10 Common Residential Molds & The Remediation Process

Mold is a type of fungus that easily thrives inside walls, around pipes, under flooring, or in ceiling tiles, even with a little humidity present in the air. Mold feeds on building materials, drywall, insulation, wood, cardboard, or any other organic materials inside the home. To help you identify different types of mold in your home, learn about the ten common residential molds and the mold remediation process.

What is Mold Remediation?

Mold remediation is the process of identifying and removing harmful mold growth and preventing its growth in the future. It includes mold testing, removal, demolition, sanitizing, containment, and mold cleaning. Mold can cause health risks and severely damage your home’s structure, so the minute you suspect mold growth, it’s important to address it.

If your home has a mold outbreak that covers 10 square feet of your property, mold remediation must be done by professional restoration companies because they use safe techniques and equipment to remediate active growth without causing the further spread of spores or compromising air quality.

10 Common Types of Residential Molds

If your home has a mold problem, you will probably notice one of these ten common types of residential mold:

1. Chaetomium

• Texture and Color: Cotton-like texture, usually white, grey, or olive
• Where It’s Found: Often found on water-damaged drywall, carpet, paper, and fabrics.

2. Stachybotrys (Black Mold)

• Texture and Color: Slimy texture, dark greenish-black color
• Where It’s Found: Grows on materials with high cellulose content, including wet wood, paper, and gypsum board.

3. Alternaria

• Texture and Color: Velvety texture, dark green or brown
• Where It’s Found: Commonly found in damp areas like showers, sinks, and window frames.

4. Trichoderma

• Texture and Color: Wooly or granular texture, usually white with green patches
• Where It’s Found: Frequently found on damp building materials and in soil.

5. Serpula

• Texture and Color: Cottony texture, yellow to brown color
• Where It’s Found: Found on wooden structures, often causing dry rot.

6. Ulocladium

• Texture and Color: Powdery texture, dark brown to black
• Where It’s Found: Found in areas with extreme water damage, such as basements, kitchens, and bathrooms.

7. Mucor

• Texture and Color: Fast-growing, fluffy texture, white to grey
• Where It’s Found: Commonly found in soil, plant surfaces, and decaying organic matter.

8. Aspergillus

• Texture and Color: Powdery or cottony texture; colors range from yellow, green, brown, to black
• Where It’s Found: Found in the air and HVAC systems of water-damaged buildings.

9. Penicillium

• Texture and Color: Velvety or woolly texture, bluish-green color
• Where It’s Found: Commonly found on water-damaged materials, wallpaper, fabric, and food.

10. Aureobasidium

• Texture and Color: Slimy texture, pink, brown, or black color
• Where It’s Found: Found on painted surfaces, wooden surfaces, and caulking.

Residential Mold Remediation Process

Regardless of the type of mold, it’s important to remove it completely from the inside of your house. The residential mold remediation process is essential for maintaining a healthy living environment.

Here are the steps for mold remediation:

1. Identify the Mold

The first step is to identify the type of mold present. This involves conducting a thorough visual inspection of the home, particularly in moisture-prone areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. During this process, tools such as moisture meters detect wet areas where mold might grow unseen, such as inside walls. For severe infestations or when health concerns are involved, it is necessary to hire professionals to take air and surface samples for laboratory analysis.

2. Cleaning the Area

Once it’s confirmed that mold is present, the next step is cleaning the area to prepare for effective mold removal. This involves removing any items not affected by mold to prevent contamination and using plastic sheeting and tape to seal off the affected area completely from the rest of the house. Ensuring good ventilation to the outside is crucial to stop mold spores from spreading to living areas during cleaning.

3. Remove Moldy Materials

The third step involves removing moldy materials that cannot be effectively cleaned. Porous materials like carpets, insulation, ceiling tiles, and drywall that show mold growth should be disposed of. These materials should be placed in sealed plastic bags to prevent spores from escaping during disposal. In contrast, non-porous materials such as plastics and metals can be cleaned and reused.

4. Clean and Disinfect

The next critical step in the mold removal process is cleaning and disinfecting the area. Surfaces should be scrubbed with soap and water to remove mold, followed by an application of an EPA-approved disinfectant to kill any remaining spores. After the initial removal and disinfection steps, it is advisable to use a HEPA vacuum to clean the area thoroughly.

5. Prevent Future Mold Growth

Finally, to prevent future mold growth, it is important to implement measures to control moisture. This includes repairing any plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as they occur, using dehumidifiers and air conditioners to maintain relative humidity levels between 30-50%, ensuring adequate ventilation, particularly in high-moisture areas, and using mold-resistant products like paint and drywall in high-risk areas.

How Can Mold in Your House Affect Your Health?

The main causes of mold growth inside a house are leaky foundations, broken walls, leaking roofs, leaky water pipes, wall cracks, high humidity, poor ventilation in the bathroom and kitchen, damp basements and crawlspaces, and flooding. With adequate humidity, mold develops quickly and spreads easily.

When we inhale mold spores, it can trigger the following health issues:

• Nasal congestion
• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Wheezing
• Respiratory infections
• Worsens asthma
• Allergic conditions
• Chronic, obstructive, or allergic lung disease

Why Should You Hire a Professional For Residential Mold Remediation?

Getting rid of mold can be a pain. Doing it to yourself is also not a good idea, as you’re at risk of inhaling the spores. That’s why the best thing you can do is hire a professional for residential mold remediation.

Here are the benefits of hiring a professional mold remediation company:

1. Proper Mold Removal

While you may not be able to get rid of all the mold in your home, an expert mold remediation company uses the necessary containment procedures using negative air pressure and powerful air scrubbers and vacuums to remove the mold. They will remove the mold properly and prevent future growth.

2. Control and Reduce Potential Spread

During mold cleanup, mold spores spread throughout the air and potentially through the whole house, making cleanup a sensitive process. Only a professional can contain the spores and eliminate them. They will also be able to advise you about further duct cleaning and provide prevention tips.

3. Capacity to Handle All Types of Mold

Mold comes in many forms. A professional mold removal company has all the expertise and knowledge to remove and remediate any type of mold completely. Our experts at OKC Restorations can determine the extent of the mold damage and remove any mold efficiently. Schedule a FREE inspection with us today!

4. Save You Time and Money

Mold remediation companies have the right tools and equipment to detect and remove mold effectively. Instead of going at it on your own, wasting time, and risking mold regrowth, professionals will make it a one-time procedure and save you time and money.

Conclusion

Understanding the types of common residential molds and implementing a thorough remediation process is crucial for maintaining a healthy indoor environment. Proper remediation processes, including identification, area cleaning, material removal, disinfection, and preventive measures, can effectively manage mold issues.

To ensure your living spaces remain safe, clean, and mold-free, call OKC Restorations for an inspection!