Mold is a type of fungus that can grow on almost anything such as plants and fibers and almost always associated with damp musty locations. There are thousands of different types of mold some toxic and some now. Any mold growing inside your property should be of concern. Common areas you may see mold and mildew would include areas like your bathrooms, basements, crawl spaces or utility rooms to name a few. Mold travels through the air as tiny spores. The spores can land on anything and when they come in contact with a moist surface they take start to grow and spread. As these spores grow your health can be impacted by it.
Mold and mildew is not a new challenge facing us today. These challenges have been around for hundreds or years. Research all conclude that moisture and increased humidity is the number one reason for mold and mildew. Over the last 10 years Mold has started to become the buzz work especially when black or Toxic mold is associated with it. As property owners are buying or selling does my property have mold is a common question that surfaces. Mold can cost thousands of dollars in structural repairs not to mention the medical costs and quality of life related to mold and mildew.
Many advances have been made with how to diagnose and treat mold. We have seen new technology, equipment, testing procedures, products and certification offered today that was not available 10 years ago. We have seen many advances in the medical community as they have been able to identify actual mold allergies. We now have documentation that mold can cause serious medical related health problems. In 2004 the Institute of Medicine found that there was sufficient evidence to link indoor exposure to mold with upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough and wheeze in otherwise healthy people.
Mold testing is necessary to confirm the type or types of mold, the spore count that you have. A written mold protocol should be in place before the remediation is started. Disposal of mold and other materials must follow the OSHA recommendations to ensure safe and proper disposal. Many times a post clearance will be taken to ensure that all the mold spores are killed and the mold has been successfully removed. Once your indoor air quality is back to acceptable levels and you have corrected the moisture problems you should not have additional mold problems.
As you can see that mold removal is very detailed and requires special equipment. This is not something you should attempt yourself. When proper protocol is not followed you cannot only risk having health related issues but more expenses when the project was not done correctly the first time. Mold can make you sick and can spread quickly to other parts of your home. Mold Removal should be done by certified professionals who have the necessary equipment, products and training to carry out the remediation process in a safe and efficient manner for all involved.
