I Have Mold in My Home. What Do I Do Now?

Discovering mold in your home can be unsettling. The first question most homeowners ask is, “Who do I call to get rid of it?”

But there is a more important question to answer first:

Why is the mold there in the first place?

Mold growth is often a symptom of an underlying moisture problem. Until that moisture problem is identified and corrected, simply removing the mold may not solve the problem.

At Graystone Restoration, we believe that when a homeowner discovers mold, they don’t just have a “mold problem.” They have a restoration project.

And restoration projects often require several different professionals working together.

That’s where a Restoration General Contractor can make a significant difference.

Two Things Every Homeowner Should Know About Mold

1. Mold is usually a symptom of a moisture problem

Mold spores are naturally present in our environment. They become a problem when conditions allow them to grow.

Excess moisture in a home can come from many sources, including:

• Plumbing leaks

• Water intrusion from the exterior

• Roof leaks

• High indoor humidity

• HVAC-related moisture

• Hidden leaks inside walls or beneath floors

• Other building-envelope or water-intrusion problems

Finding and correcting the source of the moisture is an important first step in addressing a mold problem.

Some moisture problems are easy to identify. Others can be much more difficult to locate, particularly when moisture is coming from behind walls, beneath a slab, or through the exterior of the home.

Depending on the source, resolving the problem may require a plumber, HVAC contractor, roofer, leak-detection professional, or general contractor.

The goal isn’t simply to remove the mold. The goal is to address the conditions that allowed it to grow.

2. Mold remediation is only one part of the restoration process

Another common misconception is that once the mold has been remediated, the project is finished.

Often, it isn’t.

A mold remediation contractor may need to remove contaminated drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinetry, or other building materials as part of the remediation process. The remediation contractor’s job is to perform the work called for in the mold remediation protocol.

But after those materials are removed, someone still has to put the house back together.

That’s the reconstruction or “build-back” portion of the project.

And this is where Graystone Restoration comes in.

Think of Graystone as the Quarterback of Your Restoration Project

Graystone Restoration no longer performs mold remediation. Instead, we focus on the repair and reconstruction of homes after property damage.

However, our experience in the restoration industry—including our experience as licensed mold professionals—allows us to understand how the different pieces of a mold-related restoration project fit together.

When a homeowner contacts us about a mold problem, we can help them understand the process and, when appropriate, introduce them to trusted professionals who can perform the necessary mold assessment and remediation.

The homeowner contracts directly with those professionals.

Graystone’s role is to help quarterback the overall restoration process and handle the reconstruction.

That distinction is important.

You may have several professionals involved in your project:

The Mold Assessor

A licensed mold assessor or qualified industrial hygienist can inspect the property, evaluate the situation, perform appropriate testing, and develop a scope of work or protocol for remediation.

The protocol serves as the roadmap for the remediation contractor.

The Mold Remediation Contractor

The licensed mold remediation contractor performs the work outlined in the remediation protocol.

Depending on the situation, that may include containment, removal of affected materials, cleaning, and other remediation procedures.

The Restoration General Contractor

This is where Graystone Restoration comes in.

Once the remediation work is complete, the home may need significant reconstruction. Drywall may need to be replaced. Flooring may need to be installed. Cabinets, trim, doors, paint, insulation, or other finishes may need to be restored.

That’s a construction project—and that’s our specialty.

You Shouldn’t Have to Become Your Own General Contractor

When homeowners discover mold, they can quickly find themselves trying to coordinate multiple companies while also dealing with the disruption to their home.

Who should come first?

Has the moisture problem been corrected?

Who determines what needs to be removed?

Who performs the mold assessment?

Who performs the remediation?

When can reconstruction begin?

Who puts everything back together?

These are reasonable questions, especially because most homeowners have never dealt with a mold problem before.

You shouldn’t have to become an expert in mold assessment, remediation, construction, and restoration just because your home has a moisture problem.

That’s why Graystone approaches mold-related projects as restoration projects—not simply mold projects.

A Better Way to Approach a Mold Problem

Our goal is to help homeowners navigate the process from the initial discovery through the completed restoration.

That may involve:

1. Identifying the moisture problem

The first step is understanding what is allowing the mold to grow and determining what needs to be done to address the underlying moisture issue.

2. Connecting you with the right professionals

If a mold assessment or remediation is needed, Graystone can help connect you with qualified professionals who can perform those services.

3. Completing the remediation

The remediation contractor performs the work outlined in the assessment or protocol.

4. Rebuilding your home

Once remediation is complete and the project is ready for reconstruction, Graystone Restoration can handle the build-back.

Our goal is to make the transition between each phase as smooth as possible.

When You Have Mold, Think Restoration

Mold can be an intimidating problem. But homeowners don’t necessarily need to figure everything out themselves.

The most important thing is to have the right professionals involved at the right time—and to have someone who understands how those pieces fit together.

At Graystone Restoration, we bring years of restoration experience to the construction side of the process. We can help homeowners understand what comes next, introduce them to trusted mold professionals when appropriate, and then take responsibility for putting the home back together.

You don’t just need someone to remove the mold. You need a plan for restoring your home.

If you’ve discovered mold in your Tampa Bay home and aren’t sure what to do next, contact Graystone Restoration. We’ll help you understand the process, connect you with the appropriate professionals, and, when the remediation is complete, help restore your home.

Graystone Restoration

Restoring Lives, One Home at a Time.