Mold
Let’s talk about mold.
Mold is merely a symptom that indicates something is defective in the structure. Our goal is to identify the cause of the mold. When the cause is addressed, the mold goes away.
It does no good to clean up, cover up or patch over symptoms. We must determine the source of the causative condition for mold, which is water. Mold cannot grow or thrive without it. In any structure there are five major causes of unwanted moisture:
- A poorly functioning HVAC system
- A compromised roof
- Leaky plumbing – broken seals or improper installations
- Poor grading and slope around a building foundation
- Plugged or incomplete drainage systems
Our goal is to find the problem, identify the cause and present a solution. Habitec Environmental offers our clients education, resources and referrals. Because we do not provide mitigation services, you can be confident that our inspectors will not use pressure or fear to upsell you on products or services.
A. Mold comes in a hundred colors, however, though most of it is black in color, it doesn’t always mean it’s the kind that will cause swift and severe health issues. That said, it is important to determine where the source of moisture is so the mold can’t grow back. Mold is not something to mess with, no matter what color it is.
A. Pouring bleach on mold is not a good idea, because chlorine bleach can only kill hard surface mold. Bleach contains about 90% water, so after the chlorine evaporates, you’re left with…water. And the cycle continues.
A. The cost of getting rid of mold depends on the source of the moisture that allows it to grow. A new seal for a toilet is less outlay than re-grading around your foundation, and replacing some flashing on the roof may cost less than tearing out and replacing a leaking shower pan.
