It is not uncommon to put down a musty odour in the house and be at a loss as to its origin. Or perhaps you have come across some darkening on a wall or ceiling and marveled at how fast it appeared. Then there is the matter of cleaning up mold one day and having it back on your hands a week later.
You would be hard pressed to find someone who has not asked themselves these questions. We see it all the time here at H&L Remediation where we put homeowners and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in a position to handle mold and the moisture that underlies it. For a discussion with an actual person about what you are dealing with, our number is (408) 516-9131.
We would like to put forward some facts about mold for you to consider first, however. It is the way to keep it from your home in the long run.
An Old Recycler
In a sense, mold is older than you might imagine. For hundreds of millions of years it has been at work outdoors as one of nature’s premier recyclers, reducing dead wood and leaves to nothing. Out in the wild it serves a purpose. But when it makes its way inside and starts to eat away at the drywall, wood framing or the paper on your insulation, you have a problem. Not that mold is the villain per se, but it is something to be concerned with when it is growing in the wrong place.
Spores Are All Around
Most are unaware that their home is already full of floating mold spores. They are to be found in virtually every corner of the planet, indoors and out, and you take them in with each breath without so much as a thought. In and of themselves a few spores are no harm. Yet put the right conditions in place and they will form a colony in short order.
The Speed of Indoor Mold
A modern dwelling is sadly well equipped for mold to make itself at home. In 24 or 48 hours a small patch can be everywhere if the environment is conducive, which is how a minor leak can get away from you. To put it in perspective, what you need for rapid spread is:
- Some moisture by way of a flood, high humidity or a leak
- Wood, fabric, paper or drywall to feed on
- Warmth, as mold is partial to the same temperatures we are
- An absence of air circulation to let dampness linger
- A dark spot behind a wall or floor
- Time; it does not take long for spores to put down roots
Add in the Bay Area climate with its seasonal rains and coastal humidity, and the older stock of homes with their concealed plumbing, and moisture will accumulate where it should not.
Out of Sight
Mold has a habit of establishing itself where you cannot see it. Give it weeks and it will be under your carpet padding, in the wall cavity or behind the baseboards before you are any the wiser. Often you will smell that earthiness before a stain shows up. Do not discount a musty smell; your nose will tell you more than your eyes.
More Than One Kind
Depending on the type and what it is on, you may find mold that is black, white, green, gray or even orange and pink. It can be powdery or slimy. With such variety it is easy to put it down to a bit of dirt. Leave the identification to us; a professional inspection will show you the extent of it.
Make the Call
If it is a spot of surface mold on the shower tile you can do it yourself. Should water damage be involved, or if the mold is over a wide area and wont stay put, call in a pro. You risk putting more spores in the air and into other rooms by trying to scrub a large colony.
H&L Remediation is locally owned and a BBB A+ rated firm with over 15 years in the business of water damage, restoration and mold removal. We are on hand 24/7 for the whole of the Bay Area.
Do not put off addressing a suspected mold issue at your home or place of business. Get in touch with H&L Remediation at (408) 516-9131 for a free estimate. From San Jose on out we are here to help.