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LEADING IAQ ORGANIZATIONS |
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Indoor Environmental Standards Organization
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Environmental Solutions Association
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American Council for Accredited Certification
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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.
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| Example
of Exterior Water Intrusion |
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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 visual inspection by a Certified Mold Inspector can help detect water
intrusion issues early, saving thousands of dollars in
repairs costs. |
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Example of Interior Water Intrusion |
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A second story toilet malfunctioned while these homeowners were out of town on
vacation. Within minutes the water saturated the second story bedrooms and
several rooms below.
Days 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. |
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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? Hiring a Certified Mold Inspector is the answer. New carpet
and fresh paint cannot mask active mold growth from
a trained professional with 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.
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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.
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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