People have been fighting mold for centuries, and unfortunately, they haven’t been overly successful in doing so. Mold abatement is a complicated process that is best left to those trained to remove it. The following information is to provide some aspects of how mold may be addressed.
When speaking of mold, there are generally two separate issues that are important. Mold abatement is the process of killing the mold and stopping its spread, but the second part is just as important, which is that of removal. Even dead mold can be a problem and cause allergic symptoms in many people. Even when mold spores are dead, they will not go away on their own.
Bleach has long been one of the primary weapons in mold abatement because it will kill almost any type of mold that it touches. It not only kills the mold growth, it destroys the spores so they can’t start more mold outbreaks. As long as some amount of the chlorine remains on the surface, there is no opportunity for other mold spores to attach themselves and start another infestation.
Chlorine based products have long been used in bathrooms for cleaning mold on tile and other hard surfaces, but it is limited in its scope. Porous grout between tiles is one area where chlorine does little good because it cannot penetrate down into the depths where the mold is. Additionally, chlorine doesn’t do well in mold abatement in wood and drywall. The chlorine stops at the surface, and only the water in a chlorine mixture penetrates into wood and other porous materials. The water actually aids the embedded mold to grow more.
When the only mold abatement that is achieved is on the surface, the mold will return as soon as the chlorine has evaporated.
Cleaning hard surfaces, it is recommended that chlorine be mixed in a one cup bleach to one gallon of water ratio, and other cleansers should not be mixed in with the chlorine, especially not ammonia. One of the best ways to broadcast the bleach is with a spray bottle, and if it can remain on the surface rather than be washed off, it will handle mold abatement for a longer period.
Chlorine is a dangerous product to use if it is not handled safely. The fumes from chlorine can damage the lungs if exposure is extensive, and chlorine is damaging to the skin. Only use chlorine in well ventilated areas and wear the proper protection for eyes and skin. Professional cleanup crews often use chlorine for mold abatement in water damage Colorado.
Chlorine and other ingredients called biocides should only be used in the capacity where they will be the most effective and safest to people. Biocides destroy living things, and they can just as well harm other things in the process of mold abatement.
While chlorine is a great way to practice mold abatement on hard surfaces, it is not a product that should be used ongoing due to the dangers inherent with it. It is never possible to kill all the mold spores, and there are so many spores in the air that opportunity is all they need to expand.
If you have mold growing out of control, don’t take a chance with harsh chemicals and experiment with your health. Call Dry Pro for quick and thorough mold abatement and mold remediation. We cover the counties of Grand, Summit, and Routt, as well as the city of Denver. Mold is dangerous for you and your family; get help from someone who takes your family’s health seriously. Call Dry Pro.
Anytime there is an incidence of this fungus it is time for black mold abatement, but it is not always obvious as to when it has become a full-blown problem. Mold can hide for long periods before it is visible to the eye, and by then it has become so attached that removal is difficult. The earlier black mold detection and remediation takes place, the better for you and your family.
A primary cause of mold growth is water damage. Water infiltration in the home leads to the establishment of black mold, a greenish-black substance that is known scientifically as Strachybotrys chartarum or Strachybotrys atra. The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has linked black mold to asthma and bronchitis as well as the death of infants who had respiratory bleeding.
Black mold abatement is best done in its early stages, when the danger is minimal. Recognizing the situations that can lead to mold may help you in its prevention.
1. The primary condition needed for mold spores to reproduce is high humidity. If humidity is high outside the home, it is high on the inside also unless measures are taken to dehumidify potential “at risk” areas. Artificially produced high humidity comes from water leaks within an enclosed area. If the humidity is more than 55%, mold will grow rapidly, and humidity can vary from one room to another and be affected by heating and air conditioning.
2. Basements and crawl spaces that have little ventilation are often the starting points for mold and the first place mold abatement needs to be performed. One of the green initiatives concerning crawl spaces is to seal them up completely. For this not to be a mold haven, no water infiltration can be allowed and the humidity must be controlled.
To carry out mold abatement, you must know that the mold is there. Some of the ways that black mold becomes evident has little to do with seeing. These include:
1. Musty smell – Once you’ve become accustomed to the fumes of mold, you will be able to identify them if you pay attention. Someone who lives in a space for much of the time might not be as aware of mold odor as an outsider. When the air conditioning is turned on, the smell may become more noticeable.
2. Continuing allergy and sinus problems, especially for more than one person, are good indicators that mold abatement is necessary. As a matter of fact, the Mayo Clinic determined that almost every case of chronic sinus infection is a direct result of mold. The 37 million Americans who have this problem is an indicator of how widespread the mold problem is.
3. Because water is the key to mold spreading, mold abatement is often necessary when paint begins to peel or crack because of water behind it. Drywall tape begins to pucker on the walls, and dampness appears in unusual places.
If you have need of mold abatement or just need to have water extracted after a leak or flood, the experts at Dry Pro offer 24/7 emergency response service in Routt, Summit, and Grand counties, as well as other surrounding areas. Dry Pro also performs air quality testing, water damage removal, fire damage restoration, and many other professional services.
Mold is all around us; in the woods, on the lawn, in flowerbeds, and unfortunately, in our homes and businesses. While mold and mildew are of little consequence to most people when they are outdoors, inside there is a real threat of mold destruction when it is allowed to grow unchecked. Are you allowing mold to infiltrate your home?
Some living organisms have to be pampered to grow and mature, but mold doesn’t require much encouragement whatsoever. Given humid conditions above 70% and temperatures above 65 F, mold is content to thrive and multiply, feeding itself on whatever is available, such as furniture, wallboard, or carpet. Mold destruction occurs during the spread of the fungus.
Mold is necessary for the breakdown of dead animal and plant matter, but it can also break down other things. When water damage in Denver occurs, mold usually follows shortly after.
It is impossible to keep mold out of a home if the conditions are right for it to thrive there. Mold begins with tiny spores, and it will find its way to an ideal indoor living condition on the fur of cats and dogs, through an open door or window, on the soles of shoes, and even through the compressor of a central air conditioning unit. Once it finds its way in, it can be very difficult to remove.
Much the same as mold breaks down fruit and causes it to rot, it can destroy wood and paper, too. A sign of mold destruction is the smell that permeates anything it has become well attached to.
While mold can be successfully removed from some surfaces, it is difficult to remove from some porous items. Many times it is often more expeditious to throw mold infested items away rather than attempt to clean them.
The length of time the materials are exposed to mold conditions has a bearing on the extent of the damage, so early detection is important to prevent costly repair and replacement of structural items in the home.
Mold prefers closed in and damp spaces. The musty smell in areas that have been closed up for long durations such as basements is the result of mold growth. Kitchens and bathrooms are humid and moist enough to attract mold spores as well, but the worst mold situations are those where water is penetrating into a home through a leaky roof, a plumbing or foundation leak, or from moisture beneath the home.
Any intrusion of water that is not stopped promptly eventually leads to fungus growth and mold destruction.
Areas that do not have proper ventilation are prime candidates for mold growth. Basements may not have much air circulation because of the lack of windows, so it is important to circulate the air periodically. Dehumidifiers may be necessary in some conditions where basements leak or moisture is a problem.
Stopping water infiltration into the home is imperative before mold gets a strong foothold and mold destruction begins. Drying up the wet areas and stopping leaks often requires a professional water damage and mold removal expert.
If you have water damage or suspect the presence of mold in your home or business, get in touch with Denver, Colorado based Drypro Emergency Water Removal before further damage is done. The professional team at Drypro is prepared to make your home or business a safer place; call us anytime, day or night; courteous customer service staff members are standing by to assist.
For even the experienced buyer, purchasing a home, commercial building, or apartment can be a very risky business. Disclosure laws maintain that the seller must be truthful, to the best of his or her knowledge, about anything pertaining to the real estate sold. It is important to ask the right questions before signing your name on the bottom line.
Existing mold is not just prevalent in buildings that are resold. Many new or relatively new buildings already have some existing mold to contend with, so it is always a question to ask. It is also good to ask other questions that will have some bearing on present or future mold problems.
There are many variations in construction techniques from builder to builder and even between one location of the country and another. This is not to say that a certain practice is wrong, just that some are more conducive to keeping mold out. If there is no existing mold to contend with, there might be a better than average possibility that it will occur because of conditions in a building.
Asking about mold-resistant drywall in the areas of a building where water is present will give some indication of whether a structure was built to withstand future mold outbreaks. It is not a new product, but it does cost a little more so many builders don’t use it.
One primary question you should ask concerns the HVAC installation. The use of fiberglass is widely practiced for insulating duct work, and it has been acceptable by building code for a very long time. The problem with fiberglass is that it offers a good place for mold to start. If existing mold is not a problem in the duct work when you buy a building, with fiberglass, it is almost assured that mold will form within 10 years after construction is completed.
Closed cell foam insulation is a much better insulator, although more expensive. It not only stays cleaner and insulates better, it is very resistant to mold. Many of the building contractors in Summit, Grand and Routt Counties in Colorado use CCF insulation for those reasons.
Before buying a building that is not new, always ask if it has ever been flooded. Existing mold, whether obvious or not, is often prevalent if water has remained in a building for twenty-four hours or longer. Questioning any known leaks, whether current or in the past, will be a good indication if there is any existing mold in a building. Leaks from rain, seepage, or plumbing all may render the same result.
Even though sellers are obligated to tell you anything about a property, they don’t usually offer information when you don’t ask all the questions you should. Omission is a difficult fact to prove after a sale is made. You should always make a visual inspection of a property you consider buying anyway, and doing so with the intent of finding telltale signs of existing mold or the conditions for future mold is just another part of that exercise.
Specific things to notice are around the foundations to see that water does not stand or run under the building. If a basement is part of the building, not only do you need to look, you need to smell for odors that come with mold. Looking at all the ceilings will give an indication if a past leak may have led to the start of mold.
If you have questions about mold on a property before or after your purchase in the counties of Routt, Grand, and Summit, give Dry Pro a call for assistance. We service the tri-county area and the city of Denver, taking water removal and mold remediation very seriously. When you need help with mold in Colorado, Dry Pro is who to call.