Sources of Mold Damage

10/2/2016 (Permalink)

Be careful when you see mold. Dormant mold spores can result in Mold Damage. Call SERVPRO today!

Mold Spore Activity and Subsequent Damage

As a homeowner, you may have noticed that the concern about mold growth has become more and more talked about. It is known that mold can cause adverse health effects for you and your family, but understanding more about mold and how it grows is important to truly knowing how important it is to get rid of this danger to your family quickly if you ever notice that it is growing in your home.

The professionals at SERVPRO understand that mold damage in Arboretum can occur from several different sources of moisture. Mold typically begins life as a minuscule spore, which acts as a seed, but smaller. A mass of spores of mold can number into the thousands, however still be smaller than a pinhead. When the spore mass is disturbed, thousands of the mold spores break free. They are carried off by airflow and stay in the air until they settle due to gravity. A very gentle movement of air is all that is needed to lift the spores again and to keep them in the air. A mass of mold spores is much like a dandelion seed head, because when the seeds are released, they float all over the place.

The airborne spores will eventually settle onto a surface, and since they are built for survival, they could lie dormant as they await the right growth conditions. This includes temperature, moisture, and food. As the spores absorb water, they will swell and start to grow by sending out a network of structures, known as hyphae. This network of structures grows like roots into the material under the spores. More hyphae could grow across the surface, and more can grow upright.

You should also understand that in order to grow and multiply, mold will need the correct temperature and a source of food. A majority of molds grow best between sixty-eight and eighty-six degrees Fahrenheit, but some kinds of mold like cold temperatures as low as thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit, and others like hot temperatures as high as one hundred twenty-two degrees Fahrenheit. Molds will feed on materials that are organic, and a lot of materials in your home can be used for food. Drywall, wooden floors, tackless strip, walls, cellulosic carpet fibers like wool, jute, and rayon, plus cotton are all good sources of food for mold. Any surfaces which are exposed to air can accumulate mold spores. When such materials get wet or damp, the settled spores will start growing into molds.

To properly take care of a mold problem in your home, you need a professional restoration company such as SERVPRO which is trained how to handle it correctly and has the experience needed. If you think you are experiencing a mold problem, you should call us at SERVPRO of South Charlotte any time you need by dialing (704) 333-7737 so we can take a look and get rid of the mold thoroughly and properly.