Trask Research, Inc. - Mold Problem Solving

Mold Remediation on Studs

By: Matt Yurina, Sr. Mold Remediation Specialist

Thousands of common species of molds spread and thrive by eating away at the wooden studs which support our homes. The introduction of moisture, whether it’s from a flood, leak, poor or damp construction materials or something else, will cause mold to start growing. In small, tight, unventilated spaces between walls, mold can grow rapidly, eating away at the walls and the vary structure of the home. While materials like drywall and insulation are too porous and fragile to save from moisture damage or mold growth, the studs are salvable provided the mold hasn’t eaten too deeply into them. If rot is visible, the safest choice would be to replace the stud, or studs. If you can literally scrape or brush the visible mold growth off with a rag or a knife, and you don’t have to cut more than a 10^th of an inch or so into the wood to do this, the studs are salvable, and the mold can be treated with a fungicide and killed.

Trask Research, Inc has designed several products for the mold remediation market, including Oxy Mold™ (and algae, mildew, and stain cleaner), Oxy Mold MX-501™ (a fungicide), Oxy Mold™ Mold Odor Neutralizing Foggers, and E Z Mold™ Test Kits to perform various mold tests, which help to locate mold growth and estimate the full extent of a mold infestation.

Before beginning a mold remediation job, be sure to isolate the mold infested area as much as possible. This will help to limit the chances of mold spores spreading to other, potentially clean, areas of the structure. Close all doors surrounding the contaminated area, or erect plastic barriers if doors are not present. This isn’t always necessary in cases of small, or limited mold growth (less than 1 square foot of visible growth), but some of the more common molds are known to be toxigenic, and even small amounts of them can cause severe health problems in short periods of time; always ere on the side of caution when performing mold remediation.

It’s highly recommended to wear protective equipment when performing mold remediation work. A P100 respirator, gloves and goggles that completely cover the eyes are most important, but in areas of heavy mold growth, full body, disposable coveralls should be worn as well. Trask Research offers the following protective equipment: Basic Half Face P100 Respirator, Premium Half Face P100 Respirator, Premium Full Face Respirator, Safety Gloves, Safety Goggles, and Disposable Coveralls with Hoods.

Step 1: For treating studs the first major step is to get them dry. Leaks should be fixed prior to mold cleanup. Flood water should be pumped out or sopped up and removed. Once the studs are dry they should be treated with Oxy Mold MX-501™ to kill the mold growth and keep it from spreading to other areas. Mix the MX-501 fungicide at 4 to 6 ounces per gallon of water and use a regular garden pump sprayer – or hand help trigger sprayer if the moldy area is small enough that such will suffice – to apply the fungicide to the studs. Spray on at least two coats of the MX-501, allowing around 24 hours or so drying time in between the two coats. The drier the studs are, the better they’ll soak up the fungicide, which is what is needed. The fungicide needs to be able to penetrate into the deepest roots of the mold to kill it all. Treat the studs up to three or four feet around the moldy areas, and be sure the studs remain damp for at least ten minutes on each application.

Step 2: In areas of thick or severely dark mold growth cleaning the visible growth off may be desirable, especially if the studs are in an unfinished basement. This is where Oxy Mold™ comes in. It’s a stain and mildew cleaner which can help to remove some of the nasty mold growth and staining which molds can leave behind. However, molds have very strong pigments, so they can dye cellulose materials like wood some pretty nasty colors if they’ve been allowed to grow for a while. In the even the staining is deep in the wood, hard scrubbing with a wire brush, or even sanding may be necessary to remove the staining. Since even dead molds can be a health risk to certain people, the cleaning process should involve carefully bagging up as much of the visible growth as possible. This way it can be safely removed from the home.

Step 3: Another product Trask Research offers is a fungicidal sealant called Protex 63. As a last step in mold remediation, Protex 63 can be applied to wood, brick, concrete and other surfaces to prevent mold growth in the future. It’s available in quart (covers up to 400 square feet) and gallon (covers up to 1200 square feet) sizes, and can be applied with a pump or hand held sprayer just like the MX-501 fungicide. It’s highly recommended for siding, decks, fences, roofs and driveways to provide long lasting anti-microbial protection.

Extra Steps: Deodorization may be necessary if moldy or musty odors linger in the area that’s been treated. Molds put off microbial volatile chemicals which can have a wide range of terrible smells. To eliminate these smells, Trask Research offers our Oxy Mold™ Mold Odor Neutralizing Foggers.

Post testing is highly recommended in cases of mold contamination larger than 1 square foot. Trask Research’s E Z Mold™ Test Kits can be used to verify that the mold contamination has been successfully remediated and that the treated area is safe to inhabit once again. Professional mold remediation companies always perform post testing before declaring an area habitable again. For more info on the test kits, visit http://traskresearch.com/mold_test_kit.htm.