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Archived Mold Remediation Blog Posts

5 Items That Must be Worn During Mold Remediation

1/25/2019 (Permalink)

Wear proper personal protective gear

5 Items That Must be Worn During Mold Remediation 

While mold clean-up jobs are best left to mold remediation specialists, it is important that you know what protective equipment is necessary for handling mold growth in your home as you might need enter the area yourself. Cleaning mold in  Knightdale, NC, is not like typical cleaning you do around the house. When disturbed, mold spores are quick to spread to other parts of your home or onto your clothes. Learn what items you must wear during mold remediation to protect yourself and reduce the risk of spreading.

1. Air-Purifying Respirator

The most important piece of equipment you will need to get is a face mask, such as an N-99 respirator mask, to prevent you from breathing in mold particles. These face masks are designed to filter out mold spores in the air around you.

2. Safety Goggles

Mold and chemicals used to clean mold can easily damage your eyes. Make sure to wear a pair of decent safety googles to protect yourself.

3. Protective Gloves

Probably the second most important piece of equipment after face masks, protective gloves are essential for keeping mold off your hands as you work.

4. Disposable Hair and Shoe Covers

To avoid bringing mold to other parts of your home, make sure to use disposable covers to keep mold out of your hair and off your shoes. If you leave the area with mold damage for any reason, also make sure to take off the covers and a grab new ones before getting back to work.

5. Long Clothing

While Tyvek suits are ideal for larger jobs, make sure you at least wear clothing that fully covers your arms and legs. Take off your clothes as soon as you’re done to wash them.

From the proper face masks to the clothing you wear, it is important you have the necessary equipment when dealing with mold growth in your house. When dealing with the mold remediation specialist, they should already have all the necessary equipment to get the job done!

How Can I Detect Mold in My Home?

5/16/2018 (Permalink)

Specialists can educate you on what causes mold to flourish, and how to prevent another outbreak by pinpointing the source of your infestation.

Mold can be like cockroaches; if you see even one patch it can mean a larger infestation throughout your walls or through other areas of your home. Just getting rid of that one patch may not be enough, but how can you tell if you have even more mold throughout your Raleigh, NC, home?

Find an Indoor Environmental Specialist

If you’ve never heard of indoor environmental specialists, they’re certified professionals who can:

• Test for air quality
• Test for and identify mold infestations
• Identify the type of mold and its effects
• Pinpoint the location of hard-to-find mold outbreaks
• Recommend safety and remediation activities

When an indoor environmental specialist conducts a mold test, they’re often able to pick up sensitive information that wouldn’t otherwise be detectable by the naked eye or with over-the-counter mold tests.

Can an Indoor Environmental Specialist Get Rid of My Mold For Me?

Sometimes, though you can never truly be free of mold when the spores are constantly active in the air around you. You can only minimize and control its presence. Some indoor environmental specialists are certified for mold remediation, while others may refer you to additional professionals to devise and launch an effective remediation plan to rescue your home from mold. Either will be able to tell you the first steps to take to prepare your home for mold remediation.

Can an Indoor Environmental Specialist Help Me Prevent Mold?

Absolutely. Specialists can educate you on what causes mold to flourish, and how to prevent another outbreak by pinpointing the source of your infestation. Usually the cause is water leaks and water damage, providing the fuel mold needs to thrive on organic matter. A remediation and environmental specialist can talk to you about removing these sorts of problems from your home, and steps to take to prevent excess moisture in your environment from contaminating your home with fresh mold. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROeastraleighzebulon.com/.

Why Is Black Mold Growing in My Building?

4/26/2018 (Permalink)

Black mold is one of a variety of mold or fungi that are caused by moisture that doesn’t dry out quickly. It can grow anywhere in a building where there is moisture, high humidity or standing water. Here is what you should know to find problem areas and prevent mold.

Finding Moisture Problems

In commercial buildings in Raleigh, NC, there are multiple areas where a moisture problem can lead to the growth of mold. Some of the most common moisture issues in commercial buildings include the following:

• Water from leaking pipes or roof leaks
• Excessive humidity in areas such as wash rooms, boiler rooms or cafeteria kitchens
• Areas with poor ventilation such as locker rooms
• Ground water that runs into a building’s foundation or basement
• Any spills or drips that aren’t quickly mopped up or dried
• Damp insulation from internal leaks in the walls
• Poor building maintenance

Preventing Mold Growth

Generally, the best way to deal with any moisture problem that could lead to the growth of black mold is to prevent it in the first place. If you suspect a problem, do a thorough inspection of your building, looking for all the problems listed above. Talk to your building maintenance crew about ways to minimize standing water, moisture and high humidity in all areas. These may include improved ventilation systems on air conditioning and heating units, more fans and ventilation in damp areas such as locker rooms and kitchen areas, moisture-resistant insulation, frequent checks of rugs, carpets and ceilings to make sure they aren’t wet from spills or leaks.

The design and layout of a commercial building can also help minimize any problems. Tile, linoleum or other hard floor surfaces are usually better choices than carpeting, which can soak up moisture. Mold can grow underneath a wet carpet quickly. Improved venting and windows that can be opened to allow air to circulate more freely can also help prevent growth of fungi or mold.

Mold is often hard to tackle alone. If you’ve taken all the necessary precautions but still have black mold in your Raleigh, NC, building, be sure to hire an expert in mold cleanup that is familiar with the problem and knows how to eliminate it. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROeastraleighzebulon.com/.

Lawn Slime: An Uninvited Visitor

3/27/2018 (Permalink)

When it comes to the topic of mold, most residents in Raleigh, NC likely think of greenish-black spots on shower walls or underneath old wallpaper. Just as mold thrives in a wide variety of places, it can also easily spread outdoors, as seen in the infamous lawn slime that plagues yards of all kinds. Keep reading the pointers below to find out what this type of mold is, what its common characteristics are, and how to identify it.

What Is Lawn Slime?

A homeowner unfamiliar with outdoor mold may be shocked to find a dark, sludgy substance across the yard. Like most types of fungi, slime mold grows in a variety of forms and can actually help other parts of the yard break down organic matter. Outdoor slime can take on many different colors, such as pink, blue, or orange, but it is usually dark.

How Long Does It Last?

A common characteristic of mold is that most types depend largely on temperature and moisture. If both of these elements are at the right levels, it may be years before lawn slime fades into the background of your domain. For instance, if your area sees a lot of rain, you can likely expect the slime cleared from patches in your yard, only to see it reappear days later.

Where Can One Spot It?

Aside from the most obvious location of your lawn, outdoor mold can pick favorite areas to spread. While it mainly sticks to lawns, this type of fungus can also affect paved areas, such as sidewalks and driveways. If you see a powdery or slimy substance outside your home, you are probably dealing with some degree of this mold.

When you've discovered a problem that is making your home less homey, small patches of lawn slime can seem magnified. Although it can become a spot for slip and falls when on paved areas, slime in your yard is typically no major cause for alarm. Visit http://www.SERVPROseraleighgarnerzebulon.com for more information on mold. 

How Can I Prevent Mold From Growing?

2/19/2018 (Permalink)

Mold spores are present everywhere, and they can quickly begin to grow and spread if good mold prevention practices are not in place. You can prevent the development of mold in your commercial property by quickly taking steps to remediate any water damage that may have occurred. Sources of water damage can include the following:

• Spills
• Leaks
• Burst pipes
• Broken appliances
• Excessive rainfall

These are just a few of the ways that water can be introduced to a property. Once the water comes in contact with a surface, mold can begin to grow. Because mold growth can begin with surprising speed, property owners and managers in Raleigh, NC, should not delay remediation and restoration efforts.

Clean up Water as Soon as Possible

Begin clearing up the water as soon as it is detected. Soaking up water with towels and rags is a good first step; be sure to wash these quickly to avoid them becoming a hot spot of mold growth themselves. If a leak cannot be stopped, place a bucket or other container underneath the flow to catch the water. Contact a plumber as soon as possible to arrange for repair services.

Check Surfaces for Damage

Water can damage all kinds of surfaces, including stucco, drywall, and wood. These and other porous surfaces can absorb water quickly, which leads to mold growing in small and hidden spaces. Simply wiping up the water with rags and mops is usually not enough to hold back mold growth. Water damage can weaken materials such as drywall and plaster, and may require professional assistance to repair. Working with experienced water removal and remediation companies can be a good way of ensuring that damage due to mold is prevented. Your commercial building can be free from deeply established mold colonies that grow underneath floorboards, behind walls, and in ceilings.

Contact Professionals Promptly

Working with plumbers and mold remediation technicians promptly can be a good way of preventing mold from growing in your Raleigh, NC, business. Instead of taking chances, choose to work with experienced service providers.

Top 4 FAQs About Mold

11/30/2017 (Permalink)

Top 4 FAQs About Mold

One of the most common and most misunderstood problems for homeowners in Raleigh, NC is mold growth. It’s normal to wonder if molds are dangerous in the home, and more importantly, what can be done to fix the problem. These growths often begin due to high humidity or instances of water damage, and they can go unseen until the problem requires professional attention. Here’s what you need to know about these frustrating fungi.

1. It’s a Hydration Situation

Too much moisture is the primary culprit when mold is found in the home. Microscopic spores travel through the air, and when they settle in damp, musty areas, they’re capable of growing into potentially harmful structures. Limiting humidity and resolving leaks are common fixes to these types of issues.

2. There are Multiple Types

Mold comes in a variety of colors, most commonly gray, green and black. Certain growths can produce mycotoxins, which are capable of causing notable adverse health effects when overexposure occurs. That’s why regardless of type, mold remediation is necessary when growth is observed indoors.

3. It Starts Quickly

Don’t take evidence of water damage sitting down—it can result in mold growth in as little as 24 hours. Common causes often include:

Leaky plumbing pipes
Damaged roofing components
Basement flooding after heavy rain

4. Restoration is Possible

In some form, molds are just about everywhere, inside and out. Therefore, while complete removal is technically impossible, remediation is a very attainable goal for any home in Raleigh, NC. It’s a job best left to the pros, as mold remediation professionals utilize equipment made to inhibit further fungal growth in addition to cleaning and removing compromised materials.

Prevention’s always the best route, so make sure to limit the potential for high humidity in your home. Keep a sharp eye out for any signs of water damage, including discolored spots on walls or ceilings, and be sure to tackle any signs of mold growth quickly before they can spread further. Visit http://www.SERVPROseraleighgarnerzebulon.com for more information on mold.