Nine Basic Facts About Mold Damage

There is a lot of information out there about mold and mold damage. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions and myths. Misunderstanding mold and what it does and what it can do could lead to big problems for many home and business owners. Below are several important facts about mold and mold damage that the team of professional mold remediation contractors at Alert Disaster in the Bakersfield area recommends everybody understand.

1. What is mold? Molds are living organisms. They are types of fungi comparable to yeasts and mushrooms. Mold grows in our environment and has a place in the world, but some molds can be dangerous and destructive.
2. Mold grows most easily on porous surfaces. Drywall and unfinished wood are two examples of where mold tends to flourish. Mold can still grow on non-porous surfaces, but it doesn’t grow as quickly and is easier to eradicate.
3. Mold can grow very quickly. Under ideal circumstances, mold will grow and become visible within 24-48 hours. For mold to grow, the environment must be moist and humid. Mold can grow on practically anything, so any type of surface that provides this can be used as food for mold to grow on. This includes furniture, clothes, paper, and much more.
4. Mold is a common problem for homeowners. Studies indicate that somewhere between 50-65% of homes have a mold problem that should be addressed. Mold that is not addressed will spread quickly and can destroy the infrastructure of a home.
5. Mold is all around us. Don’t let that scare you. In fact, tiny amounts of mold are in every breath we take. Only completely sterilized rooms are completely devoid of mold spores. This type of mold should not be a concern for anyone.
6. Everyone reacts to mold slightly differently. Certain groups such as the young, elderly, and immune-compromised are more at risk for the health hazards caused by mold. If anyone in your home falls under any of those categories you should add an extra level of caution to your approach towards mold.
7. There are some areas of your home far more likely to have mold growth than others. These are typically areas that are dark and have unusual amounts of moisture. This could be bathrooms, attics, crawlspaces, and basements. You should be extra cautious regarding these areas and take care to ensure that large amounts of water don’t build up within them.
8. The best way to deal with mold damage is to call a professional. Hiring a professional mold remediation expert is the best way to clean up mold from your home. Professionals use advanced equipment that detects the mold at the source of the problem so that the source can be eliminated. Once the source is gone and the rest of the mold removed and cleaned up, the mold will not come back.
9. You cannot kill surface mold with bleach. In fact, if you find surface mold, there is probably a much bigger problem underneath the surface that is eating away at the infrastructure of your home. 

If you suspect mold in your home, don’t wait. Call a professional mold remediation team like Alert Disaster in Bakersfield. We can help you destroy the mold for good.