Understanding Mold: Facts and Remediation with SERVPRO® of Ozaukee County

8/5/2024 (Permalink)

One SERVPRO employee in Tyvek suit working on remediating mold at job site.

At SERVPRO® of Ozaukee County, we know that mold is a common concern for homeowners and business owners alike. Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Instead, mold remediation focuses on reducing the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level.

The Myth of Mold Removal

Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, but this is a fallacy. Complete mold removal is not possible, and such claims can be misleading. Instead, the goal is effective mold remediation. Here are some key facts about mold:

Mold Facts to Consider

1. Mold is Present Everywhere: Mold exists both indoors and outdoors, making it a constant presence in our environment.

2. Microscopic Mold Spores: Mold spores are tiny and float in the air. They can enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems, and even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.

3. Moisture is Mold’s Best Friend: Mold spores thrive on moisture. When exposed to water, mold spores can quickly grow into colonies that may produce allergens and irritants.

4. Address Moisture First: Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.

5. Follow the Smell: Mold often produces a strong, musty odor. This can help you identify potential problem areas.

6. Control Indoor Humidity: Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. It's crucial to keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

SERVPRO® of Ozaukee County Mold Remediation Services

If your home or business has a mold problem, SERVPRO® of Ozaukee County can help. We will inspect and assess your property, and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation effectively. Our goal is to restore your property to a safe and healthy environment.

Why Choose SERVPRO®?

• Specialized Training: Our team is highly trained in mold remediation techniques.
• Advanced Equipment: We use state-of-the-art equipment to detect and remove mold.
• Local Expertise: As a locally owned and operated business, we understand the specific mold challenges of our area.

Don't let mold take over your property. Contact SERVPRO® of Ozaukee County today for professional mold remediation services. We’re here to help make it "Like it never even happened."

For more information or to schedule an inspection, call us at 262-242-8888.

Mold Myth Number Four

7/9/2019 (Permalink)

Mold Myth Number Four –

Once you’ve killed the mold, there is no need to remove it.

False.  Whether you have done your own mold remediation or called in an expert, any mold that is left, dead or alive, must be removed because the allergens in the mold are still present.  These mold spores can become airborne even when the mold is dead. After a mold remediation specialist has killed the mold in your home or building, the mold must be removed.  And, if there is a stain left following the mold remediation, we can remove it. We can use a special product that is just for removing mold stains.  

If you have any questions or would like to have us take a look at your particular mold situation, please contact SERVPRO of Ozaukee County at 262-242-8888.  

Mold Myth Number Five

7/9/2019 (Permalink)

Mold Myth Number Five – A small amount of mold generally doesn’t indicate a problem

False.  If you have a small amount of mold, you may or may not have a major problem.  If the mold is adjacent to an area you can’t see, it could indicate that there is mold behind the drywall.  We can take out the drywall and look behind it to see what, if any, mold exists.  We will only remove enough drywall to see the area behind it.  Once we see the extent of the mold behind the drywall we will stop, take pictures, and communicate with you about what we see.  If there is no mold behind the drywall we will do our happy dance and then provide you with an estimate based upon the visible mold.  If there is mold behind the drywall, we will provide you with an estimate that includes mold remediation plus drywall repair.

If you have any questions or would like to have us take a look at your particular mold situation, please contact SERVPRO of Ozaukee County at 262-242-8888.  

Mold Myth Number One

7/5/2019 (Permalink)

There are many common myths about mold. SERVPRO of Ozaukee County can help you sort out what is true and what is not.

Mold Myth Number 1: “Black mold” and “toxic mold” are extremely dangerous.

This is generally false.  Most molds called “black mold” are really very dark green, and are not the Stachybotrys mold that can be associated with health effects.  “Toxic mold” is a misnomer often exaggerated by the media. Only certain mold spores produce toxins and then only under certain circumstances. If the mold spores produce toxins, most likely people would not inhale enough of these spores to get a toxic dose.  Listening to the overly dramatic TV News commentators can scare you about mold. However, it is important to pay attention to your mold situation.  But don't assume you have a serious problem.  If you have any questions or need mold remediation in your house or building,  call SERVPRO of Ozaukee County at 262-242-8888 and we will take care of your problem.

Mold Myth Number Two

7/5/2019 (Permalink)

Mold Myth 2 - Your home can and should be mold free.

Not true.  While no one wants mold in their house or building, mold spores are a part of our natural environment.  Under everyday circumstances, we are surrounded by mold everywhere we go, both inside and outside.  It is not really necessary for most people to remove every last mold spore from their home.  What you don't want is a buildup of mold. Mold is only an issue when its concentration reaches unhealthy levels, typically as large, visible colonies.  Once we can see the mold it is time to remediate it.  SERVPRO of Ozaukee County has been remediating mold for ten years.  We have the confidence to inspect, review, estimate and perform mold remediation to your satisfaction.  If you have any questions about mold remediation or would like to schedule an inspection, please call us at 262-242-8888.

Mold Myth Number Three

7/5/2019 (Permalink)

Mold Myth Number Three – Mold is harmless. 

False.  There are so many factors that dictate whether or not mold is dangerous.  While most mold is harmless, not all mold is harmless.  We know that you can’t completely remove mold from your home or building because, well, mold is everywhere.  If you allow it to grow unchecked or decide to ignore it, you could have a lot of problems.  You want to take care of your mold problem while it is still a small problem, if possible.  While the health effects of mold are still unclear, don't needlessly over expose yourself to mold or take chances!  Mold can damage your personal belongings too if allowed to grow on them.  So while there is mold everywhere, once you see it you will want to remediate it.   If you want help to remediate mold, call SERVPRO of Ozaukee County at 262-242-8888.  We will make it "like it never even happened."

So You've Got Mold - Don't Panic!

7/3/2019 (Permalink)

So you have something on your wall that looks like mold.  Or you had a home inspection and they found mold.  What should you do? 

DON'T PANIC!!!

Call SERVPRO of Ozaukee County at 262-242-8888.  We will take care of everything for you.  We have many years of experience cleaning up mold from attics to basements and everywhere in between. We can also remove the mold stain, after the mold is gone. 

What you don't want to do is throw bleach at the wall thinking that is all that is necessary. That could cause the mold spores to spread into the air and leave you with more mold.

You don't want to cut out the moldy drywall and carry it outside because that moldy drywall will be spreading mold spores (that you can’t see) all through the house as you carry it outside. 

You do want to call SERVPRO of Ozaukee County at 262-242-8888.  We will figure out what to do.  Sometimes circumstances may warrant having an independent assessment of the type of mold and how many mold spores there are.  There are Independent Environmental Professionals (IEPs) who take air samples and send them to a laboratory for testing.  They can also write a protocol for us to follow.  If an IEP is not required, we will perform the mold remediation based upon our inspection.  

We will inspect the area of suspected mold, take pictures, create a drawing, write an estimate and proposal, and make sure that all your questions are answered before we begin the job.  

We are thorough, safe and competitive.  When you call SERVPRO of Ozaukee County your panic will vanish because you called the right professionals.  We create happy customers by getting the job done right. We will put your mind at ease and erase any panic you may have had.  

Mold Infestation in Mequon

5/1/2018 (Permalink)

This Mequon family discovered extensive microbial growth in their home, thanks to a water loss that went undetected for several months.  Believe it or not, mold problems like this can be mitigated with the right expertise and equipment.  SERVPRO of Ozaukee County has trained technicians that were able to remove the mold growth and the stain, and then restore the space to preloss conditions.  The family was very grateful that we were able to recover their home and protect them from any potential health effects. 

The Mold Remediation Process:

Every mold infestation is different, from the extent and type of growth, to the variety of materials affected.  Each scenario requires a unique solution, but the general process stays the same.  When you discover mold, call us at 262-242-8888 and we will go through our standard mold remediation process: 

* Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

* Mold Containment

* Air Filtration

* Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

* Cleaning Contents and Belongings

* Restoration

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today at 262-242-8888

Does Your Ozaukee County Home Have a Mold Problem?

4/10/2018 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors. This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business. Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level. Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy. Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today –SERVPRO of Ozaukee County 262-242-8888.