You would be surprised at how the many pollutants found in your home can be the root of your allergic reaction. It isn’t just outdoor irritants, such as pollen, that can cause allergies. Your home often contains a concentrated amount of particles that can cause an allergic reaction to occur.
Restoration companies are often asked whether or not their insurance covers mold damage in their home. The answer typically depends on how the mold or water damage got there in the first place. Read on to learn more about what you can expect if you are dealing with either issue.
Roof Ventilation and Keeping Frustrating Damage at Bay
Installing a roofing system correctly is imperative. Failure to do so can lead to a lot of major problems. If you’re going to be installing a roof any time soon, then you need to take strong ventilation practices into consideration. Inadequate roof ventilation can wreak havoc onto systems in many diverse ways. If you want to steer clear of all kinds of issues, then you need to go the extra mile to see to it that your roofing system’s ventilation approach makes total sense. It’s imperative to grasp that ventilation issues can trigger all sorts of issues that can be a hassle to manage.
Homeownership is one of the best feelings ever, but there is a lot of responsibility when it comes to owning a house. Maintenance applies to more than just appliances. When these problems aren’t addressed in a timely manner, more significant issues can occur, including repair bills ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Warren Restoration has some tips on how to catch these issues early so they can be quickly taken care of.
Mold is a kind of fungus that is found almost everywhere. One of molds role is to break down natural things such as old food. Although it is everywhere, it is harmless in small amounts. However, if molds ends up in a damp area within your home, it can grow. It grows especially quickly in moist, dark spaces such as basements. Molds then can become a problem since they have the potential to produce allergens, irritants and even disease.
Mold remediation can be a costly expense to a homeowner if the damage is severe. We here at Warren Restoration understand that the best case scenario for our clients would be if they never had to contact us at all! You can catch mold growth before it becomes a problem if you stay conscious of these early signs.
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Most people don’t like mold. We all know enough to throw out food that has been in the refrigerator a bit too long and developed the fuzzy greenish-gray covering. But what about mold that is less apparent? Mold can hide and lurk in places you never see—always areas of dampness, such as behind walls and in dark attic spaces. Mold produces allergens, irritants, and potentially toxic substances that put people’s health at risk. For example, when inhaled or touched, mold can cause an allergic reaction or provoke an asthma attack or other respiratory symptoms.
Outdoors, we know that mold plays a useful and important role. But indoors, it is always best to avoid mold infestations, or, when you realize you have one, take immediate steps to clean and remediate it. Mold spores are invisible to the naked eye, but are always floating through the air. When mold spores land on wet or damp surfaces, within 24-48 hours, mold begins to grow. In addition to causing a potentially serious health threat, mold can damage whatever surface it grows on, whether it is cloth, leather, cardboard, or some other porous surface.
Even though mold spores are present just about everywhere, unless moisture is present, they will not grow. Therefore, the best way to control the growth of mold in your home is to control the amount of moisture and humidity in your home. Once mold takes hold in one area of your home, you should consider that a warning sign of a larger moisture problem elsewhere. Flooding, plumbing leaks, and other water problems can result in the growth of mold in the immediate area where the water damage occurred. This mold is likely visible to the eye. But, other hidden areas of the home where dampness and humidity occur, such as behind walls, in ceilings, insulation and ductwork, can also promote the growth of mold. Look outside your home, too, as mold can grow in vents, on siding and decks, under roof flashing, and in window wells.
While simply wiping the mold from the surface may appear to stop the problem, that one step is not enough. And, if untreated or treated incorrectly, the mold infestation can grow even larger. But, by proactively taking the following 7 steps, you will be well on your way to getting mold under control:
To identify if a spot on the wall is mold or dirt, dab the spot with a cotton swab that has been dipped in diluted bleach. If the spot lightens quickly, it is probably mold. You will need to take further action to locate the source, clean it, and remove it.
To prevent mold from recurring, spray an antimicrobial treatment on the area that was previously infested, but is now clean and dry. This step is most effective in small areas. An area where a larger infestation previously occurred will probably require further treatment.
When building or renovating an area where water or humidity has been a problem, use mold-resistant building materials to minimize the chance of a mold infestation starting or returning.
When painting, use an antimicrobial treatment on surfaces where mold might grow (or from which mold has been cleaned) to prevent the mold from growing or coming back. Use a primer that is mildew-resistant or add a mildewcide to existing paint.
In bathtubs and showers, clean caulk and grout that is stained, spray surfaces with an antimicrobial treatment, regrout, and caulk. Coating the entire surface with a grout sealant to fully finish the area.
Keep water from entering your basement or crawlspace by making sure the mulch beds and yard around the house are graded and sloping away from the house to where they drain properly.
Inspect your roof annually. Check for moisture in attics, insulation, and eaves. If you find water or dampness, immediately fix leaky flashings and shingles, dry the wet area, and treat it for mold.
If you know your home has a mold infestation, or suspect you might have a mold problem, call the professionals at Warren Cleaning and Restoration. Our team is certified by the mold specialists, MICRO, and by the cleaning and restoration specialists, IICRC, so you know we will treat your mold problem safely and effectively. We work within an approximate 2-hour radius of our two family-owned and operated offices in Big Stone Gap, VA, and Hendersonville, NC, and we’re available to take your emergency call 24/7.