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Mold After Water Damage in Colorado Springs, CO

Finding and removing mold that grows on wet building materials after a water loss in Colorado Springs and El Paso County, and drying the structure so it does not return.

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Mold After Water

Mold After Water Damage: what it covers

Quick answer

Mold grows on wet organic material, such as paper facing, wood, carpet pad and dust, and it can begin within a day or two of a water loss if the material stays wet. The remedy is to dry the material quickly, remove the parts that cannot be cleaned and find the moisture that fed the growth. The cleanup records the readings and the removed material, and it does not promise that mold will never return.

Mold After Water Damage illustration for Colorado Springs, CO

Mold is a fungus that grows from spores that are present in most indoor and outdoor air. It needs moisture, a food source and time to take hold. A water loss supplies the moisture, and the paper on drywall, the wood in a subfloor and the carpet pad supply the food. The question after a water loss is not whether spores are present, but whether the wet material is drying quickly enough to stop growth from starting.

Mold after water damage often shows as a musty smell before it shows as a stain. The smell is a sign that growth is under way somewhere that is not visible, such as behind a wall, under a floor or in the insulation. A surface that has been wiped clean can still have growth in the material below, and the cleanup has to find the source of the moisture that fed the growth.

Service area
Colorado Springs & El Paso County
Availability
Phones answered 24/7
Warning signs

Signs you need mold after water damage

Do not disturb a large area of visible growth without containment and a mask. Wear a respirator rated for particles, gloves and eye protection for removal. People with asthma, allergies or a weakened immune system should not enter the work area while it is open. Keep children and pets out of the containment.

  • A musty or earthy smell in a room that had water damage, strongest near the wall or the floor
  • Dark, fuzzy or powdery patches on the back of drywall, carpet pad or the underside of a subfloor
  • A white or gray bloom on wood, concrete or a painted wall that wipes away and returns
  • Paint that bubbles or lifts over a damp area, with a dark spot underneath
  • A respiratory complaint that starts in a room after a water event and eases when the room is left
  • Water staining that spreads outward from a central spot with a darker ring at the edge
Our process

How our mold after water damage visit works

  1. Find the moisture that feeds the growth

    The first step is to find the water or the moisture that is feeding the growth. A leak, a damp cavity, a wet subfloor or a basement wall that has taken water must be stopped or dried, or the growth will return after it is removed.

  2. Contain the work area

    Where there is visible growth, the area is sealed off with plastic sheeting and kept under negative air pressure, so spores are not carried into the rest of the house during removal. The work area is kept as small as the job allows.

  3. Remove the porous material that is affected

    Drywall, carpet pad, insulation and wood with visible growth that cannot be cleaned are removed and bagged. The removed material is taken out of the building promptly, and the removal is recorded with photographs.

  4. Clean the hard surfaces and vacuum the area

    Non-porous surfaces such as concrete, metal and sealed tile are cleaned with a detergent and then treated with an antimicrobial suited to the surface. A HEPA vacuum is used to remove loose spores and dust from the area before the containment is lifted.

  5. Dry the structure and confirm the readings

    The structure is dried to the dry standard, and the readings are kept as proof that the moisture that fed the growth has been removed. The repaired area is checked after the next heavy rain to confirm the moisture has not returned.

How soon does mold start after a water loss?

It can begin within a day or two when wet material stays wet, and the time depends on the material, the temperature and the air. Federal mold guidance is clear that drying wet material within about two days greatly reduces the risk.

The EPA guidance on mold after water damage is the usual reference for this timing, and it is written for clean water. Contaminated water starts the same growth but with more material to handle, so the cleanup is set to the category of the water.

The clock starts when the water arrives, not when the cleanup begins. A wet area left closed overnight can already be growing mold behind the surface, and that is why the drying is prioritized.

Can mold be removed without taking out the drywall?

Sometimes, when the growth is on the surface of a non-porous material. Growth on drywall paper, wood that is soft or carpet pad is generally removed, because it cannot be cleaned to a safe level.

A surface cleaning can work on hard, non-porous material, but the same cleaning on drywall paper leaves the growth inside the board. The porous material is removed and replaced, and the framing behind it is cleaned and dried.

The decision is recorded for each material. The homeowner is shown where growth was found and what was removed, so the work can be checked against the record.

Is there a state license required for mold work in Colorado?

This site does not name a state license for mold work, because one has not been confirmed. Ask the company what it holds for the work, and ask what the local building department requires for any structural repair.

A homeowner should not rely on any license claim that a company makes without checking it. The question to ask is which credentials the company holds for mold remediation, which permits the job needs and which insurance covers the work. A company that cannot answer those questions is one to avoid.

The Colorado Division of Insurance is the state regulator for insurers, and it is the right office to call if a mold claim is denied. This site does not state what any policy covers for mold.

What does the insurer need to see about mold?

The record of the water event, the date it was found, the readings, the photographs of the growth and the material removed. A claim for mold is judged on when the moisture started and how quickly it was dried.

Many policies cover mold only when it follows a covered water loss and only up to a limit, and the limit and the conditions vary. The timing of the drying is part of the claim, so the record of when the water was stopped and when the structure was dried matters as much as the removal itself.

Keep the photographs, the readings, the removed material list and the invoice. Ask the insurer to explain in writing how it has treated the mold, and keep that letter with the file.

Options

Types and options for mold after water damage

Growth on drywall behind a leak

Common behind a wall or ceiling that held water. The paper facing feeds the growth, and the board is cut out where the growth is visible. The framing behind it is cleaned and dried before the new board goes up.

Growth in a basement or crawl space

Basements and crawl spaces hold moisture and cool air, and growth can appear on the joists, the subfloor and the back of the wall. The soil and the framing are dried, and the source of the damp is found and corrected.

Growth on carpet pad and stored material

Pad and stored boxes that were wet for more than a day or two can show growth. These materials are generally removed, and the room is cleaned and dried before anything new is placed in it.

El Paso County

Why mold after water damage is different in Front Range, Colorado

Mold in Colorado Springs homes is most often found in the basements, the crawl spaces and the closets on exterior walls after a water loss, where the air is cool and the moisture stays longest.

A house that had a storm or a burn-scar runoff event on its lower level should be checked for growth after the drying, even if the surfaces look clean. The 2013 runoff and the storms of 2016 and 2018 are the local reference points for water that reached lower floors.

A dry climate does not prevent growth inside a wall. The moisture in a damp cavity is what matters, and the readings show whether a cavity is still wet.

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A crew is dispatched as fast as one is available, and you approve the estimate before any work starts.

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Where we work

Mold After Water Damage across El Paso County

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Related

Structural Drying and Dehumidification

Air movement and dehumidification that dry the framing, subfloor, insulation and wall cavities of a Colorado Springs building after water has been removed.

Crawl Space Moisture and Water Cleanup

Removing standing water, damp debris and soaked insulation from a crawl space, then drying the joists and subfloor above it in Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

Flooded Basement Cleanup

Removing water from a flooded basement, lifting the finished surfaces it reached and drying the walls and framing in Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

Hardwood and Carpet Water Damage

Drying, lifting and replacing wood, carpet and laminate floors that have taken water in Colorado Springs and El Paso County homes.

Guides

Read before you book

FAQ

Mold After Water Damage FAQs

Is the musty smell always mold?

Not always, but a musty smell after a water loss is a reason to look. The smell can come from wet material, dust or a drain, and the readings and the inspection show which.

Can I bleach the mold myself?

Bleach is not a reliable answer on porous material, and it can give off fumes. Non-porous surfaces can be cleaned with a detergent, and porous material that is affected is generally removed rather than cleaned.

Will the mold come back?

It can, if the moisture that fed it is not stopped. The cleanup finds and records the moisture source, and the homeowner should watch the area after the next heavy rain.

Is mold testing necessary?

It is not always necessary. A visible growth area is removed whatever the test would show. A test can help where the source of a smell is unclear, and the homeowner can ask for one from a qualified tester.

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