Bathroom Remodeling & Mold Remediation

Each year, thousands of homeowners make the decision to have their bathrooms remodeled. Many of those homeowners enjoy doing their remodeling, but there are others who feel as if they opened up a can of worms. Those homeowners are likely the unlucky bunch who found mold in their bathroom. If you were remodeling your bathroom and you find mold, do you know what to do? Unfortunately, a large number of individuals do not know what to do. Make sure to complete all your mold remediation work while you during your bathroom remodeling work.

What Is Mold

Before you familiarize yourself with what you should do if you find mold in your bathroom, it is important to examine what mold is. Mold is scientifically described as being a microscopic fungus. This fungus not only looks unattractive, but it can be dangerous. While some types of mold are considered relatively harmless, there are other types of mold that are considered toxic. Unfortunately, due to the moisture that can be found inside most bathrooms, black, toxic mold can be found in thousands of bathrooms in the United States. If you start to your bathroom remodeling project and you find mold under your toilet or even under you floor tiles, there is a good chance that you may have black mold on your hands.

Toxicity

As previously mentioned, black mold is often defined as being a toxic mold. This is because it is one of the most dangerous types of all molds. In addition to having respiratory problems, you may develop headaches, skin rashes, fevers, and other flu-like symptoms. Although your first impulse may be to remove the mold yourself, you may want to rethink your decision to do so. When mold is improperly removed, mold spores can spread throughout the rest of your home. That is why it may be good to call upon a professional. That professional will likely be a mold removal specialist or an air quality control specialist.

Good Air Flow

Although it can be quite expensive to have your mold tested and removed, you will want to do so. If your mold is not taken care of, professionally, it can begin to spread and even move into other parts of your home. Once you have had all of your mold removed from your bathroom, no matter what type of mold it is, you will want to take steps to prevent another mold outbreak from occurring in the future. You can easily do this by incorporating a few extra projects into your bathroom remodeling plan. It may be a good idea to make sure that your bathroom has a fan installed.

Bathroom Fans

If you do not already have a bathroom fan installed in your bathroom, you will want to get one right away. It has been noted that working bathroom fans help to eliminate the moisture that mold, particularly black mold, thrives off of. No matter what type of bathroom fan you would like to purchase, whether it be a traditional bathroom fan or a decorative one, you should be able to find whatever you are looking for online or at one of your local home improvement stores. Your local home improvement stores have everything you need for your bathroom remodeling project.

Removing Mold on Tiled Walls

You can use a few tools to remove mold on tiled walls but be cautious if you have colored grout.

Bleach

A good place to start is chlorine bleach. You can purchase a chlorine bleach cleaner specifically meant for bathroom mold, such as Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover. So long as you don’t have colored grout (which will likely fade if you use bleach), you can spray the cleaner directly onto the moldy grout.

• Let the cleaner containing bleach sit for at least 30 minutes
• Scrub with a stiff brush
• Rinsing with warm water

Vinegar

For a more natural way to get rid of mold in the bathroom, you can use distilled vinegar.

• Use a spray bottle to saturate the moldy area with white vinegar
• Let it sit for 30 minutes
• Scrub with a brush
• Spray again, let sit for an additional 30 minutes
• Rinse with warm water

You can even make a cleaning paste by stirring together 1/2 cup baking soda and several teaspoons of water. Spread the paste over the moldy grout, let sit for 10 minutes, then scrub the mold away with a brush. Rinse with water.

Removing Mold From Painted or Wallpapered Walls

For mold on painted walls, try a natural remover like white vinegar, borax and water. You’ll need a spray bottle and a few other items to scrub the walls.

• Combine two tablespoons of borax with 1/4 cup white vinegar and two cups of hot water in a bowl.
• Pour into a spray bottle
• Liberally apply on painted walls.
• Scrub thoroughly and wipe clean, then spray again and let sit for 10 minutes before wiping dry.

Do You Have Mold Inside Your Bathroom Walls?

You should suspect mold in your walls if:

• There is a significant amount of wall mold on the outside of your walls.
• There has been flooding or other significant water damage in the home.
• You smell a definite musty odor in the room but can’t see any mold (in this case, check air ducts for mold, as well).

The only way to know for sure if there is mold in walls is to look. Cut 12 inch by 12 inch inspection holes with a drywall saw every four feet, remove any insulation, and use a mirror and flashlight to inspect the inside of the walls.

Prevent Future Mold Growth with Proper Ventilation

To ensure that your bathroom remains mold-free after remodeling, focus on maintaining proper ventilation. Installing a high-quality bathroom fan can effectively reduce moisture levels, which helps prevent the conditions that allow mold to thrive. This simple addition not only enhances the air quality in your bathroom but also protects your investment in the remodeling project. Make sure to choose a fan that suits the size of your bathroom for optimal results.

7 Best Grout Cleaners of 2020 to Restore Dingy Tile

Does your bathroom needs a new look? There are many new bathroom decor ideas available. Why not get a fresh start with a clean appeal of an fresh and airy new bathroom. With the many new trends remodeling your bathroom can be a real plus for you and your family. With increased functionality and modern style to the bathroom, what’s not to like? Maximize your bathroom space with the latest in color and hardware styles. The new bathroom tiles ideas and design trends can have a lasting effect on your mental and physical health.

If your bathroom is beyond repair, we can provide you with a beautiful new bathroom.