Bathroom Remodeling After Mold Damage

1/3/2020 (Permalink)

When mold infests a San Antonio home, the damage and the restoration costs can vary widely. If caught quickly after the mold begins growing, both are minor, and the emphasis stays on cleaning and removing mold from surfaces. If the mold has had months to grow unnoticed, then the focus can shift to removal and replacement of affected property, both personal and structural.

When this happens, San Antonio homeowners have a unique opportunity for remodeling their homes, especially the bathroom. SERVPRO technicians can remove the tiles, shower, bathtub, and other bath items, and replace them at the direction of the homeowner.

Mold rarely penetrates tile surfaces, but it does grow into the grout material that seals the tiles in place. The same material also forms a seal between pieces of a shower or bathtub unit, keeping water from leaking or seeping in behind them and causing further damage from wood rot. SERVPRO restoration teams train to remove the grout and tiles carefully.

If mold has grown into the walls behind the tile, our teams can remove and replace those as well. After removing the affected drywall, specialists spray the framing behind them and the surrounding area with an anti-fungal agent to make certain no live mold spores are still present.

Before installing the new panels, the teams use a combination of air movers and fans to increase circulation and dry out the bathroom to reduce the chance of mold growing again. If the interior humidity is very high, they augment these devices with a dehumidifier to draw water from the surrounding air.

With a new wall, it is a perfect time to replace the tiles, or even replace the entire bathtub and shower area with a one- or two-piece, drop-in unit. Technicians can make many of these changes at the homeowner’s discretion, but for very expensive replacement items, the team leader always recommends using the manufacturer’s installation team to set and seal them in place.

A mold infestation is something no homeowner wants to happen in their residence. Cleaning and replacing affected property can be an opportunity to upgrade the home, however. If this is your situation, call SERVPRO of Universal City / St. Hedwig at (210) 610-6800 today to begin restoration.