I wrote here about mold in homes in an earlier post; however
I don’t think I spent much time on how to remediate it.
Let’s start by establishing that almost all homes have some
mold of some sort and that most of it isn’t the dreaded black mold. Mildew is the most common type of fungal
growth in most homes and is as close cousin to the molds that are actually
harmful. Mildew is a surface fungus, while true mold will penetrate into the
surface of the things that it is growing upon. Mildew is easily handled with common
household cleaners, but mold takes a bit more effort and if left untreated for
any length of time may require replacement of the wood or drywall that is
growing upon. All molds require a source of moisture and something to eat.
While we don’t consider our drywall walls to be all that taste, mold loves the
stuff and will happily grown on any drywall surface, as well as wood ,
wallpaper and anything else that it can digest.
So what should you do if you see a patch of mold in your
house? You can try to tackle it yourself or you can call in a professional.
Since you aren’t an expert on mold types, if it’s anything besides the common
mildew it’s probably a good idea to get a professional opinion, rather than
panic and move out to a hotel because you think your house is overrun by black
mold. There are many types of mold, in a variety of colors and with a variety
of different hazard levels in terms of human health. I think it’s safe to say
that almost any mold may cause some human reaction, depending upon one
allergies and general health.
Recently I received an email from Trica Hall, a
representative of the Web Site BlackMoldRemoval.com – a site run by a mold remediation
company, that contained the following Infographic about black mold and how to
remediate it - http://www.blackmoldremoval.com/removal/. Take the time to browse through that site.
Having dealt with mold issues in many homes that I’ve either
sold or for which I represented the buyers, I can tell you that it is an issue that should
not cause panic, just like the3 presence of Radon should not cause panic. Both
of those issue are easily remediated and usually at a reasonable cost. There
are much bigger and more costly problems that one can find in a house than either
of those – foundation issues come to mind.
One thing that I think does deserve some thought is whether
to try a DIY remediation if mold is found. A tiny patch in the basement by the
laundry is one thing; however extensive mold groth due to flooding is quite
another. If you read through the Infographic you’ll notice that the pros come
in equipped in Hazmat suits; they bring big HEPA filter with them and large air
drying equipment. They also have professional grade sanitizing chemicals to
kill off the mold. What are you standing there with – a roll of paper towels
and a spray can of Scrubbing Bubbles? That may work for mildew, but not for real
mold. And what about your breathing safety equipment? Pulling your T-shirt up
over your nose isn’t going to cut it when dealing with mold. If you truly have
mold, especially black mold, leave it to the professional to remediate. For more on black mold and how to find a
professionals to deal with it, go to http://www.blackmoldremoval.com/. If it’s extensive black mold this is probably not
a DIY job.
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