Broken Pipe in Basement Leads to Dangerous Mold Growth in Cape May, NJ
Challenge
We were sent out to a home in Cape May, NJ that was originally built with a crawl space, but at some point, the homeowner had converted the crawl space into a livable basement. Even though this was a finished basement, the homeowners were elderly and had limited mobility, and eventually stopped venturing down into the basement. A short while ago, a water pipe burst and leaked all over the basement. When these microscopic spores are circulating in the air, we breathe them in. Many people can develop severe respiratory problems from living in these contaminated air spaces, especially the young, the elderly, and those who already have respiratory issues or compromised immune systems.
One important lesson from this job is that if you know someone or a couple who are elderly and living alone, a friend or family member should periodically check the residence for possible insect or mold problems. The sad reality is that because of diminished eyesight, mobility, and even mental capacity, the elderly often do not notice these problems in their early stages, and it is only after things get really bad that they take notice. With mold, what could have been a smaller, localized problem turns into an extensive mold removal project along with accompanying property damage.
Solution
With this home, because of the delay in treating the mold and underlying water problem, the basement paneling was ruined. We had no choice but to do a full-tear out of these materials. After removing all the contaminated material, we treated every square inch of the area with our EPA-registered antimicrobial solution called Mold Abatement Polymer Solution 1, or MAPS 1. This product attacks mold on a cellular level and kills it instantly.
We then used our mold stain remover, scrubbed away all the excess mold staining, and then applied our patented sealant MAPS 2. This application encapsulates the surface mold is growing on and renders it harmless and non-allergenic. MAPS 2 is also moisture-sensitive and will reactivate whenever it gets wet to prevent future mold growth. The homeowners were pleased that the mold problem was resolved in less than a day and the water pipe leak was fixed. Although the paneling had to be removed, all of the other building materials could be saved and there was no need for any major reconstruction.
