Martin L. Grey, CTC, CMRS
Ceramic Tile and Stone Contractor and Consultant

 Identifying Mold

We frequently come into contact with mold. There are hundreds of types of fungi commonly known as mold and mildew. These types of fungi range in color from black, to light colors such as white, pink and even orange. Besides visual detection, let your nose help you identify mold. Mold has a very distinctive odor, a very musky smell. Mold is a microscopic organism that is found indoors, outdoors, virtually everywhere. It does have its place outdoors; by its very nature it helps in decomposition of dead plants, leaves, wood and other organic materials. The problems begin when mold enters our homes. Should you be concerned with mold in your home? Yes, mold can be bad for your health and may structurally weaken buildings. That is why it is important to keep your home mold free. To keep mold from thriving in a hidden area of your home, you have to eliminate its food source, moisture. Moisture may come from leaking plumbing or roofs, flooding, damp basements or crawl spaces. Mold even comes to life with condensation on windows and walls. If you find that you do have a mold problem, you must first identify and correct the moisture source. Once you have corrected the moisture source, you must then remove the contaminated material. The area must be cleaned and disinfected, after the contaminated material is removed. Then the area must be left to completely dry. Never restore the damaged area until all mold spores have been removed and the area is dry. Mold that is left inside walls and floors can have an adverse effect on your heath. Even behind walls, mold may cause allergies and irritation to your eyes, nose and throat. If a building has water damage it is strongly suggested to have a mold remediation professional handle the removal process for you.