Tag: mold

A mold report allows you to find out if there is any toxic mold in your house that could potentially cause harm to you or your family. A mold report can also show how much mold there may be and what type of mold. Some varieties of mold can cause serious health problems, such as difficulty breathing.   Houses infested with mold sometimes must be torn down, and some insurance companies won’t cover a serious mold problem. It is crucial to be aware of potential mold issues before the mold takes over.  A mold report can determine whether or not your mold problem is serious.

Thorough examinations are done to produce mold reports. Mold reports are then used to determine what type of mold removal must be done. Mold removal can involve a variety of techniques. For mild cases, a chemical cleaner may be used. For severe cases of mold that have penetrated a home’s walls, major renovation may  need to take place. This might include tearing down walls down to the studs and replacing them if the mold is bad enough.  A mold report can tell you what kind of procedure you’ll need for mold removal.

Some precautions that you can take against mold include: running dehumidifiers to prevent your house from becoming too damp, and quickly addressing any water damage issues that may arise.  If you notice a minor amount of mold, you can remove it with diluted bleach; however, if it reappears you may want to have a professional come to give you a mold report to determine how deep the problem is. Bleach may take care of mold on the surface of a wall or ceiling, but it will probably not remove any deeper mold-related issues.  Don’t mess with mold—it may seem like a trivial matter, but it can be quite serious.

Mold has long been a major problem for homeowners.  When black mold was discovered, it became a huge news story that prompted millions of people nationwide to be on the lookout for this sometimes deadly strain of mold.  Since today’s homeowner is much more aware than ever about the hidden dangers that can be lurking in their homes, the mold business has taken off.  Usually those working in the mold business are experienced in knowing not only what to look for when it comes to mold, but also knowing how to remove it once it’s found.  This can be a very tricky thing since many types of household molds can be toxic.  It often requires wearing a wide variety of safety equipment, and sometimes asking the homeowners to leave the house for a day or even more, depending on the severity of the mold.

Some in the mold business also do other things such as extermination of pests like mice and roaches, while others just specialize in mold.  If you’re a homeowner and suspect you may have mold, it’s probably best to contact a mold business that focuses solely on this and not a lot of other common household problems.  This way, you know the company you choose is aware of what exactly needs to be done when it comes to finding and removing the mold.  Any kind of moisture that sits long enough in a cool, dark area can be a breeding ground for mold.  Unfortunately, we don’t always smell or see this mold, but it can grow very rapidly and eventually have a negative effect on our overall health.  A mold business can help you discover where the mold is coming from, and help remove it from your home so you can breathe safely without worrying about harmful mold lurking in your home any longer.

Toxic mold, or black mold, is a term used to describe a variety of fungi that can grow in your home. Despite the names, the mold is not itself toxic; rather, it releases substances called mycotoxins that can cause toxic reactions, including flu symptoms, respiratory problems, headaches, skin irritation and cognitive problems. Toxic mold can live on drywall, wood and carpets and is intensified by darkness and poor ventilation. Toxic mold is most common in buildings constructed after the 1970s, which are more airtight, and is more likely to occur in buildings with persistent water leaks or flooding.  With the sudden insurgence of health warnings about the dangers of toxic mold, mold law suits have been rampant.  Millions of dollars in mold law litigation monies have been dispersed to victims of toxic mold contamination in schools, offices, and homes.

The recent upheavals in the United Stats courtrooms surrounding mold law litigations are reminiscent of the asbestos scares over 30 years ago in which legal actions were taken against anyone who had owned a building containing asbestos and countless schools, office buildings and residences were rebuilt or completely torn down for asbestos removal.  Meanwhile, builders, insurance industry groups and other businesses blame overzealous lawyers and increased media attention for an exponential increase in mold law litigations the past three years with over ten thousand cases pending at this time.  Due to the damages being awarded in mold law litigation cases insurance premiums have increased as well as the cost of contractor materials and construction costs.

On the other hand, mold law litigations have helped consulting firms and home inspector businesses grow exponentially as well as consumers are now much more cautious of their purchases and now will routinely have their current homes and potential future homes tested for mold and mycotoxins.

If a person recently bought a new home and suddenly finds illnesses plaguing members of the family, they may want to have the home inspected for mold. While individual mold spores are not visible to the naked eye, if the mold has grown into a colony of spores, they will become visible without any aids. Depending on the type of mold, a mold attorney may be called to determine the previous owner has any legal obligations to help in eradicating the problem as well as any costs associated with its presence.

Although determining how long a mold colony has been allowed to grow may be difficult to prove, especially if it was not revealed during a home inspection prior to the property’s sale. Law firms specializing in mold litigation will have the resources available to make the determination and place the responsibility on the responsible party. While a mold attorney can find the culprit responsible for allowing the existence of the mold, until any claims are litigated and paid, the homeowner will want to eradicate the mold for the benefit of their health.

It is possible for mold to grow undetected for many years and survive extreme temperature variations. Moreover, while there is good mold as well as bad, once it is detected it must be removed. Many mold spores can remain airborne for a long time, and such mycotoxins they harbor can cause serious illness in humans. The white fuzzy stuff seen on fruit left on the kitchen counter too long is a form of mold.

In many cases involving what is called sick building syndrome, a mold attorney may be able to use their resources to find the source of the problem and point to the responsible party. This can be especially important if the specific type of mold, Stachyhotrys chartarum is found in the building. This particularly nasty strain of mold can get into a person’s lungs through breathing, attach itself to the lining and continue to grow.

If you feel that you’ve been exposed to mold due to negligence of another party, you may want to get a mold lawyer and take them to court over it.  Often mold just causes symptoms similar to an allergic reaction how there are more toxic molds that can make you extremely ill and can even cause death.

If you work indoors, you’ll probably be exposed to the same air for long periods at a time.  This isn’t necessarily a bad thing however if your air is polluted by mold spores it could be a very serious problem.  Mold can begin growing in the ventilation system or near an air intake and poison the air of an entire building.  This is one of the many causes of ‘sick building syndrome’ in which occupants of entire buildings all fall ill at once with similar symptoms.  If the mold was caused by negligence of your company you may want to see a mold lawyer to see if your entitled to lost pay or health care.

If you rent a part of a building to work in or to live in, you often don’t have access to other areas of the building like the attic or the basement.  These are two prime locations where mold likes to grow due to the damp atmosphere.  If left unnoticed, mold can grow to the point of consuming entire walls.  Even if the mold is only a non toxic species you will most likely be forced out of the building while a specialized crew is brought in to remove the mold.  This may entitle you to part of your rent back or money from your landlord due to lost productivity.  By contacting a mold lawyer you can find out just what your options are.

Mold growth in your home can cause a great deal of damage, causing rot in structural supports, terrible stains and odors, and even health problems as spores are released into the air. Depending upon the extent of your mold problem, finding the right mold solutions to ensure that it is addressed effectively can be quite difficult.

The first step in choosing effective mold solutions for you home is a thorough inspection. If you have found mold in one area, there is a good possibility that there may be colonies thriving in other places within your home. Determining whether you have a small, isolated area of difficulty or a widespread mold scourge is essential to your mold solutions plan.

If a visual inspection has revealed one or more small areas of surface mold on a wall, ceiling, or floor, these can often be treated with one of the many chemical mold solutions available in your neighborhood hardware or home improvement store, or sold by online retailers. A dust mask should be worn as you remove mold, protecting your lungs from the mold spores emitted while you work. Protective waterproof gloves are recommended as well, to avoid skin reactions to the mold or the chemicals used to remove it.

Once visible mold has been removed and the home well ventilated, another inspection should be done, this time to detect odors. If your home still has a musty smell, you may have a hidden mold issue. Mold can grow inside walls, under flooring materials and cabinets, behind appliances, or nearly anywhere else that moisture lurks.

Problems of this magnitude may require more aggressive mold solutions, such as a qualified mold mitigation specialist. Once mold had invaded materials like wood beams or wallboard, removal can be extremely difficult. Mold can cause rot in structural elements of the home, making professional evaluation of the situation a wise investment to ensure the safety of your home.

While mold problems are quite a headache for many homeowners, modern mold solutions have made them easier to manage effectively. Handled with the proper mold solutions, these issues can be quickly eliminated, restoring the home and your peace mind.

While most homeowners know what to look for when they sense the presence of mold, sometimes it is not always that easy.  In addition, some spores or strains of mold can be so dangerous and spread so rapidly, that it’s best to hire a professional mold inspection company.  The Environmental Protection Agency supplies a list of local professionals you can choose from and trust.  In fact, there is an organization called the National Association of Mold Professionals that trains and certifies experts to perform duties in the mold inspection field.  A course must be passed so that everyone who applies has a full understanding and knowledge about the various strains of mold, how and why they spread, and an understanding about the standards that must be upheld when performing a mold inspection.  Safety standards and practices should also be observed to protect both the inspector and the homeowner or building occupants.

When a mold inspection is performed, the mold needs to be contained and a sample should be taken.  This sample can be in the form of small spores placed in a sealed container, water samples, or material samples.  In the case of material samples, a piece of carpeting or flooring, or even a part of the wall may need to be taken in order to get it tested.  The mold inspector then takes this sample to a lab, or they may even have mobile lab equipment there to test the mold so they can identify the strain.  This is the basic layout of a mold inspection, but the next step would be to kill the mold effectively.  Once all of the mold is dead, it needs to be safely removed and then steps should be taken to “mold proof” the home so that it does not come back later on.

Mold can lead to serious health consequences, therefore it is very important that your business have a mold inspector come and regularly check for the presence of mold.  When many people share an office and work together, it is very easy for germs and viruses to spread from one person to another.  Mold is a fungus that thrives on moisture.  Typically, businesses that use air conditioning may be inviting mold to grow and spread through the building via the air ducts.  Therefore a mold inspector can help ensure that there is no mold present, or stop a serious outbreak before it occurs.

A mold inspector will use various testing kits to detect the presence of mold in a building.  If mold is present, he or she will have a report readily available that will detail the type of mold found and will advise you on how best to treat the problem.  Many times, office illnesses can be traced back to the presence of mold, and it is a health hazard not to remove mold and take steps to prevent it from returning.

You should make certain that you choose a certified mold inspector as well.  Ensuring that the mold inspector is certified will let you know that you are dealing with an expert who is thoroughly educated and informed in mold detection and removal.  Just treating localized areas of mold by yourself is not enough.  If you are running or managing an office building, you need to ensure that a certified mold inspector checks the building and that the safety and well being of the employees is the first priority.  Many employers may balk at the cost of hiring a mold inspector, but when compared to the amount of lost revenue when an entire office is sick due to mold, the cost of prevention far outweighs the total of lost profits.

There has been increasing concern that the unpredictability of weather patterns, the onslaught of natural disasters such as hurricanes and the general effects of climate change may be doing some kind of damage that may be internal, and not external.

Home-owners in New Orleans for example after the ravages of Katrina settled down and began the arduous task of rebuilding or fixing their homes and discovered that some of them had to contend with more than just broken windows and water-logged rooms. There were reported cases of mold infections, some of which were so severe as to cause immediate allergic reactions in some individuals.

For the rest of the country fortunate enough to have escaped nature’s wrath, you still have to realize that nature even in its calm state, still allows for the natural processes that makes mold flourish. And experts say that it’s more common than you think. With such chances, getting expert mold inspectors into your home right now may be the most prudent thing to do.

Industry experts cite the practicality of having your home inspected for molds and general indoor quality at a time when costs have significantly dropped. In some states, the value of a home being sold or bought sometimes hinges on the certification that it has passed indoor air standards. If you are a real estate agent, a building contractor or a simple homeowner, the next best people to have by your side may be mold inspectors.

The rule of thumb in getting competent mold inspectors is to look for those who have an extensive construction and inspection background. Be wary of mold inspectors who would simply tell you upfront that they could only do physical inspections for water intrusion and mold. This is not sufficient because you would need air testing as well to reveal airborne levels of mold spores which may pose dangerous health risks.

Look and check for other credentials as well such as an E & O and GL insurances, and membership with the Indoor Air Quality Association. Ask friends and other homeowners if they can refer mold inspectors that have already done satisfactory work for their homes.

If you have found mold in your home or your family is showing the signs of sickness due to mold then you need to call a certified mold inspector as soon as possible.  Mold is present in your house at all times but can become active after such instances of flood or spike in humidity.  Your family can become very ill with symptoms such as lung infections, ear infections, skin infections or chronic fatigue.  It does not matter if you can see the mold or not because a certified mold inspector will be able to look at you home and detect the cause and rid you of poisonous mycotoxins.

Certified mold inspectors have been trained in the breeding causes of mold.  Mold becomes tricky because it does not always show itself on your walls.  Mold may grow on the inside of walls or in the carpet of your home.  Certified mold inspectors will have the tools to find the cause of your illness and return your home up to code. 

If there have been no signs of illness from your family but you are still concerned about mold then you should call a certified mold inspector.  It is a good idea to have a certified mold inspector out to your home at least once a year to make sure seasonal weather changes have not caused a detriment to your home.  The sooner you can spot the mold the more you will be preventing illness from causing your family heartache.  It is always easier to prevent mold then it is to repair a large mold growth problem.

You want to have a home that you can return to at the end of a long day and feel good about.  When you come home to a home that will make you sick you lose the respite after a long day and you will not only find yourself becoming physically sick you will also become stressed out and the health problems will only be exasperated.  Turning your worries over to the hands of a certified mold inspector will help clear up the sickness and the stress in your life.