Mold after water damage grows where moisture stays in building materials for too long. Stopping the water, drying the structure to readings and removing material that cannot be cleaned are the steps that matter. This site has not sourced a Louisiana licence category for mold work, so this guide names none. Ask for the scope in writing.
Key takeaways
- Mold needs moisture and time, and a water event supplies both if the structure is not dried.
- The visible spot is often the smallest part of the problem; the moisture can extend into the cavity and the framing.
- Drying to readings, not appearance, is what stops mold from continuing.
- A written scope should list the findings, the removals, the cleaning, the drying and how dryness will be confirmed.
- No mold licence category has been sourced for Louisiana, so ask which certification, if any, applies to the work proposed.
- Medical questions about breathing or allergy symptoms belong with a doctor, not with this guide.
How does mold start after a water event?
Mold spores are present in most indoor and outdoor air. They begin to grow when a material stays wet for long enough, and the time needed depends on the material, the temperature and the air movement. A water event that is not dried quickly gives mold the moisture it needs.
Wood, paper, drywall paper, insulation and carpet pad are the materials most often associated with mold growth after water. Hard, sealed surfaces are less likely to support growth, but the moisture under them can still reach the materials that do.
The lesson is that the cleanup has to reach the moisture, not only the surface. Surface cleaning alone does not stop growth if the material behind the surface is still wet.
What should I look for in my home after water?
Look for a musty smell, a stain that returns after it has been cleaned, a patch of discolouration on drywall or wood, peeling paint near a past leak, and warping or softening in wood near a wet area. A moisture meter, when a contractor has one, will show moisture before growth is visible.
Check the places that stay damp: the bottom of walls, the back of cabinets, the area under sinks and appliances, the inside of closets and the crawl space. These are where growth often goes unnoticed.
Do not disturb a visible patch with a brush or a vacuum. That can release spores into the air. Keep the room closed, photograph the area and ask for a scope.
A visual check is easier in good light. Look along the ceiling and the corners of walls with a torch held at a low angle, and check the back of furniture that stands against a wet wall. Note the place and the date, and photograph it from the same spot each time so the change can be seen.
What should the scope include?
A written scope should list what was found, where, the moisture readings, the materials to be removed, the materials to be cleaned, the drying method, the dry goal and how dryness will be confirmed. It should also state the work that will not be done.
A scope that describes only a total, or that says the area will be cleaned without naming the materials, is not enough to check. Ask for the list, and ask which materials are being kept and why.
Ask for the final readings in writing, and keep them with the scope. They are the evidence that the area was dry when the work was closed up.
Why is no mold licence named in this guide?
Because this site has not sourced a Louisiana licence category or board for mold or water damage work. A guide that named one without a source would be asserting something that cannot be checked here. The honest course is to ask each company in writing what certification, registration or licence, if any, applies.
Ask the company to name the document and the body that issued it, and to show you a copy. Check the number with the issuing body using the contact details it publishes, if the company gives you one.
Certifications that a company holds in a trade association or a training programme are not the same as a state licence. Ask which one the company is relying on, and what it covers.
A company's professional membership or training is useful information, but it is not the same as a licence or registration issued by the state. Ask the company which it is relying on, and ask what the training covers, in writing.
Can mold be cleaned, or does it have to be removed?
Growth on hard surfaces can often be cleaned and dried in place, once the moisture is stopped and the readings show the moisture has not reached the material behind. Growth inside a wall, in soaked insulation or through porous material usually has to be removed.
The difference is in the material. A tile floor with surface growth is a different case from drywall with growth through the paper. The crew should explain which material it is treating and why.
Removal is planned from the readings, and each opening is kept as small as the readings allow. The removed material is recorded, and the list goes into the scope and the claim file.
Ask the crew which materials it intends to keep, which it will clean and which it will remove, and ask for the reason for each. A list that gives a reason for every decision is far easier to check than a list that gives only the outcome.
Does the drying log protect me?
A drying log shows what moisture was found, where, how it was reduced and when the structure reached the dry goal. It is the record that shows the area was dry before it was closed, and it is what a repair contractor and an insurer will ask for.
Ask the crew to keep the log at each visit and to give you a copy. A log kept in date order with the same measuring points is much easier to use than one written up later.
If the log shows that moisture remained when the wall was closed, the problem may come back. Ask the crew to confirm in writing that the readings were at the dry goal when the closing work began.
The log is also the record an insurer may ask to see when it is deciding a claim. Keep it in the same folder as the scope and the photographs, so the three can be read together in date order.
Ask the crew to state, in the log, the moisture method it used and the reading that counts as dry for each material. A reading with no stated method cannot be compared with the next one, and that comparison is what the log is for.
What does the insurance policy say about mold?
Policies differ, and this guide does not describe a standard form. Many policies treat mold differently from the water that caused it, so read the mold section and the water section together, and ask the insurer to explain them in writing.
Keep the photographs, the drying log, the scope and the timeline with the claim file. They show when the water entered, when it was dried and what was found.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance is the complaint route for claim questions. This guide does not describe its procedures, deadlines or limits.
When is an area ready to be closed up?
An area is ready when the readings in the affected materials and framing have reached the dry goal, the removals in the scope have been carried out, and the written scope has been checked against the work. Closing it earlier can seal in growth that is still active.
Ask the contractor to confirm in writing that the scope was completed. Compare the final readings with the dry goal in the scope, and keep both with the repair contract.
A health question, such as breathing trouble or an allergy that starts in the affected room, belongs with a doctor. This guide does not give medical advice.
Confirm in writing that the scope was completed as described and that no area was left out. A closing-up that starts before that confirmation makes it hard to show later what was done and when.
Frequently asked questions
Is mold after a flood always a health risk?
This guide cannot say that for any one person. Growth can cause allergy and breathing problems in some people. If someone has symptoms that begin in the affected room, speak to a doctor, and keep that person out of the area until it has been checked.
Can I use bleach on mold?
Do not mix bleach with other cleaners, and do not rely on bleach to clean porous material. Surface cleaning does not remove moisture, and it can leave growth in the material behind. Ask the contractor what cleaning method it proposes and why.
How do I know the mold is gone?
The readings show whether the moisture is gone, and a written scope shows what was removed and cleaned. A visual check alone does not show that growth has stopped, so ask for the final readings and the scope in writing.
Should I test for mold myself?
Home test kits do not replace a moisture reading or a scope. This guide does not recommend a particular test. Ask the contractor what it measures and how, and keep the results with the file.
What should I do if the mold comes back?
Tell the contractor in writing and ask for a review. A return usually means the moisture was not fully removed or the entry route was not closed. Ask for the readings from the original work and for an explanation of the cause.
Who answers permit questions for mold repair?
The Bossier Parish and City of Bossier City permit offices answer repair-permit questions for their own jurisdictions. This guide has not checked their fees or requirements, so confirm them with the office before any structural work starts.
Should I stay in the house while mold is being removed?
This guide cannot make that decision for you. Ask the contractor whether the work will involve containment and whether the rooms you use will be affected. Keep children and anyone with breathing problems away from the work area.
What should I do if I smell mold after the work is finished?
Note the place and the date, photograph the area and tell the contractor in writing. Do not open the area yourself. Ask for a return visit and readings, and ask what caused the smell.
This guide is general information for Bossier Parish homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.