Soda blasting is a way to remove mold stains and save money.  Soda blasting is used when you have a moldy area that people frequent often and you would like to make it look new again.  It will leave the contaminated surface looking new again without having to gut out the entire area and rebuild. Soda blasting is a non-toxic process involving baking soda and air. It will not produce any fumes or harmful byproducts when used in mold remediation. The alternatives to soda blasting are: dry ice blasting, total demo and rebuilding, or encapsulation. In accordance with NAMRI guidelines soda blasting and dry ice blasting are the most effective methods when it comes to mold remediation. Dry ice blasting is more expensive. Soda blasting is by far the most cost effective method to remediate and also the safest when compared with encapsulators.  Some encapsulators have harmful effects when breathed in by the people in the house.  Mold can also feed on encapsulators and continue to grow unseen.

The media blasting process is more cost effective and less time consuming than extensive demolition. Most importantly, the final result is a cleanup which has successfully removed the problem mold in order to provide a mold-safe indoor environment.
By contrast with common remediation methods that which hand clean and seal the framing and sub-floor, leaving everything white or shiny with paint, the soda-blasting process leaves a fresh, clear wood surface.  One would never know that there was a previous fire or mold problem. The contamination has been removed.*

For more information on soda blasting and whether it’s right for you, call GPS for a free consultation. (618) 490-1205

*Quoted information on this page accessed on 2/19/2012 from http://www.armex.com/CaseStudies/casestudy0205.aspx
Dennis Melandro is an ASCR certified restorer, MEHRC mold supervisor, IAQA certified mold remediator and an expert in mechanical hygiene for HVAC systems. He founded First Alert Emergency Services and has been servicing the insurance industry for fire, water, smoke and mold remediation for the past 14 years. He can be reached by e-mail to info@firstalertemergency.com or by phone at (800) 924-1119.

Daniel Friedman is an aerobiologist specializing in fungal spore identification. He has worked as a building failures investigator since 1978 and has specialized in indoor mold contamination and fungal spore identification since 1986. His laboratory is in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. His background and credentials are at http://inspectapedia.com/Admin/danbio.htm. He can be reached by e-mail at dfriedman@inspect-ny.com and by phone at (845) 463-0092. Reprinted with permission from the JUNE 2003 edition of Indoor Environment Connections newspaper. For subscription information, visit www.ieconnections.com.