Mold Damage Resources
Exposure to mold can cause health risks to those inside a property. Everyone’s immune response to mold is different. The length of time of exposure and the level of contamination both greatly affect the potential for adverse health effects. It is always best to identify and alleviate high moisture conditions before mold grows and health problems develop. If you find mold or identify something you think may be mold, below is a guide to help contain the problem until help can arrive.
Do:
- Isolate contaminated area by shutting doors and heating vents
- Limit traffic in and out of the affected area to reduce spreading spores to unaffected areas
- If an active leak is the culprit, contact a plumber to fix the leak to prevent further damage as soon as possible
- Call Jim Black Construction to do a full inspection of the contaminated area and to develop a remediation plan
- Call your insurance agent to discuss your property policy coverage
- mold coverage is typically separate from the general policy and may be subject to certain limitations
- Attempt to regulate the indoor humidity levels to reduce the potential for additional mold growth
- If minor leaks are found, make sure they are dry within 72 hours of initially getting wet to reduce the potential for mold growth.
Do Not:
- Attempt to disturb the materials the mold appears to be growing on
- Attempt to dry wet materials if mold is present as this will only amplify the contamination
- Apply chemicals to “kill” the mold as they will likely not be effective and will only mask the issue until the problems get worse
- Perform the removal of mold without proper engineering controls. Personal protective equipment, such as gloves, disposable suits, and respirators, should be worn when working with mold contamination.
Additional Resources:
Molds are a natural part of our environment and require three elements to survive: an organic food source, moisture, and a surface to grow on. Inside a structure, the food source can come in the form of drywall, structural building materials, insulation, and contents. Common events, such as roof leaks, pipe breaks, faulty appliances, or even excessive bathroom condensation can provide adequate moisture for mold growth. Mold requires moisture to be present to begin to colonize. If moisture is removed from building materials before within 72 hours, the likelihood of mold growth is reduced dramatically. If wet materials are left unresolved and moisture is present for more than 72 hours, mold is likely to start colonizing. If materials are wet for extended periods of time, more and more harmful mold can take root and can begin to affect the surrounding atmosphere.
While certain molds do not pose a health risk or hazard, some molds produce mycotoxins that can cause flu-like symptoms or other severe health problems. Quick and professional mitigation is the key to successfully preventing dangerous mold growth. Jim Black Construction's Water Mitigation Division is equipped with state-of-the-art thermal imaging technology and moisture detection instruments, allowing us to pinpoint the water-affected areas and to efficiently dry or, if needed, remove oversaturated areas prior to mold becoming an issue.
If mold has already become an issue, Jim Black Construction is fully equipped to remediate the affected materials safely. We pride ourselves on having highly trained, knowledgeable, and certified technicians, who follow the strictest industry protocols defined by The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). JBC also utilizes third-party industrial hygienists to perform pre- and/or post sampling to verify the mold issue has been treated per protocol and that the areas are now safe for occupancy.