Signs of Mold Damage

Odors, allergies, and health problems are all signs of mold damage in a home. Among home-related threats, mold is one of the most serious because it can directly affect something more valuable than the worth of any material possession: the health of you or your family. To understand the issues poised by mold, we must take a look at how it forms, how to prevent mold, and how to deal with mold if it appears.

What Causes Mold Damage?

The number one cause of mold in a house is unregulated humidity and water saturation. In addition, mold spores need a few more variables to proliferate: darkness, warmth, air, and something to snack on (in this case, the wood of your house. Mold may also eat drywall and cotton insulation.)

Mold damage is likely to erupt if humidity levels in the house increase. This may occur from environmental conditions. In fact, rainy summer months are the prime period for mold growth, as there is a combination present of humidity and warmth.

Homeowners may also precipitate the conditions. Keeping wet clothes around the house (such as to dry) could cause mold problems. The use of humidifiers is also problematic.

Finally, mold often grows as a result of water damage in the house. A broken pipe in the wall that was left unchecked, leaking water over years, will not only corrode your wood but could cause mold to erupt all around the leak, creating a health hazard.

Where Does Mold Grow?

Mold prefers dark places to grow. You’re less likely to see mold crawling across your well-lit living room. However, somewhere like the basement is an ideal location for mold. Being underground, a basement is likely to attract humidity and water leakage from rainwater filtering from the surface. Areas behind the walls of your home, around the water pipes, is another mold prone location. Mold can expand and eventually start eating its way into the more commonly used spaces of the house if the mold damage becomes severe enough.

What Can Professionals Do?

Fighting mold requires several strategies at once:

• Location: Guaranteed where there is abnormal moisture in your home or commercial space, that’s where the mold is originating. Typically, the easiest way to find the mold is to use a moisture detection device. This process is important as it may also identify a leaking pipe which could further damage the building
• Purification: Mold is not restricted to its physical appearance. In fact, it proliferates throughout the air you breathe, which is what makes it a health hazard. The airborne spores also allow mold to continue growing in new places. HEPA air filters and negative air machines must be installed to purify the air.
• Remediation: Mold disposal must follow careful guidelines, including the use of sealed bags for removal of mold-contaminated pieces of dry wall or other materials. Professionals will also use a gradient scale to determine how severe the mold damage is, and what techniques must be used to eliminate it. Sections of your home may or may not require reconstruction depending on the extent of the mold damage.
• Moisture Regulation: To prevent mold from reoccurring, the cleaned areas must be exposed to de-humidifiers or even open air until completely dry.

What to Do if Mold Damage is Affecting You

Consider if there is mold restoration listed on your homeowner’s insurance policy. Working with your insurance, you’ll need to call a restoration company to begin performing the work. LBR Construction Services LLC are equipped to handle mold situations, as we can dispatch teams of licensed personnel with many years of experience at mold removal. If you’re in the greater Chicago area and require mold remediation services, please call us today at 630-534-3032.