Atlanta Home Inspector Explains The Affects Of Mold

Even as far back as Leviticus in the Pentateuch or Old Testament (Moses' time), mold has been causing problems. You have to take it seriously.

Mold is a growing, living thing. Actually there are over a hundred thousand different varieties of mold. But only thirteen to fifteen species are found in the average American home after a water leak or moisture seepage. The mold is in the air at all times. When building materials get wet, the mold spores are activated.

Everyone is concerned about the amount of damage mold can do to your home if left untreated. It can also make your family ill with allergies, or other respiratory problems. But what exactly is mold?

Some mold, like penicillin can be beneficial. Others can be harmful. A particular kind commonly found in US homes is called aspergillus. It releases toxins into the air when its spores mature and explode.

One particular species, stachybotrus, can take hold in seven to twelve days. It thrives on humidity and is often found in crawlspaces away from the sunlight. Mold needs three things in order to live: moisture, a food source like the cellulose in wood or other particle board or carpet backings, and warm temperatures. Thus, mold can be a particular menace in the southern states where all three elements are in abundance. However, any home can become mold infected.

Mold can be airborne. That is one way it multiplies. When there is a lot on a surface you can see it. You cannot see mold spores in the air. Yet they are there in the air we breathe. The spores float in the air until they land on a food source, like dampened wood or plasterboard. Mold can grow quickly, producing more spores and releasing them back into the air. In just a short while, the damage can be devastating if all three conditions are present.

Is there a difference between mold and mildew? Technically, not really. Fungus, mold and mildew are pretty much interchangeable words. Most people call the black stuff that gets in their bathroom grout mildew. It is a fungal surface mold. Some molds appear pink, others green or greenish blue. Once it becomes invasive, it is hard to get rid of. Even if you kill the spores, they are still dangerous to your health. Their cells walls are still intact, so they can still release toxins into the air around them.

Mold is dynamic. It invades, it grows, it multiplies and even though no longer alive, it releases harmful toxins. It has been around since the dawn of man. So why all the media attention in the last ten years? Partially because of lawsuits brought by homeowners. But also, home inspectors are becoming more aware of what mold is and how it behaves. Also, the building materials we use attract the mold. We are more and more living in closed in air conditioned and heated environments. That can be a breeding ground for mold.

If you feel you may have a mold problem it is a good idea to call a professional such as a home inspector to determine if in fact you do and what are the best remediation strategies.