Soaked Wood Flooring Caused Mold Issue in Rahway, NJ

Challenge

The seller of a home in Rahway, NJ was seeking a short sale to avoid a full foreclosure on his property. The seller tried to improve the appearance of the home by installing a wood floor over a concrete slab in the basement. With this house, the slab had French drains along the perimeter. During our inspection, we saw the results of a fundamental building mistake first-hand. We were contacted by the realtor who, when inspecting the home, realized there was a major problem. The wood floor in the basement was soaked, and there was the unmistakable pungent smell of mold in the basement as well, although there was no visible mold growth.

When we arrived, we saw that the hardwood flooring was installed over a concrete slab, which can only be done in limited situations. And this house had an automatic disqualifier: French drains. This soaked wood flooring had to be torn out so we could reach and treat the suspected mold underneath it. The flooring was already ruined, and the basement conditions could not support wooden flooring. There was also moisture on the ceiling and we suspected mold on the beams. The same problem would happen all over again. Usually, the Mold Solutions team can save building materials that have not lost their structural integrity, but this job was an example of those few cases where the building material had to be removed.  

Solution

First, we then treated the mold 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 area. Next, 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.

The seller, while trying to improve the home’s appearance to make it more marketable, understood that he had made a costly mistake by trying to install hardwood flooring in an area of the home where the moisture and water conditions made it an unacceptable option. Mold thrives wherever there is water or moisture and the right temperature. Bringing organic material like wood down into a basement with high moisture levels and potential water problems is like setting up an all-you-can-eat buffet for mold. 

After our treatment, the mold was removed, the mold smell was gone, and the short sale could move forward. A homeowner facing potential foreclosure is always a difficult situation. However, we successfully treated the mold problem so the home could be sold, and the seller could move on. Also, the realtor could not have been more pleased with the efficiency and effectiveness of our Mold Solutions service, and said that if a mold issue comes up during a home inspection, she now has us on speed dial!