It’s important to be aware of the signs of mold, how to detect it even if it’s hidden, and learn how to prevent it.
Mold can thrive anywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold is a natural part of our environment, and does not usually become a problem until it starts growing inside where it can wreak havoc on your home, your business, and your health. It’s important to remember that mold does not have to be seen to be present. Mold thrives in damp environments and does not take long to root itself.
As a construction company headquartered in Florida, with a heavy annual rainfall, hurricanes, and humid temperatures, mold is an issue for many.
Mold On Your Property
Mold does not take long to take over and thrives in damp environments. Mold may appear as black streaks on your roof, siding, patio, deck or pool enclosure. Inside your home or business, you may see the familiar gross greenish/ grayish fuzzy outburst, perhaps in a ceiling or closet. But often, mold is not visible at all. It can be quietly lurking in your baseboards, carpet, floorboards, attic, it can even be inside your walls. If you see mold, it’s important to contact a professional mold remediation company to remove it. If you don’t see mold and your family or tenants or staff members are having unexplained health issues, it’s important to have a professional mold remediation company inspect your property inside and out.
Roof Mold: How to Prevent It
Any roof that doesn’t have sufficient drainage can be prone to mold, mildew, algae, and moss overgrowth which can lead to roof rot, water leaks, and a vicious cycle of increased possibility of mold infestation.
Sometimes, people confuse algae with mold. Algae thrives in humid environments and is a naturally occurring moss-like plant that spreads by airborne spores. Asphalt roof shingles and shakes are especially prone to algae growth. Algae in the water is another story, and something we in Florida are quite familiar with. That is important to avoid by monitoring your local government beach and water reports.
To protect your roof, it’s important to have regular inspections by a certified professional who will check structural integrity, leaks, damage. A licensed roofing contractor can help you determine if you have mold, algae, mildew or moss growth and ensure you have the right kind of roof and roof treatment for your geographic area to better withstand the elements and protect the integrity of your property. You should also have properly installed ridge vents to help eliminate moisture deposits.
How Do I Know If It’s Mold?
If you’re unsure if you have mold in or on your property, it’s important to get your property inspected by a licensed, certified professional. Even if you don’t visibly see any mold, if anyone in your family or staff at your business are experiencing unexplained health issues, it’s important to get your property inspected. If you recently had a roof or water leak that wasn’t fixed in a timely manner, you could have undetected mold.
Mold And Your Health
Everyone comes into contact with mold spores every day, and it can affect anyone, but some are more susceptible than others. Children under the age of 5 and the elderly are especially at risk. Those who have comprised immune systems, auto-immune disorders, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are also at a higher risk. Severe toxic mold exposure can cause severe health problems including headaches, respiratory issues, breathing problems, dizziness, lung issues, asthma, cough, eye irritation, and more. Awareness is key. If you suspect something is wrong, it’s important to act quickly. If you or someone you know have a long list of unexplained symptoms, have them go to an infectious disease doctor to find out more, and get a professional mold inspection of your property immediately.
5 Symptoms of Mold Exposure
- Sinus Congestion
- Difficulty Breathing and/or Wheezing
- Skin and/or Eye Irritation
- Upper Respiratory & Sinus Infections
- Coughing
10 Tips to Prevent Mold Growth
- Have your property regularly pressure washed by a professional, including your roof.
- If you live in a humid environment or have a humid room such as a basement, use a dehumidifier regularly to help regulate water in the air. To prevent mold growth, keep indoor humidity ideally between 30%-50%. Be sure to clean the dehumidifier regularly.
- Be sure to have roof repairs completed immediately by a professional to prevent leaks that lead to mold growth and further structural damage.
- Be sure to have interior and exterior water leak repairs completed immediately by a professional.
- Be sure to have leaky pipes underneath your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room sinks repaired by a professional plumber. These areas are all prone to mold growth.
- If you see any water spots on your walls, have an interior inspection immediately. You could have a water leak inside your walls which leads to undetected mold growth.
- Use your kitchen exhaust fan to reduce humidity and remove moisture, heat and other contaminants when cooking and washing dishes.
- Run the bathroom exhaust fan and open the window when showering to reduce excess moisture.
- Make sure your dryer vents blow outside to reduce humidity.
- Mold can have a huge impact on indoor air quality. Purchase a top of the line air purification system and monitoring system.
Founded in 1998, Venture Construction Group of Florida (VCGFL) is an award-winning leader in construction, roofing, restoration, storm damage repairs, and 24/7 emergency services throughout Florida, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahamas and the Caribbean. VCGFL is accredited by the National Association of Environmentally Responsible Mold Contractors (NAERMC) including Certified Green Indoor Air Quality Specialist, Certified Mold Hygienist, Certified Green Mold Remediation Contractor, and Certified Remediation Technologist.
RESOURCES
