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Tag: "mold problem"

Mold Clean Up: Should You Do It Yourself or Hire a Professional?

[ 0 ] April 11, 2010

Mold Clean Up

 

Mold clean up doesn’t necessarily have to be a difficult task if you know the proper steps to take to get the job done right the very first time. And while you may be wondering if you can just skip cleaning up the mold problem all together, it’s not a good idea since mold can wreak havoc on your immune system.

You also should keep in mind that if your mold problem is more than 10 square feet, you need to call a professional to get the job done safely, especially when you‘re dealing with toxic mold.

If however, the mold is covering less than a 10 square feet area, you should be able to do the work yourself.

But, before you begin the mold removal process, you’ll need to identify what types of mold you’re dealing with. If you’re dealing with a fungus whose color is grayish to black, you should leave the job up to a professional unless you’re absolutely certain you can handle the situation yourself.

Black mold is very toxic and can cause severe health problems if it’s not removed completely.

Once you’ve identified what the fungus is, you’ll want to assess any damages like rotten wood caused by water damage mold and repair it.

Then, remove any materials that were near or around the moldy growth and cover the rest of the room with sheets of plastic to prevent fungus spores from spreading to other areas.

Next, seal any materials that were contaminated by the mold in a plastic bag and discard it properly from the area. Then, set any items aside that were near the mold growth and keep a close eye on them for the next several weeks for a contamination problem.

Using a stiff bristle brush, lightly scrub against the affected surface area to loosen and remove as much of the fungus growth as possible.

You’ll then want to spray the affected surface area with a mold removal spray that will not only remove the mold, but kill the mold permanently.

Mold cleaners come in various types for every part of the house and then some to suit almost every fungal problem there is.

Once you’ve cleaned the affected area, you may need to dry it out using several fans or a dehumidifier. Or if possible, you may want to open some windows to air out the area. 

Then, you’ll want to seal and properly discard of any items used in the cleaning process in a plastic garbage bag to prevent further contamination from any mold that may become airborne.

If you do find that you need to hire a mold removal professional to get the job done, before you do be sure to talk to your insurance agency to find out whether or not you can file a claim for the damages the molds have caused.

And depending on your agency and the type of coverage you have, you may even be able to use some insurance money to hire a professional for mold clean up.

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Dealing with Water Damage Mold

[ 0 ] January 28, 2010

Water Damage Mold

Life happens. Water damage mold can happen wherever you live or work despite your best efforts. Pipes rupture, basements develop water leaks, high humidity and poor ventilation in a bathroom can cause black mold to grow right under your nose.

Storms or aging from the passing of time can cause a roof to let inclement weather into your attic. The water trickles or in some cases pours down onto your ceiling and before you know it, you not only have an unsightly problem, if you don’t take care of it fast, you can end up with health concerns as well.

Though obviously water damage mold is caused by water, the mold itself is actually a fungus that loves to live in wet or damp places in your home or office building. The problem with this type of mold is that it is a dangerous health hazard, especially in young children with any type of respiratory illness or condition such as asthma.

If the mold would sit still and simply be a cosmetic annoyance that would be one thing, but unfortunately, mold lets spores go into the air where you live and work. When these spores from the mold are released into the air, like seeds from a plant, they land in a new spot and if that spot is conducive to mold growth (damp or wet), then the mold begins there as well.

One area where I’ve seen water damage mold in many homes, especially older ones, is around the bottom of windows at the windowsill or on the actually window frame itself. This type of  mold is mainly caused by condensation though poor installation can play a small part.

When dealing with water damage mold, you have to figure out how it got where it’s living. If you see black mold on an interior wall in a two story home, there’s a good chance you could have a leaky pipe from an upstairs bathroom hidden behind the drywall and you’re going to have to do some digging to get to it.

For a mold problem that’s not widespread, you can eliminate it yourself once you’ve located and repaired the leak. For larger areas of stubborn, removal resistant  mold, leave it alone. You’ll want to contact a mold removal company knowledgeable to take it out. They’ll know how to best deal with water damage mold so that your home is safer to live in.

With small patches of black mold, make sure you cover your mouth and nose to keep from getting the spores into your lungs. Be sure and protect your skin as well with the proper clothing.

Once you’re covered, the first step you take is to start cleaning the black mold with water and whatever detergent you use to wash your household laundry with. After cleaning the water damage mold with this mixture, next clean it again with bleach and water.

That should take care of any water damage mold you’ve encountered, but if it doesn’t and you see the mold reappear, get help.

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