Burbank Mold Remediation Project
In this Burbank mold remediation project, a musty bathroom smell led us to black mold hidden inside the ceiling above the shower, fed by a pinhole leak in the shower plumbing. We inspected the same day, sealed the area off under negative air, removed the moldy drywall and insulation, treated the framing and rebuilt the ceiling in 7 business days.
RestoKleen has a Burbank office at 409 N Victory Blvd, (818) 433-7800, and our headquarters is at 3600 Foothill Blvd in Glendale. This page is the story of one job. For our full service, see mold remediation in Burbank and our mold remediation across Los Angeles County. If a leak has also soaked floors or walls, see our water damage restoration in Burbank. IICRC certified, EPA certified, CSLB #1047297. We respond within 60 minutes of your call, 24/7. Se habla español.
Photos From the Job
Frames from our on-site video of this Burbank bathroom ceiling mold job
Our Blogs
I highly and happily recommend RestoKleen
- Denise B.
Proudly Serving Los Angeles & Surrounding Cities
Areas We Serve
If you don't see your town listed, give us a call anyway; we may be able to accommodate you.
Case Study: Black Mold Inside a Bathroom Ceiling
For several weeks, a Burbank homeowner had noticed a musty smell in their bathroom. They put it down to shower humidity, a slow drain or poor ventilation, so they cleaned the bathroom, ran the exhaust fan, aired the room out and tried odor eliminators. Nothing worked. The smell got stronger and started to reach the hallway. They searched for mold remediation in Burbank, read our reviews and called us. We inspected the same day.
Project at a Glance
- Location
- A home in Burbank, CA
- Problem area
- The bathroom ceiling, directly above the shower
- First sign
- A musty smell for several weeks that spread into the hallway
- Cause
- A pinhole leak in the shower plumbing, dripping inside the ceiling
- How we found it
- Moisture meters and thermal imaging. The ceiling surface looked normal.
- What was inside
- Black mold through the ceiling cavity: drywall, insulation and framing
- Work done
- Containment under negative air with HEPA air scrubbers, removal of the moldy materials, antimicrobial treatment, HEPA vacuuming, ceiling rebuild
- Response
- Inspection the same day the homeowner called
- Timeline
- 7 business days from inspection to a finished bathroom
- Crew
- IICRC-certified technicians
Inspection: High Moisture Above the Shower
Our IICRC-certified technicians checked the bathroom and the rooms around it with moisture meters and thermal imaging. The ceiling looked normal to the eye, but the readings were high directly above the shower. We photographed and logged every affected area before any work started.
What We Found: Black Mold Inside the Ceiling
When we opened the ceiling, the cavity above the shower was full of black mold. It had gone through the drywall and insulation and onto the framing, across a much bigger area than the smell suggested. The source was a pinhole leak in the shower plumbing that had been dripping inside the ceiling for months. The space above a shower is warm, enclosed and damp, so the mold grew there out of sight.
Containment Before Anything Came Down
Before opening the ceiling further, we sealed the area off with containment barriers under negative air pressure and ran HEPA air scrubbers. That keeps spores from spreading into the hallway and the rest of the house while the work is going on.
Removal, Treatment and HEPA Vacuuming
We removed the moldy drywall, ceiling materials and insulation and double-bagged everything inside containment before it left the house. The exposed framing and joists were treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial, and the whole contained area was HEPA-vacuumed. We took moisture readings across the area before anything was closed up.
Ceiling Rebuilt
We replaced the drywall and insulation, then finished and painted the ceiling, so the bathroom looked the way it did before.
A smell the homeowner couldn't clean away turned out to be black mold spreading inside the ceiling. Cleaning and running the fan never reach mold inside a ceiling, which is why it kept coming back (more on that in why quick cleaning doesn't solve mold problems). If a bathroom smells musty and cleaning doesn't fix it, have the ceiling and walls checked with a moisture meter.
Musty smell in a Burbank bathroom that cleaning won’t fix? Call 833-675-5336 or our Burbank office at 818-433-7800 for a free inspection. ¡Se habla español!
Our Mold Remediation Process
Free Inspection & Moisture Mapping
Every job starts with a free inspection. We use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find wet materials inside ceilings and walls, where mold grows out of sight.
Containment
We seal the work area with plastic barriers under negative air pressure and run HEPA air scrubbers, so spores don't spread to the rest of the home.
Removal
Mold-damaged drywall, ceiling material and insulation are removed and double-bagged inside containment before they leave the house.
Treatment & HEPA Vacuuming
Exposed framing is treated with an EPA-registered antimicrobial, and the contained area is HEPA-vacuumed.
Drying & Restoration
We dry the area until moisture readings are back to normal. Then we replace the drywall and insulation, finish and paint, and the room goes back to how it was.
Call 833-675-5336 or contact us online to book a free mold inspection in Burbank. We’re available 24/7 and respond within 60 minutes of your call.
Continue Reading
Signs of Mold Inside a Bathroom Ceiling
Mold inside a bathroom ceiling usually can’t be seen from below. A small plumbing leak can drip inside a ceiling for months before anyone notices, which is what happened on this Burbank job. Watch for these signs:
- A musty smell that cleaning doesn’t fix. On this Burbank job, the smell was the only early sign, and it spread into the hallway.
- Stains, bubbling or peeling paint on the ceiling. Water sitting in the ceiling cavity often shows up as a faint stain or loose paint, usually after the mold has already started.
- A soft or sagging spot above the shower. Drywall that stays wet loses its strength.
- Allergy or breathing symptoms that ease when you leave the house. Mold can trigger these, especially for children, older adults and people with asthma.
If you notice any of these, call (833) 675-5336 for a free inspection. We check with moisture meters and thermal imaging, so we don’t have to guess.
Why Burbank Chooses Us
We’ve been doing restoration in Los Angeles since 2016, and we have an office right in Burbank. Every job starts with a free inspection and a written estimate. We find what’s feeding the mold, contain the area before we open anything, and remove it. We document the job and work with your adjuster.
A Burbank Office
Our Burbank office is at 409 N Victory Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502. Call it directly at (818) 433-7800, or call our main line at (833) 675-5336.
Free Inspection, Written Estimate
We inspect for free and give you a written estimate before any work begins.
Certified and Licensed
IICRC certified, EPA certified, and a licensed California contractor, CSLB #1047297.
24/7, Se Habla Español
We answer 24/7 and respond within 60 minutes of your call. Se habla español.
Contact Us Today
We’re Ready to Help
A member of our team will be in touch shortly to confirm your contact details or address questions you may have.
Bathroom Ceiling Mold: Common Questions
How can I tell if there's mold inside my bathroom ceiling?
The most common sign is a musty smell that stays no matter how much you clean or run the fan. Other signs are a stain, peeling paint or a soft spot on the ceiling, allergy symptoms you can’t explain, or a past leak above the bathroom. Mold inside the ceiling usually can’t be seen from below. We check with moisture meters and thermal imaging during a free inspection.
What causes mold in the ceiling above a shower?
Moisture that can’t dry out. On this Burbank job it was a pinhole leak in the shower plumbing, dripping inside the ceiling. Steam that the exhaust fan doesn’t clear, or water getting past the tile or fixtures, can do the same. Once the space inside the ceiling stays damp, mold can grow there out of sight.
Can I bleach or paint over a moldy bathroom ceiling?
It won’t solve the problem. Bleach and paint only touch the surface, while the mold grows inside the drywall and insulation. Moldy drywall and insulation have to be removed under containment, and the moisture source has to be fixed, or the mold comes back.
Do you test for mold?
No. We don’t do laboratory mold testing. We inspect, find the moisture that is feeding the mold, and remove it. If you want a lab test, an independent tester can do that before or after our work.
How long does it take to fix mold in a bathroom ceiling?
It depends on how far the mold has spread. The Burbank job on this page took 7 business days from our same-day inspection to a finished bathroom, including the ceiling rebuild. You get a written estimate before any work starts.
Does RestoKleen have an office in Burbank?
Yes. Our Burbank office is at 409 N Victory Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502, phone (818) 433-7800. Our main line, (833) 675-5336, is answered 24/7, and we respond within 60 minutes of your call. Inspections are free, and se habla español.
Find Us Near You
Serving Los Angeles and surrounding communities — available 24/7 for emergency restoration.