Clean Earth Restorations
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Mold Remediation
Mold can become a significant problem inside a home or business when there’s excessive humidity or moisture for an extended period of time. The problem may originate from sudden water releases, like a burst pipe or a large spill that goes untreated or from a chronic condition, such as a leaking roof or plumbing. Even high humidity or warm, most air condensing on cool surfaces can trigger mold problems. It’s always best to have the mode evaluated and removed by a certified professional. Clean Earth Restorations is trained and certified to address mold issues.
Understanding Mold
Mold can grow almost anywhere in a home or business if conditions permit. If there is a visible growth on painted wall surfaces, property owners should be concerned about what may be growing on the wall’s opposite side. The environment inside the walls of a house often differs drastically from the outside and could create a perfect haven for mold. If the wall remains wet for prolonged periods, it’s almost certain that the mold growth on the backside will be worse than on the front. At that point, containing the workspace and removing moldy materials, followed by cleaning of salvageable framing, are the best options.
Clean Earth Restoration has the training and experience to:
- Identify moisture sources and evaluate mold growth (visible or suspected)
- Utilize state of the art thermal imaging / infra red and boroscopes for inspection
- Contain damage to the smallest area possible
- Physically remove contamination
- Dry material to ensure that mold will not return
- Perform or recommend procedures for returning property to pre-loss condition
The staff of Clean Earth Restorations has over 30 years combined experience in full-cycle restoration services. Our team adheres to high ethical standards and is up to date with the latest technology in our industry. We are fully licensed with CSLB, certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC).
Mold Remediation - Frequently Asked Questions
What is mold?
Mold is a naturally occurring substance that evolved on earth long before man. Mold is part of the fungi family, and there are over 100,000 known species of mold. Mold releases enzymes that break down organic material. It plays a vital role in decomposing dead plant matter, and has given us valuable medicines against bacteria like penicillin. The trouble arises when mold breaks down the organic matter like our houses, and causes health consequences in our bodies.
What causes mold to grow?
Mold needs three things to grow – food, water and the right temperature. Mold thrives in the same temperature range that humans generally prefer (48° F to 70° F), and mold feasts on components of wallboard, carpets and other common household furnishings and construction materials. Therefore, the only real way to control mold is to eliminate its water source.
How can you tell if it's mold?
You can usually identify mold from the musty odor. Sometimes you can’t see mold, and it can appear in a variety of colors other than the commonly known dark green, black or brown. You can use a home testing kit, or call in an expert for a home inspection to confirm the growth of mold. Besides a musty odor or staining, crumbling or swelling of plaster and the separation of baseboard, the following are also problem signs of mold:
- Mold and/or mildew – fungus that grows in a damp, dark area and causes discoloration, musty smells and odors
- Musty odors – this is the result of the decay process from mold, mildew and dry rot
- Dry Rot – dark brown/black fungus that typically grows on walls
What are the potential health effects of mold?
The link between mold and serious health effects is still being studied, but there is no longer any question that mold causes respiratory symptoms (asthma) and allergic reactions (sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, etc). A Mayo Clinic study has shown that nearly 100% of chronic sinus infections are due to mold. Other adverse health symptoms that can be caused by mold are nosebleeds, runny nose, sneezing, headaches, sore throat, chronic coughing, eye irritation, watery eyes, dizziness, loss of balance, skin rash, fatigue, vomiting and memory loss.
Mold is emerging as a health and safety issue in many areas of the country. Studies have shown that nearly 50% of U.S. homes contain enough mold to cause respiratory symptoms.
Who is most at risk of adverse health effects from exposure to mold?
- The elderly
- Young children and infants
- Pregnant women
- People with asthma
- People with allergies
Reactions to Mold
People react differently to toxic mold exposure. Certain individuals, especially children, exhibit severe reactions to mold which could include damage to lung tissue, memory loss and even death. Other persons exhibit less severe symptoms and fewer long-term consequences when exposed to toxic mold. Severity of symptoms and effects may depend on the individuals’ chemical sensitivity, genetic disposition and health history (allergies, asthma, smoking, etc).
For some, the exposure to toxic mold spores may be classified as a “health risk”, while it is a true “health hazard” (potential for loss of life or quality of life) for others. Mold is a type of fungus, and is the decomposer of dead organic material such as leaves, wood and plants. The spores and hair-like bodies of individual mold colonies are too small for us to see, but when a lot of mold is growing on a surface, it often appears black or green.
If mold is growing behind vinyl wallpaper, colorful pink or purple splotches may appear. Mold can damage and destroy building materials, and should be treated as soon as possible.
At Clean Earth Restorations, we provide professional service for residential, commercial and industrial clients. We specialize in insurance claims with quick, reliable and professional service
