Mold Testing & Mold Removal FAQ
When mold is disrupted by cleaning, it releases tiny seeds (spores) that disperse into the air. After cleaning, the mold may be visibly removed but the spores are still present. If moisture is present from a water leak or elevated humidity, the mold spores will grow into new mold colonies. As a result, each cleaning spreads the mold problem causing regrowth. The key is removing the moisture. Properly removing the mold spores through filtration and treatment will prevent the mold from reoccurring.
Many different types of molds exist, some estimate over 100,000 different species! Exposure to some types of mold may cause harmful effects (coughing, headache, sneezing) in susceptible individuals. Research has shown that exposure to mold can cause chronic allergy , but the exact immune response to mold is still under investigation and heavy debate.
Contact with mold by touching, eating, or breathing the mold spores or mold particles are common modes of exposure. Higher mold levels indoors increases the exposure level and may promote an allergy-like reaction. High exposure to mold can lead to an immune response against the mold particles. The degree of response varies from person to person.
To control mold, one needs to control moisture. Check areas where water may enter the home, like in the crawlspace or a roof leak. If you find moisture, fix it. Routine maintenance is a must. Also keep the humidity inside below 50%, above this level gives mold enough moisture to grow.
Mold typically appears as fuzzy masses, normally on building materials. Molds can produce smelly chemicals that may give a room a “musty” odor. Often times a mold problem begins as staining on ceilings or walls and progresses until numerous mold colonies are visible on the surface of the building material.
Mold spores are everywhere and are brought inside on our clothes, pets, and by the wind. Over time mold levels indoors can increase if we don’t clean regularly. Or if spores inside find a moist environment, they can germinate and produce more mold spores… Elevating the Mold Levels indoors.
To grow, mold needs water and a food source. Homes are built out of wood and other porous material, like drywall. When these material become moist, from a leak, flooding, or high humidity, mold spores can germinate, grow, and produce more spores.
Mold remediation costs can vary depending on the extent, size, location, and specific parameters of the Mold problem. An interior mold problem depends largely on the total area of the mold problem and the type of material supporting mold growth. For instance, drywall may have to be removed when moldy, whereas concrete or plaster can be effectively treated. A large portion of the mold remediation cost is due to securing a negative air pressure ‘bubble’ around the mold contamination, which prevents mold from spreading.
The level at which mold exposure becomes harmful has not been determined. Several factors complicate this- 1) Thousands of different mold species exist, each having a different capacity to produce an immune response or harmful effect. 2) Each person has a different reaction or immune response to mold exposure. Some individuals can accept high mold exposure, whereas for others the slight presence of mold can initiate a profound response (sinus, headache, fatigue, etc.). 3) Living mold, mold fragments, and even chemicals produced by molds (mycotoxins) can produce allergic responses. Because of these factors and the lack of scientific data on mold exposure, the level at which mold becomes harmful is undetermined. Due to the extensive mold sampling conducted at Accelerated Remediation, we have a general idea of mold levels found in homes not experiencing water, mold, health issues and the concentrations and mold species found in homes demonstrating severe mold problems.
Mold is everywhere. But due to poor construction practices, wet building materials, and/or poor ventilation, some newer homes have higher mold levels than some older homes.
Mold Only provides mold remediation (removal) services for homes and businesses of Florida. Our growing list of clients include – homeowners, contractors, realtors, tradesmen, and allergy doctors
Mold Liability is increasingly becoming a problem in the real estate market. The basic problem occurs when a recent buyer or tenant discovers a mold problem and/or experiences health-related problems attributed to mold exposure. Lawsuits claim failure of the seller to fully disclose and represent the condition of the property. The best defense is to have the mold removed before selling.
The Process
Because mold can be difficult to identify, often times you will need to hire an industrial hygienist to test the air quality for mold types and concentration. At Mold Only, we offer professional mold testing services. Understanding what types and amounts of mold we are dealing with will help instruct our plans for remediation and removal.
However, in many cases, pre-testing is not necessary. Priding ourselves on honesty, we will inform you if it is not necessary, explain why and save you that expense. See Our Difference page for more.
Mold is an airborne fungus that will cause major issues if disturbed, so removing the mold damaged materials is a job that has to be done very carefully. Our team of technicians will isolate the mold damage, build a negative air pressure, HEPA filtered containment barrier, then safely remove every bit of irreparably damaged materials and dispose of them according to the most recently accepted standards.
Mold spores travel through the air and land on virtually every surface. So when we are done removing the mold damaged materials, we will still need go through and clean up using an industrial cleaner to wipe down all of the surfaces within the affected area.
Mold Only stands apart from other companies by including mold post testing. This gives our client an advantage of feeling confident, knowing the job was successfully preformed. All mold samples are analyzed by a 3rd party, licensed and insured, certified lab.
Once the affected area has been thoroughly cleaned and the air quality has been tested to ensure the mold is effectively removed, our team can focus on making the necessary repairs to restore your property to its pre-loss condition.
