Mold Removal & Remediation
1. Do I need to hire a mold remediation professional to remove mold or can I do it myself?
If the mold is very severe it is recommended that a professional should undertake the task of removing it. A mold test should be done to the building and has the tendency to spread fast inside walls, ceilings and crawl spaces. They can also reach the air ducts of the home and spread fast. It is very difficult for you to ascertain the severity of the damage in the absence of a professional.
2. How long does it take for mold to grow?
In certain cases if the wet areas are dried completely in a span of 24 hours, the mold will not grow. If the mold exists in the area it multiplies fast in just 48 hours. It is important for you to take note that the area is not completely dry without the aid of proper drying equipment.
3. Can Mold be cleaned with bleach?
Cleaning mold with bleach is generally not recommended. In most instances the sterilization of the area is not possible and there is a tendency of the mold spores remaining. If you resolve the moisture issue with the aid of professionals the spores will not grow. In the case of using biocides or disinfectants you do undertake professional guidance. You should also take note that dead mold in the property tends to cause many allergic reactions in people. This is why the mold should be killed and removed completely.
4. Can the presence of mold make me sick?
Molds do not cause much of a problem if they are indoors. They do pose an issue if they land on a damp or wet spot and start growing. Molds are the cause of health problems and in certain cases they are also the source of toxic substances like mycotoxins that are dangerous. Inhaling or even touching mold can trigger off sickness and allergic reactions in people who are sensitive. People may suffer from hay fever like symptoms like red eyes, a runny nose, skin rashes in the form of dermatitis, sneezing etc. Mold can also cause asthma attacks in people who suffer from asthma and are allergic to mold. Besides the above, exposure to mold can also cause irritation in the eyes, skin, throat and lungs in people who may have mold allergic reactions or not.
5. How do I know I have a mold problem in my property?
You can generally detect the presence of mold growing in damp areas and walls of your property. However mold does release a smell. This smell is caused by the compounds that are created by it. These compounds are known as microbial organic compounds that are volatile and known as mVOC’s. These compounds have an unpleasant odor that is a strong one. They are generally the source of the musty smell that is associated with the growth of mold. This odor suggests that mold is growing in the building and it should be addressed by qualified professionals skilled in the removal of toxic mold.
6. What is the cause of mold?
Mold has the ability to consume organic matter that is dead. Water is its key component. Like humans mold too needs to eat, breathe and drink. When materials of a building are exposed to high degree of moisture levels mold generally begins to decompose organic materials that are dead. This decomposition is caused by high humidity and water leaks. Hygroscopic building materials have the ability to absorb excessive water vapor in the air at a relative humidity at 60%
7. Can mold grow on any surface?
Yes. Mold has the tendency to grow on any surface like wood, ceiling tiles, paints, wallpaper, insulation, sheet rock and carpet. It is not possible to completely get rid of all the mold spores or mold in your property however you have the ability to control its growth by keeping your property dry.
8. What makes mold grow?
Mold needs water, oxygen and a favorable temperature to grow. The nutrients for mold to grow are found in fabrics, paper, wood etc. They also have the tendency to derive the nutrients from synthetic products like adhesives and paints. Mold needs moisture to grow although there are certain mold species that tend to get moisture from air that is moist when its relative humidity is over 70%.
Most molds tend to thrive at normal temperatures indoors. There are a few mold spores that are able to grow under temperatures of 40 F. For temperatures over 100F the mold have remain inactive or dormant. They tend to grow again when the temperature is more favorable. Mold is killed and mold spores die when the temperature is over 100 F however the exact temperature of destroying and killing mold has not yet been well established.
9. Are children and senior adults severely affected by molds?
It is very difficult to say that mold affects a particular group of people like children, senior citizens or pregnant women. There are a lot of probabilities when it comes to the ability of a person to resist molds. There are some people who are more allergic to molds to another. This may include children and elderly adults but it is not mandatory that all children and elderly adults are severely affected by molds.
10. Can I paint over mold to get rid of it?
Painting over mold is not a wise idea. Covering the issue with mold is not a permanent solution to the issue. The root cause needs to be addressed and this can be done by mold remediation alone.
11. Is asbestos more dangerous than mold?
No. Mold is considered to be more dangerous than asbestos and it takes a very short span of time to grow. This exposure affects people and triggers off allergies and sickness. Compared to mold asbestos relatively takes a longer time of exposure to affect people physically.
12. What are the common symptoms of exposure to mold?
The symptoms of exposure to mold are not the same for everyone. It depends on the ability of a person to handle exposure to mold. Some of the common symptoms may include joint pains, headaches, rashes, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, loss of memory, flu, sore throat, asthma, diarrhea, bleeding in the lungs/nose etc. The above are just a few of the common symptoms that occur in human beings.
13. Can mold be completely removed from the property?
No. There is a common misconception among people that when contractors tell them that “all mold” has been removed from their property they believe that their homes or business establishments are completely safe. This is not the truth. Mold has the tendency to enter homes and property the moment you open the door or window. Mold remediation implies that all the visible signs of mold have been removed from both surfaces and behind the surfaces of a home or property. The mold spore count indoors is reduced and not as condensed as the mold count found outside the house. It is difficult for you to see mold spores as they are very small and not easy to be seen with the naked eye.
14. How can you remediate mold?
Mold can be removed by identifying the source of mold and using biocide to remove it. This is generally done by mold remediation professionals.
15. Does prolonged exposure to mold cause brain damage or death?
There are claims by certain experts that some individuals have suffered from brain damage or died from prolonged exposure to mold however there is no concrete scientific evidence to support them. Mold does not cause brain damage or death but it is not healthy for a person either. It is important to minimize a person’s exposure to mold and address the issue in their homes. It has been found that people living in damp homes have more health problems than those who do not. This however does not prove that mold alone is the cause of their illnesses. There can be other causes behind their allergies or sickness. It is prudent to address mold in homes so that there are no health problems associated with being exposed to it. In this manner you can avert any kind of potential health issues that may arise because of mold.
16. Do harmful or non-harmful molds exist?
There are only some molds that tend to cause infections in humans. People with weak immune systems are more susceptible to molds. The biggest health problems that people face because of molds are asthma and allergy. There are over 100,000 different types of mold. Reliable and credible information is found only for a few of them as far as the health of humans are concerned. Most people are able to tolerate exposure to molds without any kind of unfavorable effects on their health. There are some molds that tend to produce strong chemicals known as “mycotoxins”. These chemicals cause illness in both people and animals however the health effects of these toxins on them have not been elaborated on much as their findings are limited.
17. How much mold exposure is harmful?
The answer to this question is uncertain as no one knows as of now. As stated above the reaction of a person to mold exposure differs in people. However it must be noted that children under the age of one year must be protected from mold exposure. Mold exposure means the amount of microscopic fragments of mold that gets inside a person generally by breathing. At times mold can get inside a person through eating and absorption through the skin.
18. Does tight building construction lead to more development of mold?
No. This is a common misconception that many people have. A poor design combined with tight building construction leads to the growth and development of mold. Tight building constructions do not allow the passage and exchange of air on the inside and outside of the building. Whatever gets into the inside of the building tends to stay there longer than it does in a house with a more loose construction. Normal activities like cooking, bathing and even breathing do not allow free passage of air and this gets stuck in the house. Mold tends to develop and grow. This is why it is prudent for the owner of the property to install exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to allow air to vent out.
19. Does mold increase with new building materials like gypsum paper faced boards, drywall etc?
Mold needs water and nutrients mainly to grow along with a favorable temperature however there is a type of mold that uses paper faced gypsum boards to develop and grow. This is because paper involves the mechanical and chemical processing of wood to be made. If there is not enough moisture present mold cannot grow on the paper however mold can get nutrients from paper to develop to a limited extent. Keeping gypsum paper faced boards dry is mandatory to address the growth of mold. They should not be kept in wet places like the bathroom and the kitchen. In this manner the growth of mold is addressed.
20. Can the presence of molds be detected via reliable tests?
You are able to detect the presence of visible mold with your eyes and nose however professionals use a popular detection method that is called “air testing for mold” Professionals resort to air sampling in order to detect visible and hidden mold in the property. This is an effective manner by which they can identify where the mold is located and remove it. In this manner hidden surfaces that have mold growth can be detected faster in just a few hours. Snapshots are generally taken. Some mold remediation companies have modern tools and techniques which help them to remove mold faster than others. When you are hiring professionals for mold remediation you can ask them about the tools and techniques they deploy in order to be assured of the mold remediation process of your home or business establishment successfully.
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