Mold Property Damage

MOLD EVENTUALLY DESTROYS WHATEVER IT COMES INTO CONTACT WITH

Mold does two things: Damages property and makes people sick. Either way, mold is most dangerous when you can't see it. Undetected mold often causes irreversible damage before it is discovered. Mold remediation can become impossible.

The most common mistake people make is to assume that only visible mold is a problem. In vain, they attempt to wash mold with bleach or cover it with paint or wallpaper, only to have it come back worse than before. Bleach does not kill spores.

Covering mold up with new paint, wallpaper, carpet or tile won't solve the problem. It only makes it worse. It may seem like the cheapest way out at the time, but rest assure, unless it's done right the first, you will be paying to do it over again soon. Unless all mold contaminated materials are removed or properly remediated, mold will keep coming back and the problem is compounded each time as mold spreads through inner-walls, crawl spaces, attics and HVAC systems.

The only way to stop mold is to stop what is causing it to begin with. Many indoor mold problems originate outdoors. Porous exterior surfaces such as brick, concrete, stucco and wood are often exposed to water, either by sprinklers, humidity, dew, etc. Concrete slabs are like sponges, sucking water out of the ground and creating damp air space between the floor and the carpet, the perfect environment for mold spore reproduction. The majority of mold problems that result in extensive property damage are the direct result of over watering, inadequate drainage and neglected plumbing leaks.

Control the moisture and you control the mold! Excessive moisture will penetrate exterior walls and concrete slabs and create perfect conditions for mold growth in the dark inner walls between indoors and outdoors. Mold may be hidden in places such as the back side of dry wall, wallpaper, or paneling, the top side of ceiling tiles, the underside of carpets and pads, and even embedded into studs, joists, etc.

Other indoor mold problems originate near areas that are continually exposed to indoor moisture from showers, steam, and condensation. Again, simply cleaning mold off the surface does not correct the problem. If you have you ever scrubbed mold off your shower, only to see it back again soon after you know. Often times, the reason that happens is because the problem is not ON the wall, it’s IN the wall – and it just keeps growing through. The only way to resolve the problem is to:

• Make sure you have stopped the cause, i.e. repaired the damage, dried out salvageable construction materials. Seek advice from a competent and experienced Mold Remediator.
• Make sure you have removed all contaminated materials and if you salvage any materials, such as rafters, stud, joists, plywood sub-flooring, etc., be certain to thoroughly wash off all traces of mold and mildew, treat the materials with an antimicrobial mildewcide (not a fungicide).
• Thoroughly dry all cleaned materials prior to re installing new surface materials, i.e. drywall, plaster, carpet, tile, etc. Professional Mold Remediators do not reapply surface materials over wet structures.
• Take samples of any salvaged materials and have them analyzed for mold by a qualified lab prior to reinstalling new surface materials, i.e. drywall, plaster, carpet, tile, etc. Reputable mold remediation contractors never re-install surface materials without having a Certified Mold Inspector perform clearance tests of previously contaminated areas.

Please note: Mold does not have to be viable (alive) to cause illnesses. Dead mold may still cause allergic reactions in some people.