Mold buildup is common in older homes. Inevitably there is moisture that gets into certain areas over the years, whether it’s because of leaks, cracks, or even spills.
This is especially true in basements since the environment is appealing to mold. Basements generally have less light than other areas of the house, and are also the bottom of the house where leaks can end up.
As the weather warms up and the humidity climbs, semi-dormant mold can start becoming a larger issue.
Get at least 2 opinions on mold abatement.
Not everyone uses the same testing equipment, and some will collect samples and outsource the testing.
Also, not all home improvement pros follow best practices when it comes to mold abatement. That’s true of all types of repairs and renovation work.
One thing we’ve seen a lot of over the years in the bidding process is that some vendors don’t factor in certain expenses or supplies, and then their bids are far lower than everyone else’s. When a customer goes with them, they end up mid-project with some nasty surprises as far as price goes.
You don’t want to be in that situation.
Getting multiple opinions helps rule this out, because if one bid is significantly lower than the others you can draw some conclusions.
Multiple opinions also helps you ensure you have an accurate picture of where the mold is. One pro might catch some things that another did not, and there’s no use in spending money on mold abatement that doesn’t get rid of all of your mold issue.
Mold Abatement Requires Careful Safety Steps
From avoiding breathing in potentially dangerous spores to avoiding fumes from chemical solutions to kill the mold, there are some health concerns involved. This means a particular process to safely handling the mold, as well as masks and other gear.
Not to mention containing the spores during the process so they don’t blow everywhere else in the house.
It’s all well and good of the contractors where protective gear, but can exacerbate the mold issue for the homeowners if those spores go everywhere during abatement.
This is why we never recommend homeowners try to deal with mold themselves, since it’s a tricky process and we wouldn’t want anyone to deal with more mold exposure than necessary. Even one harsh session of breathing in concentrated mold can be a serious health concern.
The affected area will also need significant ventilation.
If you suspect there’s mold in your home and want a team of skilled professionals to give you a formal assessment, contact us today.
Health Consequences of Mold Exposure
The effects mold can have on your health can vary significantly. In the most mild of cases, breathing in mold can cause hayfever-like symptoms, such as:
- Red, itchy eyes
- Runny nose or sneezing
- Skin rashes
In more severe cases, mold exposure can carry these maladies:
- Aggravating asthma symptoms and potentially causing massive asthma attacks
- Causing fevers, dizziness, or shortness of breath (especially in outdoor environments and workshops with moldy hay)
- Contributing to chronic headaches
- Frequent nausea or vomiting
- Dry, scaly, and itchy skin
Common Places Mold Grows In The Home
- Under sinks and inside cabinets, particularly if those cabinets are in a dark room prone to moisture (such as a laundry room)
- In the walls where pipes can potentially leak
- Areas immediately around the furnace or air conditioning unit
- All throughout basements, but especially near the sump pump
Mold is relatively common in older homes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that if you’re living in a newer home there’s never a concern of mold.
All it takes is for some areas to become damp a few times and not properly air out, or if you’re renting, to have the tenant before you have leaks or messes they don’t properly take care of. It may not have been obvious to the property owner to take care of it between tenants, and now you’re stuck with it.
It happens.
