What is mold?
We often hear these days about the effects of mold, but what exactly is mold?
Mold is a type of fungi. We eat some of the types of fungi such as mushrooms, and the type of yeast that goes into bread making, even some of the cheeses that we eat and enjoy. There are also some types of mold that can be used in penicillin, a lifesaving drug. These are examples of mold that are considered beneficial to mankind.
Mold is also omnipresent. In other words, airborne mold spores are generally located in all homes and businesses, is located both indoors and outdoors, but remains largely dormant until the right conditions exist for its release and multiplication. As it is light and small, often mold will multiply and spread by water or warm damp areas such as leaky pipes, leaky windows and leaks into the roof cavity. It can spread to a whole range of materials such as timber, concrete, tiles, carpets and plasterboard.
Other types of mold however can be harmful to our health. There are literally hundreds of different kinds of mold found in basements, roofs, bathrooms, and walls.
Some molds are commonly found indoors such as aspergillus, chatomium, penicillum, and stachybotrys which is sometimes referred to as black mold. Many types of mold are black in color. So let’s talk about these specific kinds of mold that may be harmful to your health.
What are the causes of mold?
There are many reasons that homes, workplaces and commercial water damage restoration company businesses can find themselves dealing with mold issues. They can grow on nearly any surface as long as moisture is present and they particularly thrive in dark, damp and warm spots. As mold can grow on so many surfaces it should come as no surprise that building materials are able to sustain mold growth and thus mold spores are particularly abundant indoors. In America mold is ambiguous. Mold spores are everywhere, its when they colonize that creates the problem. Colonization can start within 72 hours.
Mold thrives when the Relative Humidity (Rh) within a contaminated area is 60% or higher.
In some instances, mold will be a by-product of more general water damage which in turn can be the result of a leak, seepage or even a burst pipe or water main. Storms and floods can also cause water to pool in unlikely places which can lead to hidden mold. In some cases, you can have large amounts of mold developing under the ground or within the walls – unfortunately mold colonies can live inside building structures.
Another potential cause of moisture and subsequent mold growth is a lack of ventilation which can then cause moisture that is naturally in the air to build-up. This is a particularly big problem in bathrooms and kitchens which can benefit from windows or some form of extractor unit or dehumidifier.
Ventilation can also sometimes be a problem in basements, as well as behind cupboards and heavy curtains. Look for places where air is struggling to circulate in your property and often you will find the tell-tale signs of mold. Where walls are very cold, this also increases the likelihood of them being moist and of them becoming moldy. Cold surfaces may cause moisture in the air to condense on contact and this in turn causes the formation of small droplets of water on your walls and windows where this otherwise would not be a problem. Sometimes moisture and mold problems will be as a result of families and homeowners failing to adequately heat their homes during the winter months.
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crossorigin="anonymous"></script>How we identify mold issues.
You can generally spot mold easily as it ranges in color from green, black or blue fur that collects on surfaces. It is fairly unsightly and similar to the colors you would see on old bread or overripe fruit which you immediately dispose of to the bin.
Generally speaking mold thrives in
- Warm
- Damp
- Dark conditions where there is a lack of adequate ventilation
The life cycle of mold is dependent on its environment, its growth speed and colors vary greatly.
Some of the colors of mold present may include white, green & black all of which may pose a potential health risk if not remediated in a timely manner.
When these mold spores exist and multiply in large quantities they can form visible patches on walls and in other areas and can cause reactions in even the healthiest of people. Therefore, treating mold in a timely and efficient manner will assist in reducing any potential health problems and reduce treatment costs.
The consequences of mold exposure.
The symptoms of mold exposure include but are not limited to:
- Congestion and running nose
- Eye irritation causing red eyes
- Sore throat and cough
- Difficulty breathing, wheezing or shortness of breath
- Skin irritations
- Asthma attacks or asthma like symptoms
- Sneezing
- Headaches or fatigue
You could be forgiven for thinking you may have a cold or other associated health problems through prolonged exposure to the mold.
There is a specific term for mold that creates high levels of mycotoxins which is ‘toxic mold’. ‘Stachybotrys’ is one such example and can cause more severe problems if exposure is allowed to continue – and in only the most extreme cases the possibility of neurological problems or death.
How we Treat Mold
The first step with mold remediation as with water damage restoration will always be to stop the source of the moisture that is encouraging the spread of the mold. There are various ways to do this and some of the treatment may include replacement of impacted areas, but this will normally be completed at the assessment stage.
By attending to these areas quickly and fixing these problems will help to prevent the further spread of mold and will make it possible to treat the mold in the worst affected areas. This is very important as mold can grow on porous surfaces in as little as 24 hours.
The area will then be dried which must be done carefully so as to prevent the spreading of dust and mold spores. Where the mold has set in under carpets, within the walls or in insulation, this might involve the removal of fittings and fixtures.
The next stages in treatment will often depend on the severity of the mold and the extent of the damage within your home or business. For small amounts of mold it will sometimes be safe to use simple surface cleaning with a sponge or a cloth and a cleaning product. In the past some methods of mold remediation have involved the use of fungicides and hot air, though these have been deemed unsafe for the atmosphere.
In more severe mold infestations, Express Damage Restoration Of Ky will ensure that strict guidelines from the IICRC S520 on procedures to remove mold will be undertaken.
These include:
HEPA Vacuums
These are ‘high-efficiency particular air’ vacuums which are often used at the end of the mold remediation process. These can remove dust and mold spores from the affected surfaces. Re-mediators will wear PPE (personal protective equipment) to prevent themselves from being exposed to the captured mold and it will then be disposed of using tightly sealed bags.
Dry Ice Blasting
This method is used by some companies as the initial source removal stage generally from wooden surfaces and other materials such as cement. Soda blasting and media blasting can also be used. In other cases, some items may need to be permanently discarded. These include all kinds of porous materials including pillows, mattresses, plaster board walls and underlay. Mold specialists will often handle this disposal on your behalf. Cleaning may also be necessary for your heating and air conditioning systems in order to prevent the further spread of mold spores throughout your building.
Some mold remediation companies will also provide additional clean-up and restoration services in order to help you get back to normal. These include such services as fabric restoration, painting, carpet installation etc. These companies ensure that you are able to return to your home and normal standard of living as soon as possible and they can be a huge benefit to families and business struggling with mold issues.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI)
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a sterilization method that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to kill airborne micro-organisms. Bacteria, viruses and micro-organisms (like mold spores) have less protection from UV and cannot survive prolonged exposure to it.
Give us a call Express Damage Restoration Of Ky (859) 302-2702 in Lexington Ky
