Growth.

4/20/2022 (Permalink)

Spring is here. Rain and moisture are plentiful, and the colors are coming back to the earth. New growth is upon us. Sounds wonderful, right? Growth is a beautiful thing unless it is mold and in your home. Now, molds are naturally occurring fungal growth that occurs on wet materials. Mold plays an important role in the ecosystem by breaking down dead organic matter in nature. Mold growth requires moisture, food/nutrients, and time. Common construction and building materials are able to easily sustain mold growth in improper conditions. Mold growth indoors is typically caused by water or moisture exposure or inadequate drying of affected materials. Anywhere moisture is present, mold can thrive, making leaky roofs, plumbing problems, and flooding some of the leading causes of excess moisture indoors. How can you tell if your home has a mold issue? Start by following your nose. One of the most noticeable effects of mold can be the smell of mildew. It is not that simple, however. There are many different kinds of molds. Molds come in all shapes sizes colors and varieties. Mold is not always easily detectible, though. It can hide behind wallpaper or paneling, inside drop ceilings, behind walls, in ductwork, and under carpet padding. SERVPRO of Austin and Albert Lea offer mold inspections as well as air sample testing to check for the presence of unwanted mold growth in homes or businesses. If unwanted mold is detected indoors, remediation becomes necessary to correct the problem. Calling SERVPRO to help you identify the presence of mold in your home is the first step. We will take it from there, completing the cleaning and removal of contaminated areas. We are properly armed with the equipment, methodology, and training using guidelines extracted from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the EPA, and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA). When left unhandled, mold can become dangerous in many ways. Mold can spread rapidly throughout a property causing damage to its structure, its contents, and its inhabitants. Growth is a beautiful thing this time of year, as long as it stays where it belongs and out of our bathrooms, attics, and crawl spaces!

Mold Inspections and Air Sample Testing

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

Spotting mold can be tricky. It can be black, white, green, pink, and different types of molds have varying textures. Despite popular belief, black mold is equally as dangerous as other molds. Many molds hide in the darkest of damp places in your home. Often mold will smell musty or dirty.

SERVPRO of Austin & Albert Lea offers mold inspections and air sample testing to help our customers identify and conquer mold problems in their homes or businesses. We have trained experts who know exactly what species of molds to look for. Air sample testing takes place by pulling air through a collection media in various sampling locations, as well as outside of your home or business for a comparison. SERVPRO uses commercial-grade cleaners and sporicidal disinfectants to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones from the dangers of mold. SERVPRO also offers demolition and reconstruction services for situations beyond remediation. We are ready to help you create safe and healthy spaces. Give us a call if you suspect mold growth where it shouldn’t be. We will be ready to help make it "Like it never even happened."

In Home Mold Removal

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

Every mold infestation is different, from the amount of mold to the types of materials affected. Each scenario requires a unique solution, but the general process stays the same. The steps listed below illustrate our process for a “typical” mold remediation infestation:

1. Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment
2. Mold Containment
3. Air Filtration
4. Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials
5. Cleaning Contents and Belongings
6. Restoration

Microscopic mold spores exist almost everywhere, outdoors and indoors, making it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.

Mold Can Be Very Sneaky

4/28/2021 (Permalink)

Mold growth on your wall may not seem like a big deal. It could just be the proverbial tip of the iceberg, though. Mold damage is often not limited to what you can see. It may be hiding behind the wall, under the flooring or inside cabinets. Quick mold remediation is the key to finding all its hiding spots and getting rid of the growth.

Behind Walls

Mold on the surface of your wall may just be the outward manifestation of the moldy drywall underneath it. Inspection may reveal several problems:

• Leaky pipes
• Overflow from the floor above
• Wet or moldy insulation

Mold cleanup professionals may have to tear out portions of your wall and remove the insulation. Once everything is clean and dry, they can then add new insulation and rebuild the wall.

Under Floorboards

Flooring such as carpet or hardwood floors can hide a moisture problem and the mold growth it fosters. Certified mold specialists may find a larger problem when the flooring is removed. If you see mold on wood when you look at your floor, it is probably not the only mold that is present.

Inside Cabinets

You may not ever think to look at the back of your cabinets, but frequent inspection is important, particularly if the cabinet is under a sink. A small leak can cause a lot of damage. If you have water damage that goes unmitigated, you may soon have a mold problem as well. If this happens, your cabinets may have to be removed and replaced during black mold cleanup.

Mold growth can hide in a number of places. You may see a little bit of mold on the surface that indicates there is a larger problem beneath it. You may not even see any mold at all until the places it is hiding are revealed. Check common hiding places frequently to make sure you don't have a fungus problem.