Mold 101: How to Spot it and What to Do

8/30/2017 (Permalink)

Mold 101: How to Spot it and What to Do

No building is immune to mold growth. Any event that causes moisture to infiltrate the structure could very likely spur mold growth because the microscopic spores of mold are present throughout indoor and outdoor environments. A flood, broken pipe, roof leak, or prolonged exposure to moisture such as in a bathroom without good ventilation could create an environment where mildew and fungus can grow, reproduce, and inflict dry rot on the structure.

Unless a person notices a flood or leak, moisture buildup might go unseen until an abnormal smelly odor arises. The smelly odor comes from the metabolic function of the microorganisms that give off volatile organic compounds. Deodorization alone cannot solve the problem because it would only cover up the smell of mildew and mold growth. A restoration company, however, would use a deodorization process after remediation of the causes of problems like black mold and dry rot. When a smelly odor persists but mold growth cannot be seen, then mold growth behind a wall could be happening. Mold in a home could also occur inside heating and cooling ducts and vents or behind wallpaper.

Visible mold like black mold represents a clear warning sign of mold in the home. Black mold can appear as blotchy and expanding dark areas on drywall, studs, or under carpet. People need to take signs of fungus and smelly odors seriously. Calling a restoration company to do an inspection will inform the home or business owner of the severity of the problem. Technicians trained in mold removal, remediation, and deodorization will have special equipment that can test the microbial nature of the fungus or mildew to determine how to treat it. They will know how to assess both commercial mold damage and mold in homes.

After determining the species of fungus present, a restoration company will begin the mitigation of mold damage by first fixing the moisture problem. This can be as simple as cleaning up water from a flood or obvious leak that has already been fixed. In other cases, an investigation might reveal that poor drainage outside is causing water to seep into a basement or that ventilation needs to be installed. The remediation and structural experts at restoration company will address these needs.

Drying goes hand in hand with water cleanup. A mold removal contractor will have commercial-grade fans and dehumidifiers to dry up the infected areas and stop the spread of mildew and mold damage. Drying alone will not suffice to fix contaminated materials like carpet or drywall. The mitigation process will require removal and replacement, especially of wood that has experienced dry rot. Structural elements that cannot come out will be deeply cleaned and mitigation treatments will be applied to stop new problems. These efforts will achieve deodorization of the smell caused by commercial mold damage or mold in the home.

Mold removal professionals have the resources to begin mitigation efforts as soon as possible unlike a property owner who has many other daily responsibilities. Specialists from restoration companies have the skill set to identify residential or commercial mold damage, mold growth behind walls, and black mold. They have fungicidal products to kill the microorganisms causing mold damage. Their testing equipment will them to locate the reach of mold damage and allow for a remediation crew to remove infected materials.

The rapid cessation of mold growth behind walls or commercial mold damage is important because the days that go by without mold removal mean that the problem will spread. With the services of a restoration company, a homeowner or business person will gain the support necessary to find mold growth behind walls, dry rot, moisture penetration, and unpleasant odors that limit the usability of a space.
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