Who do I call if I want to check for possible mold or water damage in basement? (Home Depot)

[d_vader123]

Just like the title says...TIA.

[new_to_jersey]

if mold is in limited space then you can get sprays sold in home depot which will make it go away .
also other alternative is outdoor bleach sold in stores.

[d_vader123]

The problem is that the water was coming from behind a drywall. I don't know if there is any mold at all, and because it's behind a wall, I can't exactly spray directly on it.

I'm looking to get an expert who can check to see if mold exists without breaking down my wall.

Who is a person I should be calling for this? Sorry for the dumb question.

[Badfish740]

Originally Posted by d_vader123

The problem is that the water was coming from behind a drywall. I don't know if there is any mold at all, and because it's behind a wall, I can't exactly spray directly on it.

I'm looking to get an expert who can check to see if mold exists without breaking down my wall.

Who is a person I should be calling for this? Sorry for the dumb question.

Since there's no such thing as a magic mold X-ray machine whoever you call will either have to tear out the drywall themselves, or maybe use the kind of camera that a plumber would use pipe inspection. Either way it's going to cost way more than just tearing the wall out and redoing it. If you had water coming into your basement from behind a framed wall covered with drywall, if there's not already mold there, there will be. There's no getting around it. Not to mention the fact that if you've got groundwater seeping in you'll need to take out the wall to address the problem anyway. Do you have perimeter drains and sump pumps? If not you either need to get them installed or tear out all of the finish work.

Taken from the thread http://www.city-data.com/forum/40800911-post5.html

Originally Posted by d_vader123

Just curious, but can't you just get the permit now. You can say that you'll do the work when in reality it is already done.

Far be it from me to recommend anyone get permits to do anything because they're nothing more than a cash cow for the towns, but if you're going to make improvements to your home, know what you're doing and do it correctly

[HalfFull]

Originally Posted by d_vader123

The problem is that the water was coming from behind a drywall. I don't know if there is any mold at all, and because it's behind a wall, I can't exactly spray directly on it.

I'm looking to get an expert who can check to see if mold exists without breaking down my wall.

Who is a person I should be calling for this? Sorry for the dumb question.

So you know that there was some sort of flooding? The best course is to replace drywall sections from the floor to a level about a foot above the height of the floodwater.

[d_vader123]

I wouldn't describe the water coming out behind the wall as flooding, but I noticed water coming out from behind the wall onto the floor. Just a little bit of it. I wanted to address this now instead of later when it can become a bigger issue.

I do have perimeter drains, but they do not run along that wall, as far as I know. If they exist then I can't see them because of the wall. There is a gap from the floor to the bottom of the drywall in question. The water came out from there.

So do I contact a plumber for this problem? I just thought there would be a mold or basement flooding specialist.

Thanks!

[Badfish740]

Originally Posted by d_vader123

I wouldn't describe the water coming out behind the wall as flooding, but I noticed water coming out from behind the wall onto the floor. Just a little bit of it. I do have perimeter drains, but they do not run along that wall, as far as I know. If they exist then I can't see them because of the wall. There is a gap from the floor to the bottom of the drywall in question. The water came out from there. So do I contact a plumber for this problem? I just thought there would be a mold or basement flooding specialist.

Water and building materials other than masonry don't mix. When wood, drywall, and insulation get wet they become a perfect breeding ground for mold. This is why you cannot finish a basement unless the basement is dry. You should never have water coming into your basement-this is indicative of a problem either with the drainage system, the outer waterproofing, or both. There are companies that specialize in basement waterproofing, but they're going to tell you that you need to tear out the wall, find the problem, fix it, and redo everything. At this point my advice would be to call a waterproofing specialist, but be prepared for a big job ahead. You don't need a plumber.

[d_vader123]

Ok. Thank you.