Mold Removal Is Not Cleaning
Professional mold removal is a structured remediation process governed by the IICRC S520 standard, the national protocol for mold remediation. Craig Herrmann, founder and president of Mold Eliminators, co-authored that standard. He served on the ANSI/IICRC S520 Consensus Body for over six years and contributed directly to the 4th Edition published in 2024. Every project we take on is built around it.
Here is what the process actually involves.
Assessment and Moisture Source Identification
Before any removal begins, we identify exactly what is present and where the moisture is coming from. Removing mold without fixing the water source guarantees it returns. This is not optional. It is the first step in every S520-compliant remediation.
Assessment involves visual inspection, moisture metering of structural materials, and thermal imaging to locate hidden moisture inside walls and ceilings. We do not start removing mold until we know where the water is coming from and have a plan to stop it.
Containment
The work area is isolated from the rest of the home using physical barriers, typically 6-mil polyethylene sheeting sealed to walls, ceilings, and floors. Negative air pressure is established inside the containment zone using HEPA-filtered air scrubbers. Air flows into the containment zone from outside it, not the other direction. Spores released during work cannot escape into clean areas of the home.
Inadequate containment is the most common reason DIY mold cleaning makes problems worse. Without it, spores released during cleaning spread throughout the home unchecked.
Personal Protective Equipment
Every Mold Eliminators technician in a containment zone wears appropriate PPE: N95 or higher respirators, full-body coveralls, gloves, and eye protection. This protects the technician and prevents cross-contamination as they move in and out of the work area.
Material Removal
Porous and semi-porous materials contaminated beyond a remediable threshold, typically drywall, insulation, and carpet in affected areas, are removed and disposed of according to applicable regulations. These materials cannot be cleaned to a safe standard. Physical removal is the only effective approach.
Non-porous surfaces, including concrete, metal, glass, and some treated wood, can often be cleaned in place using appropriate antimicrobial treatments after contaminated porous material has been removed.
Cleaning and Treatment
Remaining surfaces in the work area are HEPA-vacuumed to remove residual spores before any wet cleaning begins. Then surfaces are cleaned and treated with appropriate antimicrobials. Wood structural members get wire brushed to remove surface mold from framing that will stay in the structure.
Structural Drying
After moisture source correction and material removal, remaining structural materials are dried to acceptable moisture content levels using commercial dehumidifiers and air movers. Professional moisture meters confirm target levels have been reached before the space is enclosed.
Post-Clearance Verification
This is the step that separates professional remediation from anything else. Independent laboratory air sampling is conducted after all work is complete to confirm that indoor spore concentrations have returned to normal. The job is not finished until this testing confirms clearance. You receive that documentation from an independent lab before we close out the project.
No Subcontracting
Every technician and supervisor who works in your Las Vegas home is a direct Mold Eliminators employee. We do not subcontract. Every employee has completed an OSHA-required medical evaluation and is covered by our workers’ compensation insurance.
To schedule a free assessment, call (702) 442-1126 or learn more about our mold removal services. We serve all of Las Vegas and Clark County, 24 hours a day.
