Water is a vital necessity for life, but when it becomes uncontrolled, it can cause devastation. Whether your property has been damaged by a torrential downpour, a triggered sprinkler system or busted pipes, Mold B Gone can help.
Water can cause much more serious damage than just getting things a little soggy. In many cases the damage to the structure is not confined to just the water line. The drywall, wood, and even concrete used in many structures can act as a sponge which will then cause the water damage to extend much higher and deeper into the structure. Also mold growth can happen after a period of time and often will appear long after the water damage.
All molds share the characteristic of being able to grow without sunlight. Mold only needs a viable seed (spore), a nutrient source, moisture, and the right temperature to proliferate. This explains why mold infestation is often found in damp, dark, hidden spaces. If left unchecked, molds gradually damage building materials and furnishings. Eventually mold can cause structural damage to a wood framed building, weakening floors and walls as it feeds on moist wooden structural members. This is a particular concern if you have mold growing in your crawl space.
The purpose of mold remediation is to correct the moisture problem and to remove moldy and contaminated materials to prevent human exposure that can impact health and further damage to building materials and furnishings.
Atlanta Mold Testing, Mold Remediation and Mold Recovery Professionals!
Mold Recovery: Four Steps
If you think you have mold, you should take these important steps now to prevent more damage to your home or business and more importantly, avoid health problems.
Call us to discuss your mold issue. At that time we can perform a mold inspection and if required, test the indoor air quality to determine the spore count and mold species.
If swab, tape, or indoor air quality tests are done, these will be sent to an accredited third party lab for the results. This report is used to scope the job for cleaning and repairs. Our Mitigation Project Manager will then discuss the cleaning process with you.
Once the area is has been mitigated, a Third Party air quality consultant will do a second air test to be sure that the air in your home or business will not promote further mold growth. Please note, some customers prefer the Third Party air quality consultant to do both the pre and post testing which we can arrange for you.
If your home was damaged by an insurable water emergency, like a flood or sewer backup, and your property needs reconstruction, our Project Manager will refer you to a reconstruction contractor we work with to survey the damage and discuss in detail your options and steps for rebuilding. If the mold is found in your basement, we offer a basement build out service as well. If your home experienced a sewer backup, we also can sanitize your home for you as well. Once you select us to perform the reconstruction work, we will require your authorization to work with your insurance company. We will then submit the estimate to your insurance company and work with them to reach an agreement on the cost to complete the repairs. We work for you and our goal is to get your home or business back to its pre-loss condition as quickly as possible. When the work is completed you will be asked to sign a Certificate of Satisfaction stating that you are satisfied with the restoration. This will be submitted to the insurance carrier for release of the final payment.
Got Mold Concerns?
Call Mold B Gone, 678-697-6267 or send us an e-mail. We are Atlanta’s leading certified experts for mold testing and mold remediation. With over two decades of experience and thousands of successful homes, you can trust us to take care of any mold remediation problem that you may have with the utmost care for you and your home.
The goal of Mold B Gone is to educate our customers about mold. We strongly believe that an educated and informed consumer can make better decisions when they have concerns about mold.
Included in this article are 36 links to articles that will help you learn about mold.
Please bookmark this page because we will update it with new articles as they are researched and published.
Top 3 Reasons Your Crawlspace Has High Humidity. This article explains why your crawlspace is humid, why this leads to mold and how you can fix the problem!
This article provides you with information to help you determine if you have a mold problem and explains what you should and should not do if you do find mold.
Recently a news article featured a woman who believes that she was poisoned by toxic black stachybotrys mold. This article explores this topic further!
Wondering if you are sensitive to mold? This article explains how to determine if you are mold sensitized, seeking treatment, and the next two steps to health!
Potential Health Complications Mold Exposure Has On Pregnant Women and Infants! Questions answered about SIDS, asthma, miscarriage, and pulmonary hemorrhage.
This article explains why many suffering from CIRS are diagnosed with depression caused by mold. Both scientific and anectodal data are cited. Learn more!
Top 3 Reasons Mold Sickness Is A Hidden Epidemic! You could be sick from mold and not even know it. This article explains why mold is a hidden epidemic!
37 million Americans suffer from sinusitis. Cause? This article lists the top 10 stats and facts citing MAYO clinic research that believes mold is the cause!
According to the CDC, rates of asthma among children in Georgia is 3% above the national average. Is mold a factor? This article cites stats and research!
Flood and water damage not only disrupts your life but can also be hazardous to your health! This article explains the top 3 hazards and prevention measures!
A flooded home or business is always a stressful situation. This blog provides you with the 3 steps required to reduce flood damage and most importantly, mold!
Home improvement is an American tradition. But, did you know that 6 out of 10 homes could have mold? Renovating can cause serious problems. Learn more!
If you or someone in your family suffers more frequently from colds or flus and you are not sure why, the cause could be poor indoor air quality. Learn more!
The purpose of this article is to explain how you air conditioner could be a source of mold contamination making you sick and what you can do to fix it.
Have a mold concern, wondering what it will cost to remove? This article provides you with a detailed explanation of how mold removal cost is determined!
Mold sprays, bleach, biocides, and fungicides are an ineffective “short cut” to mold removal. Killing mold is not the answer! This article explains why.
Mold Removal Is Referred To As Mold Remediation Because Professionals Follow These 8 Steps. This article explains the steps and why you need to hire a pro!
Interview With Jack and Helen Graham: Mold Sensitized Success Story
Interview With Jack and Helen Graham: Mold Sensitized Success Story
For the past four years, I suffered from upper and lower digestive issues, extreme fatigue, and weakness. I was diagnosed with the lethal condition, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (unknown cause, hence no treatment). Later it was determined that the fibrosis was caused by acid reflux, which is treatable. I began to have difficulty breathing, which made me question the quality of our indoor air. The link between my health problems, poor indoor air quality and mold seems to be confirmed by the fact that when the house was retrofitted with new equipment and extensively cleaned my symptoms have largely been alleviated. Medical tests have shown improvement in my breathing and improved lung health. (Helen Graham)
Johnny Wells, owner of Mold-B-Gone, invested in the training from Wonder Makers Environmental so that he can offer a higher level of service and expertise to individuals suffering from mold related illnesses. Johnny also works with Stephen Andrews of HealthyAirUSA, another graduate of the course. Together, they are serving the needs of mold sensitized individuals in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas.
Below is an interview with Jack and Helen Graham, who hired Mold-B-Gone and HealthyAirUSA, to investigate the indoor air quality of their home and most importantly remediate the mold and make sure that the indoor air quality contributed to their health and well-being.
1. When was mold identified as the cause of your sickness?
17 years ago we moved into our 2800 square foot three story dream home, which was approximately 30 years old. We are very fastidious with the cleaning and maintenance of the home.
Within two years of moving in, we began to find leaking issues with sewer pipes and other pipes in the home. In addition to fixing these issues, over the years we also installed a new roof, flooring, chimney, outside exterior, windows, and doors. We even hired a restoration company to remediate some mold and dry out other areas in the home.
Despite our efforts to fix moisture issues and remediate mold, Helen’s health continued to deteriorate.
In Helen’s words:
“For the past four years, I suffered from upper and lower digestive issues, extreme fatigue, and weakness. I was diagnosed with the lethal condition, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (unknown cause, hence no treatment). Later it was determined that the fibrosis was caused by acid reflux. I began to have difficulty breathing, which made me question the quality of our indoor air.”
2. What caused the mold in your house?
The mold was not obvious. We had noticed there was more dust on our furniture, though we were keeping our furniture and interior surfaces very clean.
What we learned is that in any home here in the South where the humidity is almost always above 70% and where homes are air-conditioned, mold invariably exists, no matter how much one cleans. This is even more prevalent in older homes.
3. What remediation contractor did you use?
“After 71 years of health and physically energetic living, I experienced fatigue, shortness of breath, and bodily pains. A colleague I worked with 7 years ago was so sick and weak she had to crawl up her home stairs. After seeing her early this year, she was energetic, enjoying her career and family, and looked wonderful. We had switched places: she was healed, and I was quite sick. Her thriving health seemed miraculous, so I asked her how she became well.”
Initially we had another mold removal specialist do an inspection of our home. He took pictures inside the ducts and above the drop-down ceiling and wanted to remove all the ducts and air flow systems. The estimated cost was $59,000 and the time for completion was two months.
The price, time, and other factors seemed high. We felt scare tactics were employed hearing twice the unacceptable statement, “I am sure you want your wife to live, don’t you?” Both of us decided not to hire that company.
After their work was complete, her health improved dramatically.
Specifically, we hired them for three key reasons.
First, their assessment of the problems was thorough and very professional. They used specialized equipment to measure humidity and moisture levels in each area of the home.
Second, they educated us on the different types of mold and fungi and explained how they would resolve the problem. There is no shame in having home mold. We always thought homes get mold if they are not cleaned properly, so we have been conscientious about maintaining the cleanliness of our home.
Finally, the cost was reasonable. The total cost for remediation, including new equipment not proposed by the first remediator, was $22,000, and it would only take 6 to 8 days!
4. How long did it take for the work to be completed?
We were impressed by the persons in the crew, and enjoyed their professionalism, competence and respect for our home. We enjoyed being with them in the mornings before we left for work.
The work was finished in 8 days, as they predicted. They worked Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday to overhaul all the air flow systems and returned the next Monday for 5 days to clean every object in the home. We had the weekend to ourselves, which seemed miraculous to us!
They explained in advance exactly what was going to happen and did not miss a beat in holding to their schedule.
They completed the job exactly as they said they would. We were introduced to every person who came into our home, and given a full appraisal of their experience.
At the end of the job they checked the air quality in every room to ensure that the fungal ecology was at healthy levels.
5. What difference do you think it made working with a mold sensitized trained contractor?
It made all the difference in the world to have a mold-sensitized trained contractor!
They knew what needed to be done. Both mold remediation, as well as the machinery and air circulation that were needed to cleanse the air and keep humidity at 40%, so mold could not be present.
They said that the air quality in the Master Bedroom was “surgical room quality.”
The air just seems “pure,” “fresh,” “hygienic,” “blue—if that is an image of cleanliness.”
We still have our house cleaned every two weeks, but the accumulation of dust is a tenth of what it was.
Perhaps the sense of the air quality is physiological, perhaps it is psychological, but Helen feels her breathing and energy are much better. I (Jack) have always grown up in old musty-smelling houses, but now that we have become educated about the harmful effects of mold, we are most grateful for the quality of this home improvement, and for the trust that we have experienced in the people who did this work.
6. What were the main steps/processes involved in the remediation?
After we made the decision to get the work done, we met with Johnny of Mold-B-Gone and Stephen of HealthyAirUSA as soon as possible. They told us that it would take 6-8 days and were very clear about what would happen on each day. We had assumed we would have to move out while the work was being done, yet they said that would not be necessary…what superb news!
With respect to specific steps, this is what they did.
They brought in a top tier duct cleaning service using 10,000 lbs of suction pressure. Then the edges of every duct opening where it meets the ceiling, were sealed. A large HEPA Air Cleaning system was added above the Master Bedroom. Then a large dehumidifier was added to dry out the entire house and keep the humidity of the house at a constant 47 percent, a level where no mold can grow and yet the wood does not dry and crack. The ceiling tiles in the lower level were all removed and cleaned on both sides and re-installed, the wood joists and all surfaces were coated with a mold preventative.
Once this step was completed, Mold-B-Gone brought in their team of five technicians who did a basement to roof cleaning of every surface and object, wiping every surface with a mold prevention cleaner developed by Johnny Wells. They were meticulous, cleaning every lamp, every object, every picture, every piece of furniture turned upside down, every drawer removed, emptied, cleaned, the contents cleaned, every one of about 3000 books individually cleaned. They took particular interest and care in cleaning about 60 antiquity objects dating from 5000 BCE to about 850 CE. This process took five days and they cleaned 12 rooms, including the garage.
For added “peace of mind”, there was a site supervisor that ensured that each step documented for us was followed through upon.
7. Further thoughts?
We highly recommend HealthyAirUSA and Mold-B-Gone because of the care and respect they demonstrated for the contents of home. Most importantly, they were easy to work with, friendly, and did an exceptional job.
Months after they were finished, Mold-B-Gone returned to investigate the mold on the caulking of the master shower. When Johnny and his staff supervisor, Rick, arrived it was liking seeing cherished friends. They are excellent professionals, fun and down-to-earth. They removed the contaminated caulking and re-caulked the shower and even brought ladders in to replace light bulbs in the hall entry at no extra cost.
Working with them was a marvelous experience because of their attitude, work ethic, and outstanding work. We have already referred friends and family to Mold-B-Gone and HealthyAirUSA because of their exceptional service.
We highly recommend Mold-B-Gone because of the care and respect they demonstrated for the contents of our home. Most importantly, they were easy to work with, friendly, and did an exceptional job!
Crawlspaces are the ideal environment for mold to thrive.
Most crawlspaces are dark, dirty, and humid. Bugs like to live in there. They’re vented to the outside air in the summer (and in the winter if you neglect to close your vents) which can be very humid and this defeats the purpose of venting.
Mold is a fungus that requires moisture and high humidity to grow and thrive.
Like plants, mold has cells. However, unlike a plant that has chlorophyll and able to makes it’s food through photosynthesis, mold can not feed without moisture.
Mold reproduces by releasing it’s spores, this is mold’s survival mechanism.
In addition to moisture, mold also requires the right temperature of 41 degrees fahrenheit up to 100 degrees fahrenheit, common in Atlanta, Georgia and the South.
The final ingredient mold needs to thrive is food: high cellulose materials such as paper and wood, drywall, wallpaper, carpet, ceiling tiles, dust, and dirt.
Now that you understand why mold grows in your crawlspace, the remainder of this article will list and explain the top three reasons why you have moisture in your crawlspace and what you can do to fix the humidity issues.
How To Measure The Relative Humidity Of Your Crawlspace?
The easiest way to determine the relative humidity of your crawlspace is to use a hygrometer or you could install a digital thermo-hygrometer with a remote sensor to track it.
If the relative humidity is greater than 50% this could cause moisture issues that leads to mold.
Mold will begin to grow at 50%, and will thrive when the humidity is greater than 70%.
The key to ensuring that your crawlspace does not become a source of mold is to figure out how to control the humidity.
Listed below are the top three reasons your crawlspace has high humidity.
#1 Water Accumulation
If your crawlspace has standing water, you probably have a drainage problem or a plumbing leak. This needs to be fixed immediately.
You do not want water to accumulate in your crawlspace because this will compound your potential mold problems, not to mention as mold grows it will impact the indoor air quality of your home and health.
#2 Moisture Evaporating from the Ground
When homes are built with crawl spaces, most builders neglect to cover the ground, meaning that the crawlspace is covered with dirt.
Dirt has moisture and as the moisture evaporates, it will increase the humidity in your crawlspace.
Unfortunately, this is a common problem in Atlanta, Georgia, and other southern states. To prevent moisture from evaporating from the ground, the easiest solution is to cover it up with a vapor barrier during crawlspace encapsulation.
#3 Outdoor Air Coming in through the Crawl Space Vents
The third reason your crawlspace could have moisture issues is through the vents.
When you bring outdoor air into the crawlspace, the relative humidity can increase.
Cool air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air, so the air that enters is now closer to its saturation point, referred to as the dew point.
It might be 60% relative humidity outside, relative to a temperature of 90 degrees fahrenheit, but when that air enters the crawlspace and cools down to 75 degrees fahrenheit, the relative humidity jumps up to 95%.
In the past, we were told that crawlspaces needed to be ventilated. Now, however, we are learning that crawlspaces need to be treated almost as if they were living spaces. In other words, areas that are in contact with your living space affect your living space.
Fixing Your Crawlspace Humidity and Mold Problems
If your crawlspace is vented and the relative humidity is high, you need to fix the problems. It is not as simple as installing a dehumidifier either.
If you have water accumulation, the source of the water must be addressed. If it is a plumbing issue, fix the leak. If the problem is caused by drainage, this must be fixed as well.
If the problem relates to moisture evaporating from the ground or outdoor air coming into your vents, this can be fixed with crawlspace encapsulation.
Mold-B-Gone Remediation, LLC specializes in drying out damp crawlspaces and turning them into dry, healthy foundations for your home.
Our dry-space crawlspace system includes the following:
Thorough cleaning of the crawlspace, including mold removal and prevention.
Installation of a wall-to-wall guide, durable, 14 mil vapor barrier.
Attachment of the vapor barrier over ground and up sidewalls to 6 inches below floor joists.
The end result is an energy efficient, healthy home.
If you are concerned about humidity in your crawlspace, call 678-697-6267 or send an e-mail. We look forward to serving you! 🙂
Top 3 Reasons Your Crawlspace Has High Humidity. This article explains why your crawlspace is humid, why this leads to mold and how you can fix the problem!
