Mold is present everywhere we go. It has been around since the dawn of time. In the perfect balance that is nature, mold causes most of us no harm. Mold needs an organic food source and moisture in order to grow and colonize.
Organic food source-anything that is from nature, such as wood, wood and plant products such as paper or cardboard, and even soil.
Moisture-A higher than normal moisture content.
Introduce these conditions and mold will begin to colonize very quickly, some species within 12-24 hours. The good news is, when you take away one or both of these growth necessities mold will not grow.
The dangers of elevated and unchecked mold growth are two fold:
Heath & Respiratory issues: Some species of mold are extremely toxic and can cause serious and permanent health problems.
Structural Deterioration: Our homes are filled with organic food sources for mold to grow on. Wood, drywall, natural fibers in clothing, carpet and upholstery, paper and cardboard. Since mold feeds off of organic food sources, such as the structural materials in your home, it weakens these materials by consuming them. Left unattended, mold will completely ruin the structural integrity of the surfaces it is growing on.
Some mold facts:
Only 25% of mold spores are viable. In other words, when you see mold, that represents only 25% of the mold spores present in the structure. The 75% of non-viable spores are equally as toxic as the 25% that are colonized.
30 MILLION mold spores can fit on the head of a push pin. Imagine how many are present in a growing colony.
Mold spores are transported primarily through air movement.
At ServiceMaster by Integrity, all of our staff are New York State trained and certified in mold remediation techniques. We are equipped and trained to properly address and correct mold damage in your home or business. We use proper containment, critical control barriers and negative pressure to insure that the areas we are working in do not allow for cross contamination to non contaminated areas of the structure. We insure that mold levels are returned to a safe level and that the condition of the structure is such that it will not support mold growth when remediation is complete.
OUR PROCESS:
- Testing and air sampling to establish spore levels and species.*
- Inspect the structure for source of moisture
- Inform property owner of corrections needed to stop moisture problems
- Erect critical barriers and decontamination chambers
- Place affected areas under negative pressure
- Mitigate mold damage according to IICRC standards
- Dry wet structural materials
- Clearance testing*
*Pre and post testing by an independent 3rd party are recommended to establish
Levels and set a protocol for the job.