Mold on the Outside of Your Home
When you think of places where mold may grow, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Perhaps a damp, dark basement or crawlspace? While this may be one of the most common places, your home’s exterior siding may also be susceptible to mold growth.
Causes of Mold on Siding
Excessive humidity and moisture can create an attractive environment for mold growth on several kinds of siding, including low-maintenance vinyl. Siding is designed to allow rainwater and other types of moisture to run off the exterior of your home, but sometimes otherwise durable siding can have mold growth under certain conditions. Since some moldy types may need humidity to grow, warm and humid weather conditions can cause a mold outbreak on your siding.
Vinyl Siding Mold Removal and Prevention
First, keep your siding clean of dirt and grime. You can use a simple garden hose or pressure washer to do this. Second, try to target the trees and shrubs that are located around your house. Check to make sure they do not have any contact with your siding. Regularly trim your trees and shrubs to minimize shaded areas that can encourage mold growth.
Finally, take steps to reduce the amount of moisture that comes into contact with your siding. If you regularly water your lawn, be sure to adjust sprinklers so the water does not hit your house. Check gutters in the spring and fall and make sure they are clean and in working order. Clogged gutters can cause the rainwater to run down the side of the home and this can increase the moisture level.
Mold And Human Health
not conduct environmental investigations into mold complaints. Below is an abundance of information concerning mold. If the mold is a potential result of structural defects in a building, you should contact your local code enforcement officer.
Basic Knowledge
Mold is a simple microscopic organism that is found almost everywhere – indoors and out. There are hundreds of different kinds of mold in the natural environment. Mold spores are very light and travel easily through the air – this is how people come in contact with them. Mold needs a food source and moisture to grow.
Mold food can include wood, paper, drywall, cardboard and other organic-rich materials. Mold can also grow on tile grout and plaster. It is rare to see mold growing on stone, plastic, metal or concrete surfaces. Common moisture sources include leaking pipes and leaking roofs, floods, chronically damp basements and condensation on cold windows and walls. Mold can be many colors (white, black, orange, green, brown), depending on the species present. Mold can be fuzzy or slimy to the touch.
Symptoms of mold exposure for sensitive individuals can include respiratory problems, nasal and sinus congestion, a dry cough, wheezing, difficulty in breathing and burning/watery eyes. More serious health effects (constant headaches, memory problems) are very rare.
Unless environmental testing is requested by a doctor, it is usually better to spend money on a thorough mold clean-up. Mold sampling can be expensive, and in most cases, no matter what kind of mold is present, the recommendation would be to do a clean-up anyway.
Hire the Right Mold Remediation Company
Mold infestations can spread quickly, leading to foul odors, unsightly spots, and other consequences throughout your home. Mold can also cause serious health complications, especially for those with severe allergies, asthma, or compromised immune systems. This means you should do everything in your power to remove the mold problem as soon as possible in the aftermath of flood or water damage. It’s a smart idea to allow a professional Mold Remediation company to handle the problem for you – doing so yourself can be risky and have unintended consequences if done improperly.
Mold remediation can be a daunting task. Where should you begin? And how can you get it done right at a reasonable price? Truth is that mold remediation isn’t as complicated as it’s often made out to be. And the right mold professional can guide you through the process while providing a necessary, cost-effective service.
What is the Cause of the Mold?
If the mold is visible, it’s probably not necessary to spend money on pre-testing. However, you will need to know the source(s) so it can be prevented in the future. Many remediation companies are primarily concerned with testing the air quality for mold spore counts and removing the mold. Although a good indicator of the indoor air quality as it relates to mold, air sampling and lab reports cannot help you figure out specifically where the problem exists. In addition, remediation contractors make the bulk of their revenue by removing the mold and restoring the home to safe conditions. This is great in the short term but will not prevent the mold from coming back.
Mold doesn’t always grow where it’s easily seen and it can be a real pain to find. After floods, spores that are trapped inside your walls can fester and grow, causing colonies to sprout where you can’t see them. You may spend hours, days, or even weeks cleaning mold off your walls, but even one missed colony can cause all your hard work to disappear in mere days when it returns again. Experienced mold remediation professionals know where to look for mold, how to detect it, and what to do when they do find it in order to make sure every last trace of the problem is treated.
Remediation, Removal, Abatement – What’s the Difference?
When most home or commercial building owners think of a mold remediation company, they only think about removal. However, the terms for a mold removal company and a mold remediation may be used interchangeably but are technically not the same thing. Mold remediation services are far more comprehensive than just removal; they offer expert guidance, restoration, and even certified assurance.
How to Get Rid of Black Mold the Easy and Cheap Way
What Are Those Black Patches in My Bathroom?
What is that stuff collecting in the corners? What is that mildewy smell? It must be mold again! There are many chemicals on the market that can kill mold, but polluting your house with additional toxic stuff might be counterintuitive if you’re trying to avoid health hazards. Don’t worry; there are several safe and natural ways to get rid of black mold in a bathroom or carpet. Save money by using common household products you may already have in your kitchen cupboard and avoid paying expensive service bills. If you have a small infected area, you can clean it up yourself without a professional.
Is Black Mold Dangerous?
Left unchecked, it can be a health hazard, causing potential respiratory problems and severe allergic reactions. Especially if you have a pet, a baby, or elderly folk in the home, it can be detrimental to their immune system!
Step-By Step Guide: How to Get Rid of Mold
Step 1: Find some eye goggles, a pair of latex or rubber gloves, and protective clothing that covers your whole body. Wear a filter dust mask to prevent inhalation.
Step 2: Contain the affected area. To do this, use duct tape and a plastic sheet to seal off vents or openings where air might flow in or out. You might place a small fan in an open window to direct the mold spores outdoors. Remember, mold can easily be transported to different areas in your house on pets or on the soles of shoes.
Step 3: Take a stiff brush and clean the area with mild soap and water. Throw away all porous items or materials exposed to the mold.
Step 4: Apply a disinfectant (one of the solutions listed below) to the area. Don’t forget to spray the surrounding area to kill mold spores you can’t see.
Step 5: If directed, rinse the area with hot water. Let it dry completely. If there’s excess water, you can use a wet/dry vacuum to suck it up. Vacuum thoroughly after the area has completely dried.
Cleaning Black Mold Yourself
Instead of calling in the experts and paying a hefty amount to have the mold removed, there are ways you can handle the problem yourself. Before you begin, here are some ideas for how to do it and what you’ll need.
Vinegar: The Cheapest, Safest Way to Remove Black Mold
Vinegar is a non-toxic and safe alternative. According to one study, a solution of vinegar kills 99% of bacteria, 82% mold, and 80% germs such as viruses. Keep a spray bottle full of white distilled vinegar in your bathroom and kitchen for quick cleaning. Personally, I don’t mind the smell of vinegar but if you find it too strong and unpleasant, just add a few drops of essential oil (like lavender), and you will be able to tell the difference.
How to Remove Mold: The Good, the Bad, and the Smelly
Let’s go ahead and face the facts from the get-go: mold spores are everywhere. There’s just no way to completely eliminate them, and there’s always going to be SOME mold in our homes. Fortunately, with an ounce of prevention, you can keep it from becoming a serious problem. Limit the moisture in your home, and you’ll limit the mold growth—it’s as simple as that. Sometimes, though, despite our best efforts, mold proves to be a resilient and strong-willed foe, winning the occasional battle and proudly exuding its signature sour smell. In this article, we’re going to look at how to remove mold and win the war at large.
When to Bring in the Professionals
To begin, you need to know what you as a homeowner are capable of doing and when it’s time to call in the professionals. Mold removal inherently involves stirring up potentially dangerous spores and releasing them into the air, so if anyone in your home suffers from respiratory ailments or an immunodeficiency, don’t chance going it alone. The experts have the knowledge and the wherewithal to effectively quarantine the area and keep the spores from spreading throughout your house. If there’s mold in your HVAC system, you shouldn’t even consider taking it on yourself.
Next are size and location considerations. How large is the affected area? The EPA advises that any mold growth of 10 square feet or larger should be handled by specialists. What’s more, mold often grows in hard-to-reach places, such as behind walls and under floorboards, and to even access it requires a great deal of work. If, for instance, mold is growing on wood that makes up part of the irreplaceable supporting structure of your house (joists, studs, etc.), you’ll need to bring in a mold removal and remediation professional that can properly sand and encapsulate the growth.
What You Can Do Yourself
So you’ve got an affected area smaller than 10 square feet, no one in your home is particularly susceptible to the mold spores that will invariably be kicked up, and you can access the mold with no problem? Well then, let’s get to it!
First things first, remember to take proper safety precautions. You may be dealing with harsh chemicals, allergenic mold spores, and toxic fumes, so you should always wear gloves (preferably up to the middle of the forearm), goggles, and a respirator rated N95 or higher (found at any hardware store). You might look a little goofy, but it’s well worth it. Also important to note is that dead mold spores are no less allergenic and are possibly as harmful as their live counterparts. After attacking the mold, you’ll need to thoroughly wipe down all surfaces in the general vicinity and then use a HEPA vacuum cleaner to eliminate any remaining spores.