Mold is a serious issue that you will need to address both immediately and professionally if you believe it exists in your home. Mold can not only damage the value of your home, but also your physical health. To thrive, mold spores need two things; moisture and darkness, conditions which are common in several spots throughout your home (most notably in your basement and behind your drywall).
Mold is a part of the fungi kingdom. The function of mold is to break down decaying plants, leaves, and dead animals. It can grow anywhere if there is enough moisture and organic material. The presence of mold in the home may cause some people to develop symptoms called mold allergies. This happens when a person breaths in mold spores and the immune systems responds by creating allergic reactions.
There are three types of mode that can contribute to health problems. These include allergenic molds, pathogenic molds, and toxic molds. Allergenic molds travel through the air and causes allergy like symptoms. Pathogenic molds are a little worse than allergenic mold. They can cause symptoms that can have long term effect on an individual. Pathogenic molds can cause an acute response to exposure to an organism. Toxic molds are the most dangerous kind of molds because they can lead to severe illnesses.
Mold can grow in insulation, clothes, carpet, food, and furniture in the home. Mold on the walls in a house can be easily removed by wiping the mold away with a wet cloth. However, if the wall is porous, you will need to cut away the part of the wall where the mold is growing.
One way to tell if you have mold in your home or business is to have a mold test. A mold test will help you to find unseen mold. This test will also help you to identify the air quality in your home as well as the species of the mold present.The three main types of mold testing are air testing which tests the concentration of mold spores in your homeâs air. Surface testing which involves taking samples from household surfaces to find mold growth and spores.
Mold can come in a variety of shapes and an assortment of colors. The colors can range from black to orange, yellow to green, and blue to white. Mold can also be unique in its appearance and shape. It can be flat looking or have a hairy or a bumpy look.
Black mold grows on food that is left uncovered; especially wheat. Green mold is an allergen. Orange and yellow mold usually does not grow indoors. It is nontoxic and grows on decomposed matter and wood.
Moisture is the main reason that mold may start growing in a home. Moisture can enter a home through water leaks and humidity. Combine moisture with mold spores, a food source, warmth, darkness, and oxygen and mold can begin to grow in 24-48 hours.
Mold can also grow as a result of leaking pipes and roofs. Poor ventilation in bathrooms and kitchens where there is usually a lot of stream can also contribute to the growth of mold. A lot of mode growth needs moisture, a food sources, and a surface to attach itself to. Building materials such as plywood and drywall as well as carpet padding can provide food for mold to grow. Mold can lay doormat in the walls of building that have been subjected to flooding until conditions are favorable for it to grow.
Mold generally looks fuzzy and can be different colors. It can damage the foundation of a house overtime, and can cause health problems. Mold that has grown a lot might begin to look like a plant. Mold can even cause some surfaces to rot.
Mildew grows in a flat pattern and can look powdery or downy. It will damage plants and crops and it will also affect an individual health causing headaches and breathing problems. Mildew generally forms in bathrooms because the moisture created there gives it a suitable place for fungi to grow. It can also grow on paper and damp clothes after a certain period of time.
Mold spores can begin to grow after 12 hours depending on the surrounding conditions. Some grow in 24-48 hours while some types of mold may colonize in 1 to 12 days.
Mold reproduces spores which spread through the air, water, or on animals. Mold always grows where there is a supply of moisture and organic materials.
Mold removal can take from 1 day to 5 days to complete. Removing mold from a home or business will depend on how much mold is present, where it is growing, and what it is growing on.
Mold remediation is the process by which mold is removed from a home or business. There are several steps involved in mold remediation.
A professional mold remediation service will stop the growth of mold completely. They will then create a condition with in the home or office building with the use of chemicals that will be hostile to the growth of mold. Mold can help our environment, yet destroy our homes and our health.
Myth: Mold is only found in old homes and buildings.
Fact: Mold can be found everywhere.
Myth: Bleach kills all mold.
Fact: Bleach can sometimes get rid of the appearance of mold however, it is ineffective at getting to the cause of the mold problem.
Myth: You can cover the mold up with a fresh coat of paint.
Fact: Paint does not stop the mold growth even if you can’t see it.
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guyt10@outlook.com