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24 Hrs - 7 Days/Week
A Mississauga homeowner called Mold Remediation By FloodTech Mold in early spring after noticing dark staining on the underside of roof sheathing boards visible through the attic hatch. Two consecutive Toronto winters with severe ice dam formation had been channelling meltwater under the roof shingles, slowly saturating the entire attic roof deck and triggering widespread mold colonization across all the wood sheathing and rafters.
The Problem
Two consecutive Greater Toronto Area winters with significant ice dam formation had allowed meltwater to infiltrate the attic of this Mississauga home every time temperatures fluctuated above and below freezing. The meltwater had been absorbed by the OSB roof sheathing boards for months at a time before drying, gradually saturating the wood to the point where mold colonization became inevitable. By the time the homeowner noticed the dark staining visible through the attic hatch, mold had spread across the full underside of the roof deck covering approximately 900 square feet — all rafters, all sheathing boards, and the top plates of all exterior walls in the attic space.
Why It Happened
Ice dams are one of the leading causes of attic mold removal calls Mold Remediation By FloodTech Mold receives throughout Mississauga and the Greater Toronto Area. They form when heat escaping from poorly insulated living spaces warms the upper portion of the roof, melting snow that then runs down to the colder eaves where it refreezes into an ice dam. The trapped meltwater has nowhere to go except backwards under the roof shingles, where it seeps through the roof deck and into the attic insulation and sheathing below. In this Mississauga property, an improperly insulated attic hatch and a bathroom exhaust fan discharging warm moist air directly into the attic space were the two primary contributing factors to both the ice dam formation and the elevated attic humidity that accelerated mold growth.
Our Attic Mold Removal Process
01
Attic Mold Inspection
Mold Remediation By FloodTech Mold performed a full attic mold inspection using thermal imaging, moisture meters, and visual assessment to map the complete extent of the attic mold contamination and identify all moisture pathways including the faulty exhaust fan and insulation deficiency.
02
Attic Mold Removal Containment
Containment was established at the attic hatch opening to prevent attic mold spores from migrating into the living spaces below during dry ice blasting and mold removal operations. Negative air pressure was maintained throughout the attic mold removal project.
03
Dry Ice Blasting — Attic Mold Removal
Mold Remediation By FloodTech Mold's attic mold removal team used industrial dry ice blasting to remove all mold from the OSB roof sheathing, rafters, and framing throughout the 900 square foot attic space. Dry ice blasting is the most effective attic mold removal method for rough-sawn lumber — it removes mold completely without water, eliminating secondary moisture risk during the attic mold removal process.
04
Attic Insulation Removal
All mold-contaminated blown-in attic insulation was removed and disposed of. HEPA vacuuming of all attic surfaces was performed before antimicrobial treatment and new insulation installation.
05
Encapsulant Application
A professional-grade mold-resistant encapsulant was applied to all attic mold removal treated wood surfaces, providing a long-term protective barrier that prevents future mold colonization of the Mississauga attic sheathing and framing.
06
Ventilation Correction and Clearance Testing
The bathroom exhaust fan was rerouted to discharge directly outside the Mississauga home. New attic baffles were installed to improve soffit-to-ridge ventilation. Post-clearance air quality mold testing confirmed laboratory-verified attic mold removal success.
Prevention
