Is there Mold in my Basement?

There are a few signs that you can look for to determine if you may have a mold problem in your home:

1. Visible growth of Mold: Mold often appears as a black, brown, or greenish-colored growth on walls, ceilings, or other surfaces. If you physically see a different color on your walls, floors and ceilings, then immediately call your local professional.
2. Musty odor: Mold has a very distinctive, musty smell that may be noticeable in the affected areas. When walking into a room with a unique odor, it may be an indication you have mold in your home. 
3. Water damage: Mold very oftenly grows in areas that have been exposed to water damage, such as after a flood or a leaky pipe. It only takes up to 24-48 hours for mold to grow in the right conditions. 
4. Health symptoms: If you experience symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, or skin irritation after spending time in a particular room or area of your home, this may be a sign of mold. Call your local professional immediately and visit your local doctor as a precaution. 

Many people don’t think of attics as being an environment in which mold would grow. And because attics aren’t accessed as often as other areas of your home or business, few people will actually see it – and you might therefor be tempted to simply leave it alone. Don’t. It won’t stay confined in the attic but will eventually spread to other areas of your home. It often causes an unpleasant musty odor and leads to a wide range of health problems.
Mold in an attic usually appears greenish-black and streaky or as a series of dots. However, there are many different types of mold, so if the mold in your attic looks different, that does not mean you don’t have a problem or don’t need to worry about it or take action. Nearly all types of mold can cause health problems, so if there is mold in your attic, you need to get rid of it.

A Healthy Spaces specialist will conduct a free inspection and offer free advice about dealing with your mold problem. In some cases, home owner’s insurance will even cover the cost of attic mold removal. The mold removal process involves treating the infected surfaces with specially manufactured products, but porous items like insulation often cannot be cleaned and must be thrown out and replaced. Wooden wall studs and similar items must often be treated as well to remove all traces of mold, since wood is porous. If you don’t follow these steps, the remaining mold will continue to grow and spread.
To treat mold problems in an attic, you need protective gear that includes rubber gloves, goggles, and a face mask and full body protective suit. We also hang sheets of plastic in front of the attic door, using tape to secure the edges, in order to prevent mold spores from drifting out into the rest of your building. Any windows or vents should also be covered with plastic and taped securely. Insulation or other substances that are contaminated with mold can be sealed in plastic bags so that mold spores aren’t tracked through your home or business, creating new problem areas.

Contact us today with your mold concerns and we’ll return your home or business to a healthy space.