Mold - Risks and Removal




First and foremost, the scope of this article will not be an exhaustive review of the types of mold, the risks from each type of mold, or include any discussion on the proper handling of mold. Rather this article will be a general overview of the common mold that grows as a result of water damage and it will briefly outline the potential threats and the proper remediation techniques to fully remove the mold and its contaminated structures professionally and in line with Florida's mold remediation laws and standards.

Mold runs the health effect gambit from benign through toxic causing reactions that range from nothing through any combination of anaphylaxis, cognitive debilitation, and death. The results you suffer from mold are contingent upon factors including the type of mold, your sensitivity to the mold, and the length of time that you are exposed to the mold. It is common for someone who is not initially affected by mold to develop sensitivities and allergies as their exposure increases in frequency and duration; however, even if you never suffer any sensitivity or debilitation from the mold that infiltrates and infests your structure, your asset does.

In nature, mold is a decomposer meaning it decomposes old material by consuming it. While your house, building, or other structure is new, beautiful, and extremely valuable to you, to nature such asset is nothing more than an aging skeleton that needs to be recycled... hence man's continued struggle against nature. Unfortunately for the occupants, inhabitants, and visitors to structures in which mold is already undertaking its natural course of action, mold can cause serious trouble to man and man's structures which prompts man to see mold as a threat and try to get rid of it.

While many people understand how serious mold is, many people severely and detrimentally underestimate the best method to remove mold. A common erroneous removal method is to simply spray or wipe the visible mold with an over-the-counter bleach product or disinfectant. While this may remove the visible layer of mold, this technique does nothing other than causing discoloration of the affected area and releasing mold spores into the air conditioning system thereby aerosolizing the spores throughout the structure. It is common, and unfortunate, to see such cost conscious persons repeatedly employing this technique as the mold "returns", ad-nauseum, until such time as the owner realizes that this treatment methodology is akin to putting a child's band-aid on an arterial shower and seeks more advanced removal. Unfortunately by this time the mold contamination, saturation, and penetration can be severe and systemic.

The best way to protect you, your family, and your asset from mold is by contacting a professional, independent water damage restoration company to professionally assess your mold and to provide a professional and effective mold remediation strategy. The State of Florida has specialized training and requirements for a company to function as a Mold Assessor or a Mold Remediation company so be sure to ask your company which license they have. Only such company has proven to the State of Florida that they have the education, equipment, and knowledge to accurately address your mold concerns within the expected standard of care. Mold can grow like cancer in a structure. You wouldn't use an over-the-counter panacea to "cure" your cancer so why would you use one to handle your structure's?

Do the job right the first time... use your local independent water damage restoration company.

This article is composed by and offered as a public service by Jimmy K.
Jimmy K is the Independent Owner and Operator of

Emergency Response Restoration
(http://www.emergencyresponserestoration.com/),
2665 N Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32118.
Jimmy K is a true consumer advocate who is not afraid to battle the insurance company to ensure the proper restoration of the consumer's water damaged home office or asset.