Mold Found During New Construction in Deal, NJ

Challenge

We were sent out on a service call to an under-construction property in Deal, NJ. A pipe burst in the basement, resulting in flooding. Unfortunately, given the extent of the water damage, this problem had gone on unnoticed for quite some time, and mold has ample opportunity to take hold. Any time that water enters a home whether, from a roof leak, groundwater seepage, a burst pipe, or a myriad of other water intrusion events, there is always a risk of mold growth.

It is not enough to just fix the water problem and the damaged building materials. Once mold takes hold, it will spread as long as there is sufficient moisture in the home. Even if the mold does not spread, it will simply become dormant. And no matter whether mold is active or dormant, mold growth in a home is a potential health hazard to the home’s occupants. Here, even though it would be months before the home is occupied by its new owners, mold would be waiting for them if not properly treated.

Solution

The contractor had already cut out and removed the contaminated sheetrock. Whenever mold-contaminated material is removed from a home, precautions should be taken to minimize disruption of the mold and spread of mold spores from moving the materials. Unfortunately, we were not there for that part of the process. We were called in afterward to treat the remaining basement mold. 

We treated the area with an antimicrobial application called MAPS 1, which stands for Mold Abatement Polymer Solutions. MAPS 1 is an EPA registered product that attacks mold on a cellular level and immediately kills it. Next, we used our mold stain remover and scrubbed away all the mold growth throughout the crawl space. Lastly, we applied our patented sealant called MAPS 2. MAPS 2 is a moisture-sensitive application that encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless, inert, and non-allergenic.

One of the best features of MAPS 2 is that it will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth.  With our mold treatment process, the contractor could get back to work without any delay in the building schedule.