May 6, 2019
Mold All mold is at least a nuisance (unless its on your cheese), but black mold can be a large health issue to those with prolonged exposure to it. Black mold (or Stachybotrys chartarum) can develop anywhere in the home but it particularly loves basements. Both unfinished and finished basement are equally likely to harbor growth environments as they are dark, do not have consistent airflow, and tend to have a high amount of moisture. Mold loves to live within the walls and under carpeting where it is not necessarily immediately noticeable and then can cause problems later in time. Favorite breeding areas are wood, carpeting, paper and fiberboard which are all common in this area. Another issue for basements is that often they are seen as out of sight, out of mind so mold growth could be happening for a long period of time before you even notice it due to infrequent use of the basement. Getting to know your basement and its normal smells and colors is important to avoid mold growth and to stop it before it starts spreading significantly.
Health Concerns The most common effect of black mold on the body is that it can cause respiratory responses that can be painful. Common symptoms are sneezing, shortness of breath, and coughing. Black mold is also a common allergy and can cause headaches, sore throats, eye irritation, fatigue, and even rashes. Furthermore, people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma and COPD can be extremely vulnerable to black mold, exasperating their symptoms.
House Concerns Not only can mold hurt the people in your house, but the house itself as well. Black mold growing on wooden beams and support materials can deteriorate the framework of the house, causing settling damage. Mold also feeds its way into other areas of your house if undetected through the infected areas and potentially within the walls. If you are in the market to sell our home, mold presence can be detrimental to finding buyers as it can be a large undertaking.
Cleanup Small amounts of mold when detected early can be treated by a homeowner with the careful use of mildewcide. However, it is in your best interest to contact a professional when it comes to complete mold removal and guarantee that it wont return. With years of excellence and training, Everdry Waterproofing of Upstate New York can professionally remove mold and prepare your basement for protection against it in the future by locating the source of the growth and determining if there is more that can not necessarily be seen by the homeowner.