Why the First 48 Matters..

4/8/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Durham Water Damage timeline to avoid Mold growth

You may have heard of the ground-breaking television show, The First 48, where homicide detectives in major cities race to apprehend killers in the first 48 hours after the crime is discovered.  In the realm of water damage the first 48 hours are also extremely critical.

Imagine this real life scenario; a bathroom sink is left running with the plunger fully depressed.   The water overflows onto the counter down the vanity, onto the tile floor, and proceeds into the carpeted hallway, and begins to intrude into the living space below, affecting the ceiling and walls.   The mess is discovered a few hours later when the homeowner returns from the store.   What the homeowner does next is critical to minimizing the affects this water damage will have on the home and its contents. 

Time is of the essence.   If the homeowner tries to handle it himself by only shop vacuuming the water up, running some home fans and an in home dehumidifier, the situation can easily go from bad to worst.  This is because what started as a Category 1 water loss, (a water loss originating from a clean source) has now turned into a Category 2 (a loss with significant chemical, biological or physical contamination).  Without the proper extraction methods, demolition processes and drying protocols secondary damage will occur when water remains in contact with the structure and its contents for an extended period of time.  These damages can include swelling of furniture, mold growth, delamination of carpet, and cupping and crowning of floors. 

The first 24 to 48 hours are essential in the mitigation process and in the reduction of cost. 

To properly mitigate your water damage situation call the professionals at SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County at 919-596-1242.

Why is Mold on Your Ceiling?

3/5/2021 (Permalink)

Why is Mold on Your Ceiling?

You observe an unsightly discoloration on the ceiling of your home.  It is relatively small in size so you add it the list of things to care of in the near future.  Because you know that it is there, you can’t help but look at it each time you walk in the room.  Over the next few weeks you identify that there are several other spots of discoloration and the initial one appears to have grown in size.  What is it, and should you be concerned?   If you smell a musty odor in the room that the discoloration is located in, it is almost certainly due to fungal growth, a.k.a. mold.  With this being said, this is something you should definitely be concerned with.

The presence of water-born molds in an indoor environment create a situation where the indoor air quality is compromised, and can cause health effects in people that have mold sensitivity or respiratory issues.  The best course of action to deal with the problem is to identify the source of the problem and have it corrected.   Mold or fungal growth on a ceiling is most commonly the result of a water intrusion.  If there is a floor above the ceiling where the discoloration is located it is often the result of a pipe leak.  If there is no flooring, above, but the attic, the likely culprit could be the roof.  However, there are other ways water intrusions can occur as well, which is why a trained professional should do a proper assessment.  

Once the source of the moisture intrusion is corrected, have a certified mold remediator, like SERVPRO® of South Durham and Orange County, assess the situation and create a remediation plan.  During the assessment, moisture readings will be taken of building surfaces where there could be hidden moisture that could result in more fungal growth.  The remediation plan will address removing the mold safely according to industry standards established by the IICRC and drying of any remaining building materials.  Additionally, relative humidity readings will be taken to make sure that there is not too much humidity in the source location, which would create conditions for further growth. Mold removal should be done by a professional remediator, according to the standards to prevent cross contamination due to improperly transferring of mold spores throughout the building environment. 

If you suspect that you have a mold issue, call SERVPRO® of South Durham and Orange County at (919) 596-1242.

Mold Vs. Mildew

2/25/2021 (Permalink)

Mold Vs. Mildew

The word mildew is often thrown around as an interchangeable reference to mold; however, although they are both microscopic fungi, they are different species.  It is the difference in the species that makes all the difference as it relates to toxicity.  Commonly seen mold in a bathroom that grows in a flat pattern is most likely mildew.   As with all fungi or mold, they are attracted to areas of excessive moisture where they can feed on organic substances, such as wood, drywall, dead skin cells, etc...  Mold in the bathroom is understandable if the excess moisture from showering is not properly ventilated out.   An adequate bathroom ceiling fan is an efficient means of controlling moisture as is running a dehumidifier.  If you observe a small amount of flat growth mold on your bathroom shower door or in the caulking, it can easily be treated with common products purchased from your local hardware store.

If the growth pattern is different, with dark discolorations on ceiling or walls, or discoloration showing through vinyl flooring, it is indicative of a larger moisture problem, and a different species of mold.  A mold remediation specialist like SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County can properly address the moisture issue and remediate the mold in a safe manner according to standards established by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).  This will assure that your home or work place is returned to a state of normal fungal ecology.

Steps for Mold Remediation

3/4/2020 (Permalink)

When you contact us here at SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County with a mold problem we will start the process with getting some basic information from you, once we get that information we will move on to an estimate. This entails us sending one of our Project Managers to your home or business to see where you believe there is mold. Our Project Manager always tries to identify what is causing the mold to form if there appears to be any.

There are several causes of fungal growth. Some of the most common causes are high humidity, moisture in the walls and leaking pipes. If you would like to know what exactly your fungal growth is we have an Industrial Hygienist that we can refer you to. 

Once our Project Manager comes out to your location and finds the source of the mold growth and has an idea of what is going on in the space where the growth is, he will come back to the office to form an estimate for your property, The estimate will contain details, line by line, what our SERVPRO team will do to rid your property of the mold. The total cost for the job will also be disclosed in this estimate. 

After you review the estimate and approve the work to be done at the property we will schedule our technicians to come and rid your property of the mold. During the remediation process you will be updated regularly to ensure you do not have any questions or answer and questions that you might have. 

Mold Cleaning

2/12/2020 (Permalink)

It's not a good feeling to enter your South Durham home or business and smell a musty odor or see a strange substance on the walls, ceiling or flooring area. you may wonder if it may be mold, why it's there, and how to properly clean it. SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County's crews are ready to properly re-mediate any mold issues in your home or business.

What is Mold?

• Molds are part of the natural environment, and can be found everywhere, indoors and outdoors. When mold is indoors, it can cause problems. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions) and irritants. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. It's important to find out why the mold is there and re-mediate it properly. 
• Mold needs moisture to grow. The way to control mold growth indoors is to control moisture. Oftentimes mold will grow on areas that have been affected by a leak, or other water intrusion. The presence of moisture allowed the mold to grow on a source of food, such as drywall, wood, vinyl or other surfaces. 

Cleaning Mold

• If you discover a mold problem, don't wait to address the issue. Mold damages what it grows on. The longer it grows, the more damage it can cause. It's strongly recommended that if the affected area is over 10 square feet, that professional mold remediation is performed to prevent causing further issues. 
• Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely. 
• Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely. 
• Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely. 
• Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces. Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.

Our expert crews at SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County are prepared should you suspect a mold issue. We're ready to help identify the source, dry the area, re-mediate the mold, and assist in the verification of air quality. No matter the size of the area affected, should you suspect your home or business is affected with mold growth, SERVPRO of South Durham and Orange County is ready to provide professional remediation services.

Why Mold Removal May Not Be an Ideal DIY Project

8/4/2015 (Permalink)

Servpro of South Durham and Orange County Mold Remediation

There are over 1,000 types mold found in North America (Durham, North Carolina). Did you know mold will eat just about anything? This includes metals, concrete, fabric and wood. 

People (living in Durham, NC) spend about 90% of our time indoors. This makes mold and it’s destructive nature a major concern for many of us. Search DIY mold removal on the internet and you will find tons of articles suggesting different ways to rid your home of mold yourself. One of the most common suggestions is spraying the mold with bleach or some other concoction aimed and killing it. Mold cleanup is not that simple.

The EPA ( United States Environmental Protection Agency) has come up with a rigid set of guidelines for mold removal. The Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings document recommends that you should only attempt to remove mold yourself if the area impacted is less than roughly a 3ft. by 3 ft. patch. Even in this instance you should first wear protective gear and fix any leaky pipes or issues that caused the mold damage. IICRC ( Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) does not recommend spraying but promotes removal of mold and proper air filtration.Major steps in a proper mold remediation process includes  analysis of the impacted area, thorough drying, fixing any causes of water and wetness as well as wearing  proper protective gear during the process.

Before you take the health and monetary risk of improper mold remediation review the EPA guidelines and contact your local Durham, NC mold remediation and abatement professionals to have an analysis of the area. This will give you a better idea if your mold problem is a do it yourself project or not.

Source: http://www.gotmold.ca/2013/03/20-interesting-facts-about-mold/

 As a trusted leader in the restoration industry, SERVPRO of South Durham & Orange County has highly trained technicians that are dedicated to responding faster to any size disaster. We provide 24-hour emergency service and have the training and expertise to handle your restoration and cleaning needs. "Like it never happened" Contact us for more information.