FAQs

Mold growth is typically triggered by moisture, humidity, and organic materials for food, such as wood, drywall, or carpet.

Mold exposure can cause respiratory issues, allergic reactions, skin irritation, and other health problems, particularly for individuals with allergies or weakened immune systems.

Signs of mold include musty odors, visible mold growth, water stains, and allergic symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, or itchy eyes.

While small mold infestations can sometimes be safely removed by homeowners using proper safety precautions, larger or extensive mold problems should be addressed by professional remediation services to ensure thorough removal and prevent health risks.

Mold remediation involves identifying and addressing the source of moisture, containing the affected area, removing mold-infested materials, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces to prevent mold recurrence.

The duration of mold remediation varies depending on the size and severity of the mold infestation, as well as factors such as accessibility and the extent of structural damage.

Mold damage may be covered by insurance policies depending on the cause of the mold growth and the terms of the insurance policy. It's essential to check with your insurance provider to understand your coverage.

Preventing mold growth involves controlling moisture levels in your home, addressing leaks or water damage promptly, improving ventilation, and using dehumidifiers in humid areas.

While some types of mold can produce toxins that pose health risks, not all molds are inherently dangerous. However, any mold growth should be addressed promptly to prevent potential health issues and property damage.

White mold (mildew) and black mold share several characteristics. They are both fungi which thrive in moist, warm environments, but there are several important differences. As the names suggest, these two kinds of molds are different in appearance. Mildew can pose some minor health issues and should be removed immediately, however black mold is much more dangerous. It can cause serious respiratory issues, heart problems, fatigue, and depression. It can also seriously damage the building. This is why it is extremely important to deal with black mold as soon as it is detected. If you suspect you have mildew or mold in your house or place of business contact us today to get it removed.

We do not recommend you clean black mold on your own. Cleaning black mold is extremely dangerous to do without proper training and equipment. Even minimal exposure to black mold during the cleaning and removal process can lead to serious health issues for you and all those in your building. On top of the very serious health risks involved in removing mold, there is a good chance you could make the problem worse on your own. Cleaning without proper equipment or training can release spores into the air and spread the black mold further throughout yourself. If you have black mold in your house or building, don’t take any risks and contact us today.

To untrained individuals, black mold can be hard to distinguish next to other kinds of mold. Black mold often appears as slimy and has a dark greenish-black or gray color. As the name suggests, the color of the mold is the telling sign. If you have determined that you have black mold in your home or building, contact us right away to ensure the safety of all those who occupy the space.

The safest way to get rid of black mold in your basement is to call professionals who are experienced in the area of black mold removal. Black mold is dangerous and can lead to very serious health complications, especially if you disturb it by improperly cleaning. If you have found or suspect you have black mold in your basement, contact us right away.

There are a few reasons as to why black mold might be on your ceiling. One reason it might grow on your ceiling is due to a water leak on an upper floor trapping moisture in your ceiling. Another very common cause of mold on the ceiling is when warm, moist, air interacts with a cool ceiling. This causes condensation which creates a warm moist environment for black mold to thrive in. If you spot mold on your ceiling, contact us right away so we can eliminate it before it gets out of control.

If you are suffering from mold sickness, regular exposure to mold can cause allergy symptoms, such as:

Wheezing/shortness of breath
Rashes
Watery eyes
Runny nose
Itchy eyes
Coughing
Redness of the eyes
Persistent sinusitis
Other more serious symptoms might come to be as a result of mold sickness, such as:

Headaches and migraines
Joint pain
Muscle cramping
Persistent nerve pain
Numbness, tingling, or tremors
Vertigo/dizziness
Frequent colds and flu
Fatigue and weakness
If you suspect you are suffering these symptoms because of mold poisoning, contact us today. We can remove the mold from your home.

Mold spores become temporarily inactive after they have dried out, however that doesn’t mean they are not a threat. Dry mold spores can still cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes, runny nose, etc. This is because dried mold spores become airborne and can enter our systems.

Dry mold spores can still travel to other places in your home and spread if they find an environment which is conducive to their growth. They can also start regrowing in the same place where they are located if the conditions (such as an increase in moisture).

Even if the mold in your home is dry, the problem runs the risk of getting worse. contact us today to get rid of the mold in your home.

Once the mold is remediated from your home, you want to make sure that it does not come back. The most important thing you can do to achieve this is to control the level of moisture and humidity in your home so that it does not facilitate rapid mold growth. You can also reduce the potential for mold even more by wiping up puddles of water as soon as they form, and insulate surfaces which are prone to condensation. Dehumidifiers are also good at keeping the humidity in a room below what is needed for mold growth. Make sure that you identify and isolate sources of moisture in your home to ensure that mold does not grow back.

There are many factors that will affect the cost of a mold inspection including the size of the property, the extent of the suspected mold growth, the location, and the services that an inspection company has to offer on site. In general terms, you could be looking at anywhere form $200 to $600 for a professional mold inspection. Larger properties or certain environmental conditions may drive up the cost due to additional testing or remediation services.

If mold is found, it’s important to promptly take action to remediate the issue and to prevent further spread or the potential for adverse health effects. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Find the water: Determine what source of moisture is feeding the mold. mold needs moisture to grow. Water leaks and condensation need to be repaired so as to stop the mold before it starts. mold thrives in environments that have excessive moisture or high humidity.

2. Seek Professional Advice: Depending on the extent of the mold issue and your ability to tackle it yourself, you might need to hire mold remediation professionals to evaluate your situation and make recommendations and/or perform remediation work safely and effectively.

3. Remediation: Mold removal and removal of the water that caused it can be referred to as mold remediation. This can involve cleaning affected surfaces with the appropriate mold-killing products, removing and replacing contaminated materials, and improving ventilation or waterproofing in the affected area.

4. Preventive Measures: Seek out qualified experts to conduct remediation, and then take action to prevent green and black mold from growing again by eliminating any current moisture problems, ensuring proper ventilation, using dehumidifiers and other equipment to dry out areas that are prone to moisture, and maintain your property in a well-kept condition.

5. Check and Recheck: Monitor the area to make sure mold doesn’t return and consider conducting a follow-up test for mold in order to ensure that remediation was effective and that the quality of indoor air has improved.

6. If Appropriate, Seek Medical Advice: People who are ill or who have a member of the household who is ill with symptoms that could be related to mold exposure (eg, respiratory symptoms, allergic reactions, etc) should consult with a health care provider for an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Remember that, depending on the extent of contamination, mold remediation can be a complex job, potentially hazardous, and is therefore best left to experts who have the training to do it thoroughly and safely.

Mold testing may be warranted in several situations:

1 For visible mold: Clinically relevant mold if present in the home may be visible as seen as a mold cluster growing on the side of house during a rainy day. It is a good indicator of a mold problem. Testing then may be required to determine the type and extent of growth in the home or business to determine the appropriate remediation.

2. Musty Odors: Do you smell musty or moldy odors in your home, but cannot find any visible mold growth? Mold testing can help identify the non-visible sources of mold.

3. Water Damage: If your home has had water damage (be it from a leaky roof, broken pipe, flood, toilet overflow or other) but the water was dried out in a short period of time, it’s still important to inspect for mold. Mold can begin growing within 24-48 hours after water damage.

4. Health Symptoms: If you or other occupants of your home experience unusual symptoms such as respiratory issues, allergic reactions or skin rashes and/or irritation that seem to go away when you’re away from home, there is a good chance that you have a mold issue.

5. Prior to Purchasing or Selling a Home: A mold test can be conducted by a home inspector before purchasing a home or before listing the property for sale, especially if you suspect standing water in the house or have subjective concerns over indoor air quality.

6. Post Remediation: Post-remediation testing can helpful to determine if the remediation was successful, and that indoor air quality has returned to safe levels.

Just remember, mold should be tested by an experienced professional who is trained in mold inspection and testing. They know how to collect samples properly, interpret the results, and make recommendations based on that inspection.

Once the remediation is complete, keeping mold away for good requires eliminating the moisture problem, and making sure that your home is kept dry and well-ventilated. Below are some steps to keep in mind:

1. Control Moisture: Identify and correct all water entry points in your home, including leaks in plumbing, roofs, and windows. Repair water damage immediately to prevent mold.

2. Boost Ventilation: (Whenever practical, this one is crucial) Ventilate moist areas by using exhaust fans, opening windows (when weather permits), and installing a dehumidifier (if you experience consistently high levels of indoor humidity).

3. Maintain Low Humidity: Molds thrive in humid environments; keep indoor humidity below 60%. Use a hygrometer for monitoring humidity and seek appropriate solutions to reduce humidity below 60% like the use of air conditioners or dehumidifiers.

4. Encourage Air Circulation: Employ ceiling fans, and keep furniture away from walls to facilitate air circulation throughout your home. This keeps air stagnant air from settling, and reduces mold risk.

5. Use Mold-Resistant Products: In areas where moisture is present (ie, in bathrooms and basements), consider using mold-resistant building materials such as mold-resistant drywall and paint.

6. Preventive Maintenance: Paint hygroscopic materials, including siding and trim, regularly, clean gutters and downspouts, inspect and repair roof leaks, including flashing and skylights and clean damp areas, seal, caulk, or tuckpointing around penetrations or gaps in walls or foundations.

7. Keep It Clean: Regularly clean and disinfect areas with potential for mold growth (e.g., bathrooms, kitchens, basements). Be especially alert to potential areas where moisture has accumulated, such as: around sinks and showers; near carpeting; windows; roofs; chairs;  doors; and untreated wooden furniture.

8. Maintain Indoor Plants: Indoor plants can increase humidity so do not let them multiply, especially when you have no proper ventilation.

9 Check for Leaks: Inspect your plumbing fixtures along with major appliances and other areas where water leaks may occur on a regular basis to seek out ­and ­repair ­leaks ­early ­before ­mold ­is ­allowed ­to ­develop.

If moisture problems, ventilation issues and any contaminated material can be controlled, then the risk of returning to an unsanitary condition after remediation is much smaller. Regular inspection and maintenance can help avoid future mold problems.

If you find mold in your home, taking care of it and stopping the spread should be a priority. Here’s what you should do.

1. Safety First: Gloves, goggles and a mask are necessary to keep your hands and eyes away from mold spores as well as to avoid breathing them in – especially if you’ve got a lot of mold or if you have an underlying health condition.

2. Determine the Source: What is the source of moisture that allowed this mold to grow? mold needs a source of moisture, whether it’s trapped water, elevated humidity or condensation. Once the source is identified and eliminated, the mold can’t grow any more.

3. Containment: Seal off the affected area to keep it from spreading to other parts of your home. This entails closing doors and covering the outside of the rooms with plastic sheeting if possible.

4. Remediation: How much remediation is needed depends on how bad the mold is. For a small amount (less than perhaps about 10 square feet), you might be able to clean it up yourself with a mixture of water and detergent or a commercial mold-cleaning product. For larger or more serious mold populations, or if you’re not sure how to safely remove mold, hire a professional remediation company.

5. Leave It Dry: Dry completely after cleaning to prevent the mold from recurring: use fans, dehumidifiers and ventilation to help drying.

6. Watch for Regrowth: Keep an eye on the area, but don’t assume the mold is gone for good. If you still have problems with moisture, or the mold seems to recur despite your efforts, you might need to search for the cause and treat it.

7. Respond to health issues: If you or anyone in your household experiences a health symptom that may be related to mold exposure, such as allergic reactions or respiratory symptoms, seek medical evaluation and treatment.

8. Prevention: Identify and eliminate any source of moisture that could lead to mold growth, fix any ventilation problems, install dehumidifiers if necessary, and keep up regular maintenance of the property.

If it’s not clear what to do about the mold or you feel like it’s a more substantial issue, I advise calling in a remediation specialist who can ensure that the mold is safely and properly removed.

The exact price you’ll pay to have a mold abatement, or as it’s more commonly called today, in a less official fashion, mold remediation, will depend on a number of factors, including:
- How big is the mold problem? You’ll pay more if the remediation work is extensive.
- Is the mold easy to access or difficult to access?
- Is the mold in a cramped crawlspace or is it in the bulkheads lining the ceiling, out of reach?
- What kind of mold is it? Are we talking about toxic Stachybotrys chartarum (black mold) or something less toxic like Aspergillus terreus?
- What are the remediation methods?
- Will you need to replace drywall or wood decking? The average price homeowners typically pay for this kind of work runs anywhere from $500 to $6,000.

For smaller mold issues with less than 10 square feet, you’re probably going to be looking at somewhere between a few hundred dollars and a couple of thousand dollars; however, with larger or more widespread mold or with more invasive mold remediation, you could be looking at several thousand dollars or more.

It is also important to get it in writing from multiple credible sources that do mold remediation, to be sure that the scope of work and price match after you talk to them, and to avoid the obvious low-bid contracting scam. If their bid seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you want the job done right, you need a qualified and experienced mold remediation professional.

Mold control sprays are often formulated for use on many surfaces that mold can grow on. While specific products may vary slightly in how they are used, in general, mold control sprays can be used on the following surfaces:

1. Non-Porous Surfaces: Sprays that control mold are efficient on non-porous surfaces such as glass, tile, metal or plastic. mold cannot grow on non-porous surfaces because they do not absorb moisture. mold lives off of moisture.

2. Porous Surfaces: Some mold control sprays can also be used on porous surfaces such as wood, concrete and drywall. Although many sprays can be used on a variety of substrates, it is important to check the product label or consult the manufacturer’s instructions before using a spray on a certain material, and to use the spray as directed.

3. Painted Surfaces: mold control sprays may be used on painted surfaces. These include painted walls and painted ceilings but it’s important to check a small, discretely placed area first to make sure that the product has no adverse effects on the paint finish, such as damage or discoloration.

4. Fabric and Upholstery: Some mold control sprays are made for fabric (such as fabrics used on furniture) and upholstery surfaces to help prevent mold growth. They formulas used to do that generally include a mold and mildew growth retardant that won’t harm the fabric.

5. Exterior Areas: Garden: Use outdoor sprays on surfaces outside, eg decks, siding, outdoor furniture, to prevent mold and mildew from growing in the outdoor environment.

Reading the instructions carefully, including on how to use the spray to maximise effectiveness (including safety recommendations and techniques of application). Surfaces should be clean before applying the spray. If uncertain whether a surface or material is suitable, conduct a test in a small, inconspicuous area to determine affordability and effectiveness.

Mold control sprays are chemicals that stop the growth of molds and mildews on whatever surface they are applied to. They can be quite effective in preventing molds from growing on the surfaces they are sprayed on. However, despite this, they do not guarantee that you will not have more mold problems in the future. Here is why.

1. Temporary protection: Mold sprays are designed to provide protection against the growth of mold and mildew for a short period of time. The spray’s effectiveness can wear off over time, especially if the applicator surface is exposed to moisture or other conditions conducive to mold growth.

2. Surface Treatment: Mold control sprays are applied to the surface of materials and don’t penetrate beyond the surface very well or in porous materials. This means that they might not reach all of the mold spores that might be present, but which are not visible. This can leave the mold growth unattended to, undermining the spray.

3. Environmental Factors: Mold growth is often influenced by environmental factors such as humidity levels, temperature, and ventilation. While mold control sprays can inhibit mold growth on surfaces they are applied to, they don’t address environmental factors that may be conducive to mold growth.

4. Preventative Steps: To stop the mold from growing again you’ll need to fix building moisture problems and take preventative steps. This might involve increasing ventilation, reducing humidity and fixing leaks, as well as maintaining the property.

5. Routine Maintenance: Use as part of a routine and comprehensive mold prevention strategy that employs regular routine maintenance and cleaning of surfaces. Routine inspection and regular cleaning will often identify and eliminate mold growth early before it progresses into a bigger problem.

Mold control sprays can be a helpful addition to a comprehensive plan for preventing mold growth on surfaces, but they’re most effective when used in conjunction with addressing underlying causes and environmental issues. If you continue to have problems with mold or are concerned that your home might have mold growing somewhere, you may want to enlist the help of a certified mold remediator who can help you.