What is mold?

Mold is a type of fungus that exists in many forms and can vary in color and level of toxicity. Mold is found both in and outdoors and can enter the home in a variety of ways, through vents, windows and heating and cooling systems. Mold can also be transported on shoes and clothes. Mold can grow on almost anything but thrives in dark, moist environments where there are leaks or flooding. When a mold spore lands on a wet area it begins to grow and spread. Buildings can often provide mold with all the nutrients they need to grow. Typically, mold can grow on most things such as paint, carpet, drywall, cardboard, tile, and wood. Water needs to be present for mold to grow, so mold typically grows in wet or moist environments. Mold can usually be detected by looking at it.

Why is mold a problem?

Mold is a problem for a variety of reasons, one is people with allergies tend to be more sensitive to mold and people with asthma can have adverse reactions to the mold. There are mold spores in the air we breathe, but when there is an excessive amount in a certain area, people can start to have problems such as watery and itchy eyes, sneezing, sore throat, skin irritations, and head aches.  Additionally, there are types of mold that are more dangerous to be around than others. Mold comes in a variety of colors ranging from green to orange and white and black. The three types of mold most commonly found in homes are aspergillus, cladosporium, and stachybotrys atras or stachybotrys chartarum (black mold).

Aspergillus is an allergenic mold that is commonly found on or in food and in air conditioning units. Cladosporium is a green or black mold that is found in bathrooms and on toilets, on fiberglass (insulation) and on painted areas. This type of mold isn’t toxic to humans and causes allergy-like symptoms.The third type of mold, commonly just referred to as black mold is the most dangerous of the three types. Black mold is greenish-black in color and spreads and grows on materials such as paper, insulation, carpet and fiberboard. Black mold has been linked to severe health problems such as upper respiratory problems and even mold poisoning. Black mold is toxic and breathing in the spores or accidentally consuming them can contribute to developing black mold poisoning. Some symptoms associated with black mold poisoning are cognitive impairment, dizziness, vision change, fatigue and poor circulation.

Why should mold be removed?

Mold should be removed for a variety of reasons, one being the unpleasant odor it causes. In addition to not smelling pleasant, mold isn’t pleasant to look at and can cause staining and damage to homes. For instance, if mold is kept on walls, it can eat away at the paint and drywall, wallpaper, carpet, floorboards and ceiling tiles. If left untreated, mold can cause ceilings to collapse, floorboards to cave in and walls to fall down. Mold is dangerous and if not properly taken care of, it can be very expensive to mediate and remove when there is an excessive amount of it. Mold removal, remediation, mitigation and abatement all mean the same thing, to get rid of the mold that is present on the property. Mold removal is an important and necessary process that should be done to ensure the health and safety of those living in the home.

How to get rid of mold in Northern Virginia

It is important to get rid of mold and clean up the area. It is also important to eliminate the moisture and humidity source or what’s feeding the mold. Mold can be removed from hard surfaces with water and detergent and the surfaces should be dried thoroughly to ensure the mold doesn’t have the opportunity to grow back. In areas that are exposed to moisture, there shouldn’t be carpet installed. If there is carpet where there is excessive amounts of water, then it should be removed because it is a breeding ground for bacteria, mold and other harmful materials. Carpets also shouldn’t be installed on top of concrete that has cracks in it. Concrete that has cracks in it typically has water damage and putting carpet over it will only make an even worse mold problem.

Mold needs to be removed by a professional mold technician to ensure it’s done safely and correctly. While people might think mold removal is simply taking the mold off a surface, it isn’t always that easy. Mold remediation is typically a two day process. The first day, the mold is physically removed from surfaces and then sprayed with a biocide which will kill the spores. The next day, a whitewash will be applied to prevent the mold from growing back. Mold growth is preventable and can be avoided as long as significant water leaks and damages are assessed and fixed. To prevent mold growth one suggestion is to replace the HVAC system or to ensure it is functioning properly. Mold needs to be removed permanently or it will continue to be a problem, it will continue to grow and affect the health of the residents of the home as well as the health of the home itself.

At Summit, we professionally remediate mold in Fairfax and other parts of Northern Virginia. We follow all the guidelines and protocols associated with mold in Northern Virginia to ensure the mold is removed efficiently and effectively. Our work is guaranteed and we want to make sure our customers are fully satisfied with the work completed.The first step of the mold remediation process is to schedule a free mold estimate. During the inspection of the property, the technician will check to see the areas the mold is affecting, come up with a treatment plan and assess the damage. The mold technician will determine a price estimate that is competitive to other prices for mold removal processes and labor. Once the work is approved, the remediation process can be started and once the mold is all taken care of, repairs can be made. Summit can help with every part of the remediation and repair process. In addition to mold remediation, we do pest control and animal removal, repairs and restorations, waterproofing, crawl space encapsulations and roof repairs and replacements in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria and other parts of Northern Virginia.

If you have a moisture or mold problem in your home and need mold removal in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria or other parts of Northern Virginia, contact us to schedule a free estimate for mold remediation.