Groundwater Seepage Causes Mold in Brick, NJ Basement
Challenge
A new homeowner who had just purchased a home in Brick, NJ, knew that there was a groundwater seepage problem in the basement. He had installed a sump pump to expel the water. However, as often happens with water intrusions, he found himself with a mold problem. He contacted us to treat the mold.
To determine the extent of the mold problem, we first removed the rotten and contaminated paneling. Once building materials have lost their structural integrity, they have to be removed. Fortunately, there was no further damage behind the paneling, the mold was just what was visible.
Solution
We treated the mold directly, applying 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. Although mold stains, which are caused by residue from the mold enzymes, do not produce mold spores and trigger the problems associated with mold in a home, these stains are aesthetically unappealing. As long as the mold is superficial and not too deep in the building material, we are able to wipe away most of the mold stains.
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. To address the high humidity levels in the crawl space, we installed a Sani-Dry Sedona commercial grade dehumidifier. When we were done, the homeowner had a mold-free basement. He was quite pleased that the mold problem could be handled so quickly.
