What is Remediation?
Remediation is the process of cleaning the mold and eliminating the moisture problem. This process is determined by the size of the remediation and whether occupants are experiencing any adverse symptoms that may be related to the mold. Since mold destroys the surface materials it is on, remediation can preserve the structural integrity of the building. Failure to address the mold problem, ultimately can result in high replacement and rebuild costs.
Why Does Mold Need To Be Remediated?
- To reduce or prevent adverse health problems.
- To preserve the integrity of the structure.
- To avoid high replacement costs if addressed early on.
- To retain the beauty and cosmetic appeal of the structure.
- To be able to utilize the room[s] once again.
- To preserve the resale value of the property.
Where Is Mold Commonly Located?
Mold can be found in several areas in the home environment. It appears most often in moist areas as little black circles or thread-like white objects. It is usually accompanied with a musty-type odor. Outdoors, mold plays a natural part in the environment by breaking down dead organic matter such as dead trees or fallen leaves. Mold reproduces by means of microscopic spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through the indoor and outdoor air. Mold begins to grow indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet or damp. Mold will not grow without water or moisture. Therefore, it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Some examples of places where mold can be found inside the home include:
- Basements near walls that have seepage problems.
- Dirty concrete.
- Front and back side of paint.
- Kitchens(bottom of fridge)food.
- Bathrooms, around vanities and bathtubs.
- Washer/dryer area.
- On attic walls, insulation, and ceilings, near roof leaks.
- On and around wooden joists near pipe condensation.
- Under or around leaking air conditioning units.
- Inside HVAC systems and duct work.
- Near broken windows or broken window frames.
- Underneath wallpaper in poorly insulated/paneled areas.
- Front and back side of dry wall, wall paper or paneling.
- The surface of walls behind furniture (where condensation forms)
- Near foundation cracks.
- On and around faulty external vents.
- Under linoleum near a sink leak.
- Under leaky sinks.
- On and around building infestation problems.
- On the underside of moist carpeting and pads.
- Under wall paneling.
- Under wall paper.
- Behind wallboard.
- Wet papers.
- Clothing.
- On anything that contains cellulose, a food source for mold.
- Many more sources.
Mold growth indoors may not always be in plain view. If a building smells moldy but you cannot see the source, or if you know there has been water damage, and building occupants are reporting health problems, there may be hidden mold.
Mold Can Be Hidden In The Following Locations:
- The back side of drywall, wallpaper or paneling.
- The top of ceiling Tiles, and the underside of carpets and pads etc.
- Pie chases and utility tunnels.
- Condensate drain pans inside air conditioning units.
- Porous thermal or acoustic liners inside ductwork, or roof materials above ceiling tiles [due to roof leaks or insufficient insulation].
- Walls behind furniture.
- Materials such as drywall with vinyl wallpaper over it or wood paneling can act as vapor barriers which trap moisture underneath and provide a moist environment for mold.
- Behind wallpaper.
- Basement walls.
What Are The Major Types Of Mold?
- Stachybotrys is one member of a group of molds. These molds produce airborne toxins. These molds can cause breathing difficulties, dizziness, memory and hearing loss, and flu like symptoms.
- Cladosporium and Penicillium are more commonly found molds but these molds can cause allergic reactions, asthma, breathing problems, sinus infections, headaches, coughing and eye and throat irritation.
- Memnoniella and Aspergillus versicolor are two types of mold that can produce airborne toxins. they produce mycotoxins and can cause even worse problems.
- These problems are chronic fatigue, loss of balance and memory, irritability and difficulty speaking.
Mold….Literally, a growing concern. National media attention has alerted the public to the destructive and possibly toxic dangers of hidden mold spores that could affect their family’s health and their homes. EPA studies indicate that air levels of indoor pollutants may be two to three times higher than outdoor levels. Mold, the most dangerous offender of all, often goes undetected because of its invisibility. most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors and are not aware of the health hazards created by this pollutant. You owe it to your self to minimize your exposure to mold spores in the indoor environment, give us a call to test for mold today, 309-788-9432.
What Are The Major Types Of Mold?
- Stachybotrys is one member of a group of molds. These molds produce airborne toxins. These molds can cause breathing difficulties, dizziness, memory and hearing loss, and flu like symptoms.
- Cladosporium and Penicillium are more commonly found molds but these molds can cause allergic reactions, asthma, breathing problems, sinus infections, headaches, coughing and eye and throat irritation.
- Memnoniella and Aspergillus versicolor are two types of mold that can produce airborne toxins. they produce mycotoxins and can cause even worse problems.
- These problems are chronic fatigue, loss of balance and memory, irritability and difficulty speaking.
Mold, A Growing Concern
Mold….Literally, a growing concern. National media attention has alerted the public to the destructive and possibly toxic dangers of hidden mold spores that could affect their family’s health and their homes. EPA studies indicate that air levels of indoor pollutants may be two to three times higher than outdoor levels. Mold, the most dangerous offender of all, often goes undetected because of its invisibility. most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors and are not aware of the health hazards created by this pollutant. You owe it to your self to minimize your exposure to mold spores in the indoor environment, Test for mold today!
How Can Someone Be Exposed To MOLD?
There are several ways you can become exposed to mold;
- Breathing in the spores from the air.
- Skin contact from handling an item that has mold growing on it.
- Eating without properly washing your hands after handling moldy objects.
Can MOLD cause health problems?
Mold has the potential to cause health problems and even make a home uninhabitable. However, everyone is affected differently when in contact with mold. The mold that may not bother the seller may severely affect the buyer. Some mold can produce allergens, irritants and, in some cases, potentially toxic chemical substances known as mycotoxins. people who are sensitive and exposed to mycotoxins can become ill. Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. people diagnosed with allergies and asthma my be very sensitive to mold. Mold can cause asthma attacks. Others at risk may include: infants, children, the elderly, immune compromised patients, pregnant women and individuals with existing respiratory conditions.
With exposure, even in small amounts, mold may cause:
Vacuuming dead mold spores
- Itching or irritation of the nose, eyes, throat or skin.
- Skin rashes.
- Sinus infections or congestion/sinusitis(runny nose).
- Respiratory problems(sneezing and coughing).
- Upper or lower respiratory infections.
- Fatigue. Frequent headaches.
- Trouble concentrating, memory lapses, confusion.
- Mood swings, anxiety, depression.
- Chronic aches and pains.
- Digestive problems.
How Can I reduce Or Eliminate MOLD Inside My Home?
It is impossible to completely eliminate all mold and mold spores indoors. Mold will always be found floating in the air and in house dust. Indoor mold growth can be prevented by controlling water and moisture indoors. The following may prevent or reduce indoor mold growth:
- Repair any water leaks.
- Provide good air circulation.
- All HVAC systems should have a good electrostatic filter on the return.
- Use bathroom, kitchen and laundry room exhaust fans.
- Insulate and ventilate attic and crawl space areas.
- Clean, dry or remove items that are damaged by water immediately.
Real Estate Deals Do Not Need To Be Broken.
If the home you are thinking about purchasing has mold, do not panic! You can remove unusual mold levels from the home, and bring it back to it’s original condition.
Important: If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. if you clean the mold, but do not fix the water problem. the mold will grow back.
If you would like to hire a professional, Call artios painting at 309-788-9432 we will be happy to serve you.
Post Remediation Testing:
The most important part of the remediation (Clean Up) process is the post remediation testing. This final testing procedure provides confirmation that the project has been satisfactorily remediated and that the contamination has not spread to other areas.
Since there has been so much media hype surrounding mold, prospective home buyers want a home that has been mold inspected. Mold sampling has become a standard practice during a home inspection. To find out if you have mold in your home “Artios Painting” a mold inspector can perform a inspection.
To find out if mold is a problem in your home, you MUST have a mold inspection conducted by a inspector. (Artios painting 309-788-9432)
Visual inspection: A visual inspection is the initial step in identifying possible contamination problems. it will identify any visible water leaks or moisture stains on ceilings, walls, floors or under counters. The air conditioning and heating systems, the attic and crawl spaces under homes should receive a inspection as well. the use of equipment , such as a borescope, to view spaces in duct work and behind walls, and moisture meters are used to help identify hidden sources of mold growth and the extent of the water damage. Mold sampling will be recommended if there is any noticeable mold growth, musty odors, visible water damage or stains, poorly maintained HVAC systems or construction defects. By combining a visual inspection with air, tape or swab sampling, Artios painting can help identify the hidden source of mold, allergens and indoor pollutants and the extent of any acute or chronic water or moisture damage.
Air sampling:
The purpose of air sampling is to determine the amount of airborne contamination in a building. Air sampling may be necessary if the presence of mold, allergens or toxins is suspected (e.g.: musty odors, allergies) but cannot be identified by a visual inspection. When air sampling is performed, both the indoor air and outdoor air are sampled, so the results can be compared to see if a problem exists. Typically, the indoor sample is taken while the heating and/or air conditioning unit is operating; ]this will ensure the interior air is effectively tested.
Tape/swab sampling And Testing: Tape/Swab samples are usually collected from visible moldy surfaces by wiping the area with a sterile swab. This type of sampling/testing is used to identify specific mold types.
Recommendations and Laboratory Results: Once the home has a visual inspection and the mold circumstance evaluated, action can be planned to clean it up and prevent future contamination. Based upon site evaluations and sampling lab analysis results, Artios painting can provide a detailed written report that can be used for disclosure and references. In all situations , if mold exists, the underlying cause of the water damage must be corrected.
Why Choose “Artios Painting” With The Caltex System?
- Quick effective remediation process that kills the mold and retards its regrowth.
- Educated, experienced, and fully trained remediators .
- Protects other areas of your home from mold via partitioning and safety measures.
While eliminating all mold spores in the indoor environment is not realistic. it can be controlled in doors by controlling the moisture levels and removing already present mold. Mold has been an ever increasing concern to the public as they have become aware of the variety of health effects and symptoms that can result from mold exposure.
There are many types of molds and all of them have a distinct potential to cause health problems. Molds can produce allergens which can trigger allergic reactions or asthma attacks to people who are allergic to them. other molds can produce toxins and irritants. One of the major reasons to prevent mold growth, remediate[cleanup] mold and prevent recurrence is to avoid the potential health problems.
Molds can be found virtually anywhere because they can grow on almost any organic surface as long as moisture and oxygen are present. Molds can grow on wood, paper, carpet, food, insulation and more! Mold growth often occurs because there is excessive moisture in a building-a leak or an unaddressed moisture problem. How do molds spread? Mold reproduces by creating spores that cannot be seen without the aid of a microscope. The spores can float through the air until the spore lands on a moist location and begins to grow and devour the surface, destroying it.
Some moisture problems have been linked to changes in building construction practices in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Some of these changes have resulted in buildings that are tightly sealed but lack adequate ventilation. This can lead to moisture buildup. Drywall often does not allow moisture to escape easily. Moisture problems may also include roof leaks, landscaping or gutters that direct water into or under the building and unvented combustion appliances. These cause mold buildup which then requires remediation.