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Mold Information for Homeowners
Part of the Natural Environment
Molds are part of the natural environment. There are approximately 200,000 types of mold and only a few of these are toxic to humans, but many of them can cause damage to your home in the form of rot and decay which invites termites and other insects. Outdoors, mold play an important part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are moist.
Allergic Responses
Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals, Allergic responses include hay fever type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of both mold-allergic and non allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing.
Controlling Moisture Indoors
It is impossible to get rid of all molds and mold spores indoors. Some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors.
Mold Problems in the Building Industry
Biologist classify mold as a separate kingdom of life, distinct from both plants and animals. Molds resemble the animal kingdom in that they cannot produce their
own food as plants do. Therefore they must consume organic, carbon-based compounds to survive; that is, they have to eat. Mold resembles the plant kingdom in that they can't move by themselves. They depend on animals or the forces of nature to carry them food or food to them. In short mold and all its problems in the building industry are here to stay.
The average new 2000 square foot home has about 5 tons of moisture that must evaporate from the structure. This moisture comes from the concrete, joint compound, sheetrock, lumber, tile mastic and grout, paint, wallpaper paste and the list goes on and on. This building product moisture takes an average of 6 months to evaporate. This process may or may not become a mold problem. Why wait and see when the repairs will be in the thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars?
The Gulf Coast Mold Prevention Solution
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