Water Damage and Mold in Basement (Guide)

Had water damage in your basement and wondering what to do? Don’t panic! Every minute counts, and with the right actions and the help of professionals, you can minimize the damage and protect your home from this basement water damage.

First, it’s important to know that mold spores are present in the air both inside and outside your home at all times. Now, when a basement experiences water damage, the construction materials get wet, and it only takes 24-48 hours for mold spores to latch on and start developing. To prevent this from happening, here are a few steps that can help you regain control of the situation:

1. Empty the contents and demolish

• Try to remove your belongings (e.g., furniture, boxes, shoes, etc.) as quickly as possible. Movers may be required if needed.
  • Reason 1: Items that absorbed humidity from the basement water damage and are porous will develop mold (e.g., legs of an Ikea furniture, cardboard boxes, mattresses on the floor, etc.)
  • Reason 2: These items absorb humidity from the surrounding air. So, when you attempt to dehumidify the basement, it’s important that your dehumidifiers work to remove moisture from the construction materials and not from contents like wooden furniture, boxes, and winter coats, for example, that you store in the basement.
• Quickly remove all porous materials affected by the basement water damage, such as:
  • Remove the moldings that were wet at the bottom of the wall (replacement cost is low and they are very porous).
  • Remove drywall (gypsum) that has more than 19% moisture.
    • When you open your lower walls, try to make straight cuts (e.g., using a guide such as a piece of plywood) according to the following predefined heights:
      • Height of 12″, 16″, 24″, or 48
      • The above heights will facilitate reconstruction, as you will only need to cut a drywall sheet into 1, 2, 3, or 4 pieces lengthwise.
    • Here are 2 useful tools to help you determine the height at which to open the drywall or preserve and dry it.
      • Non-Invasive Moisture Meter
      • Pin-Type Moisture Meter
  • The carpets ;
  • Floating floors and the vapor barrier underneath;
• Warning! If these materials are not removed in time (within 24 to 48 hours) after water damage, they can trap humidity, leading to mold growth and worsening structural damage.
• What to do if the materials were not removed within 24 to 48 hours after water damage? (working in the presence of mold)
  • First, if you plan to do the work yourself, it is important to wear appropriate safety gear;
  • Next, install a vapor barrier plastic at the entrance of the basement (at the top of the stairs) to isolate the contaminated area from the rest of the house.
  • Install a fan that will expel air through a window in the basement, and apply polyethylene plastic to seal the window frame, leaving only a round hole for the back of your fan.
    • The idea is for the air from the basement to exit through the window, not for air to come in through the window.
    • To check if your setup is working well (ref.: creating negative pressure in the basement), the vapor barrier plastic will bulge inward when negative pressure is established.
  • Do not operate bathroom fans, kitchen fans, etc., on the upper floors;
  • You can operate bathroom fans and other types of fans in the basement to create an air exchange system for the basement.
  • Do not heat the room in an attempt to dehumidify. Instead, use efficient dehumidifiers and fans. Here is a list of suggestions:
    • 50-Pint Dehumidifier
    • 22-Pint Dehumidifier
    • High-Precision Hygrometer
    • Home Hygrometer
  • If you detect mold odors, you can use this type of air purifier

Call us at 438-800-2046 now, and we can quickly send a team to begin the demolition as soon as possible. When it comes to water damage, time is of the essence to salvage as many materials as possible and preserve your living environment upstairs.