How Fast Does Mould Grow After Water Damage?

When a tornado ripped through the mall, its powerful winds and rain wreaked havoc in minutes, ripping gaping holes and funneling torrential rain inside. About 80 percent of the interior was wet. Paul Davis leapt into action, rapidly deploying a large team armed with desiccants, powerful air movers and other advanced drying technologies. Why so quickly?

“Mould begins growing within 24 to 48 hours of flooding,” says Mickey McHenry, President of Paul Davis of South Atlanta. “Arresting mould before it becomes established is very, very important. Preventing future growth is just as important.”

For large commercial structures, water mitigation specialists provide six important benefits over building maintenance crews or general contractors.

  1. Water mitigation experts Identify areas at risk for mould. Mould infiltrates many unseen areas that are difficult to access, such as ductwork; heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems; roofing materials; wall sheathing; crawlspaces; and the undersides of flooring. Experts have the tools and expertise to inspect and treat these areas. 
  1. Water mitigation experts resolve sources of moisture. Water mitigation experts have a keen understanding of how water flows, how different materials absorb or resist water, and how building designs channel moisture. These skills help prevent continuing issues with dampness after restoration concludes. “I can’t tell you how many jobs we’ve redone that weren’t completed correctly because previous contractors didn’t have enough relevant experience,” McHenry says.  
  1. Water mitigation experts work well with partners. On any large commercial water damage project, many partners are involved: insurance carriers, multiple tenants, management companies and construction contractors, to name a few. Experienced professionals like Paul Davis understand how water mitigation efforts fit into overall reconstruction plans and schedules.
  1. Water mitigation experts understand commercial priorities. In the mall job detailed above, the management firm wanted the mall to reopen as soon as possible to keep tenants, employees and the community happy. Experts like Paul Davis have the resources, personnel and experience to fulfill tight deadlines on large projects. The mall reopened two weeks after the tornado.
  1. Water mitigation experts deploy the workforce to quickly manage mould risks. For the mall job, Paul Davis deployed five managers and more than 50 technicians to rapidly treat large areas in one intense and coordinated push. This large effort helped reduce mould growth and manage future mould risks.
  1. Water mitigation experts deploy specialized equipment and techniques. Experts have access to and skills to deploy sophisticated tools and approaches. These include but aren’t limited to large area isolation, air management, thermal imaging, moisture mapping, moisture meters and advanced cleaning and disinfecting agents. 

“With the possible exception of specially built industrial clean rooms, mould spores exist everywhere,” McHenry says, noting that Paul Davis teams are very knowledgeable about the many, many mould types that threaten indoor environments. “If your structure is flooded, mould is always a concern. Always. Fortunately, Paul Davis understands that completely and knows exactly what to do.”

How Fast Does Mould Grow After Water Damage?

When a tornado ripped through the mall, its powerful winds and rain wreaked havoc in minutes, ripping gaping holes and funneling torrential rain inside. About 80 percent of the interior was wet. Paul Davis leapt into action, rapidly deploying a large team armed with desiccants, powerful air movers and other advanced drying technologies. Why so quickly?

“Mould begins growing within 24 to 48 hours of flooding,” says Mickey McHenry, President of Paul Davis of South Atlanta. “Arresting mould before it becomes established is very, very important. Preventing future growth is just as important.”

For large commercial structures, water mitigation specialists provide six important benefits over building maintenance crews or general contractors.

  1. Water mitigation experts Identify areas at risk for mould. Mould infiltrates many unseen areas that are difficult to access, such as ductwork; heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems; roofing materials; wall sheathing; crawlspaces; and the undersides of flooring. Experts have the tools and expertise to inspect and treat these areas. 
  1. Water mitigation experts resolve sources of moisture. Water mitigation experts have a keen understanding of how water flows, how different materials absorb or resist water, and how building designs channel moisture. These skills help prevent continuing issues with dampness after restoration concludes. “I can’t tell you how many jobs we’ve redone that weren’t completed correctly because previous contractors didn’t have enough relevant experience,” McHenry says.  
  1. Water mitigation experts work well with partners. On any large commercial water damage project, many partners are involved: insurance carriers, multiple tenants, management companies and construction contractors, to name a few. Experienced professionals like Paul Davis understand how water mitigation efforts fit into overall reconstruction plans and schedules.
  1. Water mitigation experts understand commercial priorities. In the mall job detailed above, the management firm wanted the mall to reopen as soon as possible to keep tenants, employees and the community happy. Experts like Paul Davis have the resources, personnel and experience to fulfill tight deadlines on large projects. The mall reopened two weeks after the tornado.
  1. Water mitigation experts deploy the workforce to quickly manage mould risks. For the mall job, Paul Davis deployed five managers and more than 50 technicians to rapidly treat large areas in one intense and coordinated push. This large effort helped reduce mould growth and manage future mould risks.
  1. Water mitigation experts deploy specialized equipment and techniques. Experts have access to and skills to deploy sophisticated tools and approaches. These include but aren’t limited to large area isolation, air management, thermal imaging, moisture mapping, moisture meters and advanced cleaning and disinfecting agents. 

“With the possible exception of specially built industrial clean rooms, mould spores exist everywhere,” McHenry says, noting that Paul Davis teams are very knowledgeable about the many, many mould types that threaten indoor environments. “If your structure is flooded, mould is always a concern. Always. Fortunately, Paul Davis understands that completely and knows exactly what to do.”