Mold and the Damage It Can Cause

Mold is known to cause health problems and structural damage in buildings and homes. Mold spreads quickly through airborne spores. As the mold grows, it digests the surface it is attached to. This causes the surface to breakdown. So, if you have mold growing on the beams of your house, the mold is actually breaking down that beam and weakening it. This can have a tragic result on your home. This is the reason it is imperative to treat and prevent any mold outbreaks.

Mold Damage

In order to prevent mold from becoming a problem in our homes, we must understand how it lives, grows and reproduces. In a nutshell, mold is a fungus. Mold grows and sends out threadlike "roots" into the material it grows on. It is through these "roots" that the mold actually starts to digest the surface it grows on.

As mold grows, it sends out airborne spores. These spores float around until they land on a surface that is moist and the whole cycle start all over again. They key thing to keep in mind is that mold has a very short reproductive cycle and that it only takes a few days for the cycle to repeat itself.

Now that we know how mold works, we can learn how to prevent it. The most widely feared mold is Stachybotrys chartarum. This is what is commonly called black mold, toxic mold or deadly mold. It is this strain of mold that is associated with so many health problems in humans.

Much litigation has ensued over mold issues. Huge awards have been given to homeowners over nonpayment of mold insurance claims. Additionally, courts have awarded homeowners money for mold damages where they claim the builder was at fault. Many insurance policies now have clauses that limit the amount they will payout in a mold situation. Some have excluded all mold issues from their policies. The best way to avoid mold problems and litigation is to prevent and control mold in the first place, before it can become a problem.

Places Likely to Have Mold Damage

Any building or house that has suffered from flood damage or severe water damage is at high risk for mold infestation. High humidity increases this risk even further. A mold outbreak is almost guaranteed to occur in a high humidity, large water damage situation. This is due to the fact that cleanup efforts usually do not start until several days after the event. Mold starts to grow within a few hours. The homes affected by Hurricane Katrina are a prime example of this. Due to the severe damage of the area, most homeowners could not return to their homes for clean up for many weeks after the event. Thus, a large number of these homes have been completely covered in mold.

Tips For Mold Prevention and Cleanup

The best way to control and prevent mold is to control the moisture in your home. Damp areas should have a dehumidifier installed. Never carpet or upholster an area that is continually damp. Pipes should be insulated to prevent condensation. Installing storm windows can also help. Be sure to cover all crawl spaces with plastic to prevent the wicking of moisture up from the soil and into the crawl space. Just taking precautions and making sure that filtered dry air is in the home will prevent most mold from occurring.

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Do I Have Mold?
Beginners guide to determining if you have mold.

Preventing Mold Problems
Quick information about how to prevent mold from happening

Getting Rid Of Mold
Tips and ideas on how to get rid of mold.

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