Along with a pest infestation, mold growth inside your home is one of the worst things you can experience as a homeowner. After mold growth, you need to clean up and safely remove any mold-damaged items and keep the space free of mold spores that can get into the air of your home. Here are some strategies you can use when you experience a mold problem in your basement to remedy it and prevent future problems.

Clean Up Mold Problem

When you have mold in your basement, it might be growing in a crawlspace, along the floorboards, or even on the wall behind your washer and dryer. It is important that you remove all damaged materials and clean off non-porous surfaces to restore your home interior to a mold-free area. 

Use the proper clean-up protection, such as gloves, eye protection, and a face mask, while you wipe the mold off surfaces and cut out the damaged areas. Use a bleach and water solution to spray the affected areas down and let it air dry to treat any remaining mold spores. You should hire a professional mold remediation company to deal with mold that is growing over a large space.

Basement Waterproofing

It is also a good idea to waterproof your basement to keep moisture intrusion from the exterior environment out. You can do this by installing a vapor barrier on the interior of your basement's unfinished walls. You may also want to hire a waterproofing service to apply a waterproof barrier onto the concrete walls to seal it from the outside. Other types of waterproofing treatments for your basement include a sump pump to collect and divert a large amount of moisture or a French drain on the outside of your home's foundation base.

Use Mold-Resistant Building Materials

When you have a basement space that has seen mold growth in the past, it is always helpful to install materials that are going to help reduce future mold growth. So when you finish your basement or replace materials after a mold problem, you can look to install moisture- and mold-resistant materials. This includes drywall that has been treated with fiberglass to prevent moisture saturation and mold-resistant wood for framing and other construction in your basement. Be sure you use a mold-resistant type of drywall tape and joint compound to finish up your walls.

Also, look for a moisture- and mold-resistant flooring, such as tile, vinyl, or laminate flooring. And if you want carpet installed in your basement, look for a type of carpet that has been treated with a fungicide and a type of padding that is moisture-resistant. You can find anti-fungal paint to paint on your basement walls to further help with future mold growth prevention.

To learn more, contact a basement mold remediation contractor.