Question by amateur: Due to a water leak ~ 2sqft of the wall in the garage got soaked. do we now need mold testing done?
the wall probably soaked water for a couple of days. do we need to replace the dry wall or do we need a complete mold test?
Best answer:
Answer by jaijay15
you should probably consult with a water damage specialist, they can be found in the phone book.
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i would go with the mold test , cuz if there isn’t mold why are u replacing your wall????????
If it was a water leak insurance will pay for it typically check your plan. I would watch it for a couple of days. If you have a dehumidifier then I would put it next to the spot ASAP.You may have to replace the wall if mold begins to grow. If you can get sun light on it then I would. Luckily it is only a 2sqfoot section. I had a mold problem that was 5sqfeet in 4 different areas. I had to replace the wall. You can try a mold test but you would need to wait a while for proper results hope this helps
Cut the dry wall out use several fans and in a week you should be able to tell . Don’t test yet. If it just happened than you would test too early. It takes a while for the mold to grow anyways. good luck.
Mold doesnt grow that fast, not invasive mold at least. Just combat it with some bleach and water. It was a scare that the insurance industry played up. Just put bleach and water…about 50% to 50% in a spray bottle and you should be fine. Put a fan on the spot or in the room and it will fine. Control the mold and dry it out.
Mold tests can be expensive. I charge a minimum of $ 150.00 for a single bioaerosol that measures fungi and other particulates in the air. Unless there is reason to believe that there is a substantial amount of mold that may have contaminated the air or surrounding surfaces, it seems more reasonable to simply replace the damaged material.
The most dangerous fungi are often slow-growing and found at the site of long-term leaks(stachybotrys, for example). If this is a fairly recent leak, and your question seems to indicate that it is, there is not a lot of cause for concern. If, however, this problem had been going on for a period of years, and there was visible mold, I would advise caution in the removal and replacement of the material. That condition might be best left to a Certified Mold Remediator.
you can buy inexpensive personal room mold test kits at most local hardware stores try home depot or lowes they only cost about ten dollars a kit one kit per room. Be sure to air out rooms well and place fans on any wet places as well as cleaning with a 50/50 solution of bleach water just be sure to wear rubber gloves!