Basement finishing and dealing with mold.

As part of your basement finishing project you may have to deal with mold. Basements tend to be the perfect hangout for this type of fungus so you may have to eliminate this prior to beginning your basement finishing project. It is often the case that basements are full of junk, and it is only when you remove everything to begin remodeling that they realize they have a mold problem. This might come as a shock, but don’t get too hung up about it because it is far better dealing with mold now than having to deal with it when you have completed the renovation project.

When removing the mold from the basement you will need to be cautious. Some mold is toxic and even non-toxic mold can cause health problems. If you are pregnant then don’t go anywhere near it because there is a suspected link between certain types of mold and miscarriage. The best advice would be to treat all mold suspiciously and wear protective eye glasses and a respiratory mask. This is because while cleaning you could make mold spores airborne, and these could end up in your lungs or eyes.

There is some debate about what is best to use to remove mold. Many people swear by a solution made up of bleach and water which you use to soak the moldy area while others claim that this is not too effective at completely eradicating mold. It is probably best to err on the side of caution for your basement finishing project and purchase chemicals that have been especially designed for tackling mold. You will also need to buy another solution which is borate-based and will be left on the surface to stop mold returning. Make sure that you have removed all the mold from your basement before commencing basement finishing.

The next thing you will need to do is determine what caused the mold in the first place otherwise you will have to deal with it again and could even make it worse by your basement finishing. Mold is caused by poor ventilation or leaks causing dampness in your basement. So you will need to establish what the cause of dampness is and eliminate it. A good place to start will be where you have just removed the mold. When you are working on your renovation make sure that you constantly keep in mind issues surrounding mold, and don’t do anything that will create a good habitat for it in the future.

About the Author:

Charles Boday is a Certified Mold Inspector and Contractor, graduate from Certified Mold Inspector & Contractors Institute. He has worked with some of the countries top scientists seeking alternative poison-free mold remediation techniques. He has testified as an expert foundation witness and is the Author of the books, The Ultra Dry Basement.