the deck with Oxy Mold™. Rinse thoroughly with water and allow to dry naturally. In some cases a second application may be required to remove harsher mold stains.

Then, to kill the mold to its roots, apply Oxy Mold MX-501™ concentrate to the entire deck. Apply a damp enough coat that the deck stays visibly wet for at least 10 minutes. Two applications are always recommended. Allow time to dry between the two applications (24 hours should suffice in most areas). Mild runoff into the grass or other plant life is acceptable, however, to be as safe as possible, it’s recommended to spray the surrounding grass and plants with water before and after treatment with MX-501.

Once the deck’s been treated with MX-501 you’ll want to perform a few Mold Tests to be sure that all the mold is dead. If the tests are clear then it will be safe to replace any wood that’s been torn out and paint or stain.

A last step will be to apply Protex 63, and industrial strength fungicidal sealant. Protex 63 will provide, in goo d c onditions, up to five years of strong protection against mold growth. In damp climates it may be necessary to reapply the sealant every two or three years to be on the safe side, but otherwise, your mold problems should be over for good.