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 MOLD
& PROPERTY DAMAGE |
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The Damaging
Effects of Mold on Your Property
Setting aside any potential health risks
associated with indoor mold growth, the ability mold has to
cause significant damage to your property is indisputable.
But the effects of mold on construction materials can be
reduced, and even prevented completely, by controlling the
cause of every mold issue - moisture.
The Cause of Indoor Mold Growth:
Moisture is always the cause of indoor mold
growth. Mold doesn't just grow on construction materials all
by itself, it requires moisture. Control moisture and you
control mold growth. The source of moisture is typically one
of three origins. Either:
- Direct water intrusion event such as a roof
leak, plumbing leak, poorly sealed leaking windows,
drain back-ups, water run-off from showers and bath
tubs, etc.
- Indirect water intrusion from "rising damp",
such as moisture wicking up from the ground or damp
concrete slabs into walls, carpet, cabinets, furniture,
etc.
- Intermittent water intrusion from
condensation caused by humidifiers, vaporizers, high
steam, inadequate ventilation, faulty windows, and high
humidity.
The Effect
of Indoor Mold Growth:
The obvious effect of mold growth inside
buildings is the damage it causes to construction materials
and personal property. The nature of mold is to decompose
matter. Detecting and addressing mold growth early can
significantly reduce the cost to remediate and repair damage
caused by mold. However, left unaddressed, mold will
eventually destroy everything it grows on.
If you suspect you have mold growing inside your
property, take prompt action and have a professional mold
inspection performed.
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Example
of Exterior Water Intrusion
Mold can grow on any wet building materials,
including stucco. Once it is discovered, it must be
addressed quickly and properly. Delayed or improper
treatment of mold issues can multiply repair costs
exponentially.When building materials such as wood
siding, brick, concrete block and stucco are exposed to
moisture sources from outdoors, over time that moisture can
penetrate exterior walls and enter the wall cavity, creating
perfect conditions for mold growth in between exterior and
interior walls.
Eventually the moisture and mold can penetrate all the
way through to the interior side of wall surfaces. By that
time, extensive damage to the structure has already taken
place.
A proper inspection by an
AmIAQC*
council certified mold inspector can help detect water
intrusion issues early, saving thousands of dollars in
repairs costs.
If you suspect you have a mold problem, it is always best
to hire a qualified and experienced mold specialist. Our
Inspectors are skilled professionals with IESO, IAQA, and
AmIAQC certifications. |
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Example of Interior Water Intrusion
In this example an upstairs toilet
malfunctioned while the homeowners were out of town on
vacation. Within hours the water had saturated through the
upper bathroom walls, into the second story bedrooms and
then down through the floors into the dining room ceiling
and walls below.Several days had passed before a neighbor
noticed water running down the driveway. Almost every square
foot of drywall in the home was damaged by water or mold or
both. All carpeting and hardwood floors were destroyed as
were the kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Even the furniture
absorbed water and became contaminated with mold.
Because of the extremely high
humidity levels inside the home, mold growth was found even
in places that never came into direct contact with water,
such as in the closets where linens and clothing were
destroyed.
If you owned this property you would be fully aware of the
problem and the extent of the damage. But what if you were
considering buying this home? What if the remediation was
not properly and there was still mold growth inside the
walls? How would you know? |
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Hiring a Certified Mold Inspector is the answer. New carpet
and fresh paint cannot mask active mold growth from
sophisticated state-of-the-art testing equipment. Before you
buy your next property, insist on an independent mold
inspection.
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Warning Signs of Mold Growth
Not all water intrusion and mold problems are as
obvious as the example above. Some of the most troublesome
problems are not visible at all to the untrained eye.
At first glance this cabinet showed no visible signs of
mold or water damage; only a slight "musty" odor that most
people would dismiss as
a typical sink smell.
Using state-of-the-art testing equipment, the Inspector
was able to confirm that mold was in fact originating from
under the cabinet.
A leaky faucet was the source of moisture that lead to
mold and water damage to the cabinet framework, the drywall
behind the cabinet, the insulation inside the wall, and the
framing lumber.
The cost to repair a job like this is considerably less
than the job shown above because a Certified Mold Inspector
was able to detect the problem at an early stage.
Had this problem gone unnoticed, the remediation cost
would have been significantly higher. |
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BE PRO-ACTIVE
The key to limiting mold damage is being
pro-active. If you suspect you have a mold problem, don't
ignore it, address it immediately. A common mistake people
make is to assume that only visible mold is a problem. In
vain, they attempt to wash moldy areas with
bleach*** or
cover mold up with new paint, wallpaper, carpet or tile.
None of which solves the problem. Unless all mold
contaminated materials are removed or properly remediated,
mold will keep coming back. The only way to correct indoor
mold problems is to eliminate the cause, remove all mold
growth and control moisture. |
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* What is the AmIAQC?
The American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQC) operates
eight accredited certification programs that are nationally
recognized and follow the requirements of ASTM Standard E
1929, Assessment of Certification Programs for Environmental
Professions: Accreditation Criteria, the Council of
Engineering and Scientific Specialty Boards (CESB) has
established a national reputation for accrediting
certification programs in engineering and science-related
fields. CESB-accredited programs that you may recognize
include the Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Certified
Safety Professional (CSP) and Certified Hazardous Materials
Manager (CHMM). The Council's CIE, CMR, CMRS, CIAQM, CMI and
CRMI programs were all fully accredited by CESB. The
American Indoor Air Quality Council (AmIAQC) has the only
certifications that are the CESB-accredited, ASTM-compliant
designations in the Indoor Air Quality industry. |
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