Common Indoor Mold

6/17/2019 (Permalink)

Common Indoor Mold: Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria & Aspergillus

Here in the middle Georgia area, we have the ideal climate for mold to develop and thrive. Since mold can start to develop in as little as 48 hours after water damage, it is imperative that any damage due to a fire, flood, broken water pipe, or leaky foundation be cleaned up promptly and properly. This cleanup will help you avoid significant property damage to your Conroe and The Woodlands home due to mold.

After Spring storms and summer showers, comes the damp, and moisture forecast, and the result of mold infestation is high. It is important to address any signs of mold immediately and correctly. Homes in our area are often affected by mold in bathrooms and basements,  mold can develop anywhere in your home, especially if you have experienced any type of flooding. 

Mold spores spread through the air, so even areas that were not directly affected by floodwaters can soon become home to serious mold infestations. Mold is often found in air ducts, which can cause it to spread quickly. SERVPRO of Houston County is always ready to help you restore your home after a water damage or in the event of mold.Time is of the essence: the longer you postpone cleanup, the longer the mold remediation process, the more expensive,  and more inconvenience for you and your family.

If you are starting to see or smell mold in your home, a thorough cleaning and disinfecting is required, and the sooner the better. Mold has the potential to cause health effects, so cleanup should be conducted with proper protective clothing, masks and gloves. Bleach and water should be used to kill the mold in all affected areas. Scrub the solution into the area, rinse, and dry thoroughly. If saturated drywall and insulation was not removed after storm damage, you likely need a thorough evaluation by a professional emergency water damage restoration team.

Water damage that was not properly remedied prior to rebuilding may have caused mold to start growing behind your new walls or under your new carpeting. If the structure of your home was not properly disinfected, dehumidified, and dried, mold may be thriving. Your local SERVPRO of Houston County teams see this frequently. In a rush to make properties habitable, steps are often skipped, leading to mold infestations. If you believe you have mold growth from recent floods or other water damage, call us immediately. We can quickly help you identify problem areas and start the mold remediation process.

Our mission is to help our neighbors, friends, and community members quickly recover from damage caused by natural disaster, fire, sewage backup, or other events. Regardless of the size or type of damage, we can quickly respond and start the evaluation and investigation into the cause, as well as the best way to restore your property  to its original state. Call us today at (478)224-4148, we work directly with insurance companies and carriers to help relieve a portion of the burden of the rebuilding process in order to make your loss "Like it never even happened."

Mold Facts

6/17/2019 (Permalink)

While developing, mold forms multicellular filaments called hyphae and adopts single-celled growth habits called yeasts. A large taxonomically diverse number of fungal species exist that can grow on the inside of your Nashville area home.

As the tubular branching mycelium threads over a contact surface, fluffy white threads begin to cover various surfaces found on your property. Mold damage occurs as these microbes systematically produce new colonies, becoming more and more visible to the human eye during the late stages of its life-cycle. Mold causes various stages of biodegradation to natural materials used to construct your home. Often leaving you and your family exposed to pathogenic molds that produce inhalable toxic compounds. There are thousands upon thousands of known mold species, making discovering the type of mold existing in your home useless.

The kind of mold that exists makes no difference whatsoever in how SERVPRO approaches treating the growth found in your home. Our technicians use a variety of strategies based on the extent of exposure that exists, using containment and control methods to stop the spread in its tracks, preventing further growth. Although mold plays a major role in our planet's ecosystem, having it in your home can produce unhealthy results. Therefore, at the first signs of mold growth in your home, it is important to contact a licensed, qualified professional, like those offered at SERVPRO, for help.

Attempting to mitigate or remove mold alone can result in additional growth or additional exposure that you want to avoid. SERVPRO can help you regain control over your home’s indoor environment, and drastically improve the quality of the air that you breathe. Remember, the longer you take to act the longer mold has to develop. Given enough time, many species of mold adjust to various living conditions, surviving in harsh conditions including extreme cold, highly acidic solvents, anti-bacterial, or even within petroleum products.

Obtain professionally certified mold remediation services by calling SERVPRO of Houston County today. We are here to help members of our community when you need us the most (478)224-4148.

Mold vs. Mildew

6/17/2019 (Permalink)

Plain and simple, mildew and mold are fungi. Fungi can live in many different types of habitats such as in soil, on vegetation, and on surfaces exposed to moist conditions like a wall or ceiling after flood damage. Fungi reproduce by spores and quickly can spread.

What is mildew? 

Mildew is mold in its early stage and often the term is used interchangeably with the word mold. That whitish-gray, powdery substance sometimes seen on the leaves of a plant is mildew. Mildew is a surface fungi that grows on organic material like plants and food as well as wood or fibrous items like:

• Drywall
• Insulation
• Cardboard/paperboard
• Wallpaper
• Fabric

How is it different from Mold? 

Mold ranges in color from green to gray, brownish and black. It may appear fuzzy, flat or even slimy. Green slimy mold may develop in the damp, shady areas of decks and even vinyl siding, while indoors, mold can develop on grout, tile and other surfaces found in and around bathrooms and other areas with high humidity and inadequate ventilation.

Remove Mold before you Paint

3/28/2018 (Permalink)

First Step: Remove the mold. If you attempt to just paint over the coloration of mold, it could aid in the growth of mold. Some paints are basically food to mold. So you need to kill the mold before painting by using a cleaner that can sink into the surface.

Second Step: Begin painting with a primer. Wait after cleaning the wall until it is COMPLETELY dry because any moisture left on the wall can feed the microbial spores- if any was left. Begin priming with an acrylic primer that consists of mildewcide. Next chose a primer that is a latex stain- blocking primer because it can create a shield from moisture.

Third Step: Paint your walls. Finally, you paint your walls in a normal manner to ensure you love the look of your new walls!

Overall, we highly recommend having a specialist come out to your home to inspect the possibility of microbial growth. Microbial growth is dangerous to have in your home to breathe in the bacteria it contains. If you believe you have mold growing in your home, call us at (478) 224-4148, and we will send a team out to inspect your home.

Avoid using Bleach to kill Mold

3/28/2018 (Permalink)

Most homeowners assume that when mold spores appear on your walls, you should clean the area with bleach. This is very wrong. Bleach mostly consists of water. Water encourages mold growth. In addition, by putting bleach on the microbial growth, it only takes away the coloration of the spot. This could be interrupted as the end of the mold growth. When mold spores are being removed, the person should kill the mold from the root. Bleach only removes the appearance of mold. Bleach is for any material that is hard or a non-porous surface. This being said, mold grows on surfaces that are considered porous. So when bleach is poured onto a moldy surface, it is absorbed very easily which leaves a residue on the surface that is like a welcome mat to mold. This results with microbial growth to increase rapidly. Overall, if you believe mold is growing in your home, don’t hesitate to call us for any tips on how to remove the mold in the proper way. If you want us to come out to your home, we will do that as well so we can make it look “Like it never even happened.” Call us at (478) 224-4148.

Mold Facts

3/23/2018 (Permalink)

While developing, mold forms multicellular filaments called hyphae and adopts single-celled growth habits called yeasts. A large taxonomically diverse number of fungal species exist that can grow on the inside of your Nashville area home.

As the tubular branching mycelium threads over a contact surface, fluffy white threads begin to cover various surfaces found on your property. Mold damage occurs as these microbes systematically produce new colonies, becoming more and more visible to the human eye during the late stages of its life-cycle. Mold causes various stages of biodegradation to natural materials used to construct your home. Often leaving you and your family exposed to pathogenic molds that produce inhalable toxic compounds. There are thousands upon thousands of known mold species, making discovering the type of mold existing in your home useless.

The kind of mold that exists makes no difference whatsoever in how SERVPRO approaches treating the growth found in your home. Our technicians use a variety of strategies based on the extent of exposure that exists, using containment and control methods to stop the spread in its tracks, preventing further growth. Although mold plays a major role in our planet's ecosystem, having it in your home can produce unhealthy results. Therefore, at the first signs of mold growth in your home, it is important to contact a licensed, qualified professional, like those offered at SERVPRO, for help.

Attempting to mitigate or remove mold alone can result in additional growth or additional exposure that you want to avoid. SERVPRO can help you regain control over your home’s indoor environment, and drastically improve the quality of the air that you breathe. Remember, the longer you take to act the longer mold has to develop. Given enough time, many species of mold adjust to various living conditions, surviving in harsh conditions including extreme cold, highly acidic solvents, anti-bacterial, or even within petroleum products.

Obtain professionally certified mold remediation services by calling SERVPRO of Houston County today. We are here to help members of our community when you need us the most (478)224-4148.

Myths about Mold

3/23/2018 (Permalink)

All mold is bad. When facing mold in your home and business, it is understandable to see how all mold could be considered unhealthy. Not every mold that grows indoors is a dangerous mold. There are some molds, that are good for humans, such as penicillin. According to the CDC, there is always some mold everywhere – in the air and on many surfaces. An environmental specialist should be consulted to determine if there are any dangerous molds in your home or business.

Bleach kills mold. Bleach is a powerful cleaning agent. It can kill a whole host of bacteria on non-porous items. Killing mold, however, is not something bleach was ever intended to do. In fact, bleach is not a remedy recommended by the EPA or OSHA. Using bleach could lead to more damage due to the corrosive nature of the product.  The same caution and advice holds for other consumer level retail cleaning products.

Cleaning up Mold Can Be Done Yourself. In small areas, this may be possible with the right products and equipment. Most people, however, are simply not equipped to do a proper mold remediation. Attempting to remediate a small area yourself could lead to larger problems if caution is not taken when disposing of mold infested debris. Lack of proper containment in a small area, could lead to infecting the entire residence causing thousands of dollars’ worth of damage.

Painting Over Mold Will Seal it and Prevent Regrowth. Also referred to as encapsulation this is a good method but only when done within a full mold remediation protocol. A common household fix is to use bleach to wipe down the problem area. Bleach will discolor the mold, but not remove it. Once the area is wiped down with bleach, then it is painted in hopes it will seal in any mold that was missed and prevent future mold from growing. This method does not work unless the initial cause of the mold growth is addressed and corrected. Underlying causes of mold can be excessive moisture or excessive humidity. If the moisture problem is not repaired or eliminated then the chances of the mold returning are greatly increased.

SERVPRO of Houston County will be ready for your mold mitigation and restoration needs! Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

Mildew vs Mold

3/23/2018 (Permalink)

Plain and simple, mildew and mold are fungi. Fungi can live in many different types of habitats such as in soil, on vegetation, and on surfaces exposed to moist conditions like a wall or ceiling after flood damage. Fungi reproduce by spores and quickly can spread.

What is mildew? 

Mildew is mold in its early stage and often the term is used interchangeably with the word mold. That whitish-gray, powdery substance sometimes seen on the leaves of a plant is mildew. Mildew is a surface fungi that grows on organic material like plants and food as well as wood or fibrous items like:

• Drywall
• Insulation
• Cardboard/paperboard
• Wallpaper
• Fabric

How is it different from Mold? 

Mold ranges in color from green to gray, brownish and black. It may appear fuzzy, flat or even slimy. Green slimy mold may develop in the damp, shady areas of decks and even vinyl siding, while indoors, mold can develop on grout, tile and other surfaces found in and around bathrooms and other areas with high humidity and inadequate ventilation.

Mold Growth

3/6/2018 (Permalink)

In Georgia, we have the ideal climate for mold to develop and thrive. Since mold can start to develop in as little as 48 hours after water damage, it is imperative that any damage due to a fire, flood, broken water pipe, or leaky foundation be cleaned up promptly and properly.

After Spring storms and summer showers, comes the damp, and moisture forecast, and the result of mold infestation is high. It is important to address any signs of mold immediately and correctly. Homes in our area are often affected by mold in bathrooms and basements, mold can develop anywhere in your home, especially if you have experienced any type of flooding. 

Mold spores spread through the air, so even areas that were not directly affected by floodwaters can soon become home to serious mold infestations. Mold is often found in air ducts, which can cause it to spread quickly. SERVPRO of Houston County is always ready to help you restore your home after a water damage or in the event of mold. Time is of the essence: the longer you postpone cleanup, the longer the mold remediation process, the more expensive, and more inconvenience for you and your family.

If you are starting to see or smell mold in your home, a thorough cleaning and disinfecting is required, and the sooner the better. Mold has the potential to cause health effects, so cleanup should be conducted with proper protective clothing, masks and gloves. Bleach and water should be used to kill the mold in affected areas. Scrub the solution into the area, rinse, and dry thoroughly. If saturated drywall and insulation was not removed after storm damage, you likely need a thorough evaluation by a professional emergency water damage restoration team.

Water damage that was not properly remedied prior to rebuilding may have caused mold to start growing behind your new walls or under your new carpeting. If the structure of your home was not properly disinfected, dehumidified, and dried, mold may be thriving. Your local SERVPRO of Houston County team sees this frequently. In a rush to make properties habitable, steps are often skipped, leading to mold infestations. If you believe you have mold growth from recent floods or other water damage, call us immediately. We can quickly help you identify problem areas and start the mold remediation process.

Our mission is to help our neighbors, friends, and community members quickly recover from damage caused by natural disaster, fire, sewage backup, or other events. Regardless of the size or type of damage, we can quickly respond and start the evaluation and investigation into the cause, as well as the best way to restore your property to its original state. Call us today at (478) 224-4148, we work directly with insurance companies and carriers to help relieve a portion of the burden of the rebuilding process in order to make your loss "like it never even happened."

It's Never to late to Clean Mold!

12/16/2016 (Permalink)

Common Indoor Mold: Cladosporium, Penicillium, Alternaria & Aspergillus

Here in the middle Georgia area, we have the ideal climate for mold to develop and thrive. Since mold can start to develop in as little as 48 hours after water damage, it is imperative that any damage due to a fire, flood, broken water pipe, or leaky foundation be cleaned up promptly and properly. This cleanup will help you avoid significant property damage to your Conroe and The Woodlands home due to mold.

After Spring storms and summer showers, comes the damp, and moisture forecast, and the result of mold infestation is high. It is important to address any signs of mold immediately and correctly. Homes in our area are often affected by mold in bathrooms and basements,  mold can develop anywhere in your home, especially if you have experienced any type of flooding. 

Mold spores spread through the air, so even areas that were not directly affected by floodwaters can soon become home to serious mold infestations. Mold is often found in air ducts, which can cause it to spread quickly. SERVPRO of Houston County is always ready to help you restore your home after a water damage or in the event of mold.Time is of the essence: the longer you postpone cleanup, the longer the mold remediation process, the more expensive,  and more inconvenience for you and your family.

If you are starting to see or smell mold in your home, a thorough cleaning and disinfecting is required, and the sooner the better. Mold has the potential to cause health effects, so cleanup should be conducted with proper protective clothing, masks and gloves. Bleach and water should be used to kill the mold in all affected areas. Scrub the solution into the area, rinse, and dry thoroughly. If saturated drywall and insulation was not removed after storm damage, you likely need a thorough evaluation by a professional emergency water damage restoration team.

Water damage that was not properly remedied prior to rebuilding may have caused mold to start growing behind your new walls or under your new carpeting. If the structure of your home was not properly disinfected, dehumidified, and dried, mold may be thriving. Your local SERVPRO of Houston County teams see this frequently. In a rush to make properties habitable, steps are often skipped, leading to mold infestations. If you believe you have mold growth from recent floods or other water damage, call us immediately. We can quickly help you identify problem areas and start the mold remediation process.

Our mission is to help our neighbors, friends, and community members quickly recover from damage caused by natural disaster, fire, sewage backup, or other events. Regardless of the size or type of damage, we can quickly respond and start the evaluation and investigation into the cause, as well as the best way to restore your property  to its original state. Call us today at (478)224-4148, we work directly with insurance companies and carriers to help relieve a portion of the burden of the rebuilding process in order to make your loss "like it never even happened."