Black mold is the first thing homeowners think of when they see moldy growth on their drywall or inside air ducts. The nefarious visitor is enough to have anyone calling in the professionals, but it may not be the one you see in your home. If anybody in your home has been experiencing allergic reactions or breathing problems, the mold you see could be toxic. If that is the case, you should be contacting mold remediation experts to help you deal with the issue.

There are some tell-tale signs that an infestation is indeed black mold.

Color

Unsurprisingly, this mold is dark in color. If it has had time to mature, then it looks black. The earlier stages are closer to a dark brown or green. When it is developing, it looks similar to dirt.

Shape

The spore clusters are small and look almost like the spray from a paintbrush. Usually, the mold growth is contained in one corner or stretched along a wall join.

Texture

Unlike most mold species, black mold is wet and slimy. Using gloves and a paper towel, gently rub the surface to check.

Smell

If given time to grow and settle, this mold strain has a distinctive dirt-like smell, more so than most other species.

The earthy smell of mold in the air is one that we can all recognize. Sometimes, you can smell mold before you see it. If this is the case in your property, it can be disconcerting trying to figure out where it is coming from. The best thing to do is call for an inspection. Professional mold remediation services use thermal imaging to locate the hidden mold and can get to work on the removal quickly.

If you are determined to find it, here are some tips for knowing where the smell of hidden mold could be coming from:

• Look for discoloration on the surface of any drywall
• Bubbling paint or wallpaper suggests dampness and could mean mold damage
• Watch out for unexplained stains on upholstery or your mattress
• If you notice more bugs in a certain area of your house, they could be attracted to mold that you cannot see
• Investigate more in areas of your house that don’t get a lot of air
• If you have air ducts and can safely reach them, check around the entrance for condensation

Bear in mind that black mold likes to grow inside drywall and is often in the air before you can see it, so follow the same safety tips as you would for the cleaning process.

To be clear, mold exposure would have to be extreme and prolonged to do serious damage to a healthy adult. While it is essential to battle any moldy surface you see and remove mold as soon as possible, you can live with it in the meantime. If you are not suffering any reactions, regularly clean, bleach, and treat moldy areas, and are in the process of mold removal then there is no need to move out.

If mold damage begins to affect the air quality, you may want to remove yourself from the space for your comfort. Moldy air can make a living situation extremely unpleasant and should be dealt with quickly in professional remediation.

Where the mold damage is extreme to the point the integral structure is compromised, then it is advisable to arrange professional mold remediation, make restoration plans, and stay somewhere else until the removal is complete. The cost of staying somewhere else could be worth avoiding a greater cost to your wellbeing.

Unfortunately, mold damage can appear on all organic materials if given the chance. Wood, drywall, fabric, insulation, tiles, and wallpaper are just some of the household materials that mold loves. Combine the nutrients that these organic materials contain, a damp or humid environment, and the time to grow, and you have heaven on earth for everybody’s leave favorite house guest.

The costs involved with professional mold remediation services vary depending on the situation. Some impacting factors include the size of the area covered, how easy the mold is to reach (crawl spaces or in the roof cost more than a living room wall, for example), and how severe the mold damage is. If any drywall needs to be demolished then the restoration costs are higher. The best way to get an idea of how much mold remediation is likely to cost you is to arrange a free inspection.

You should not paint a wall that you know is moldy. Not only is it a waste of time, but it is also likely to cost you more money in the long run. Painting over mold may temporarily hide the issue, but the surface is only going to bubble or crack and become moldy again.

Painting over mold does not kill the spores, nor does it remove the health dangers. The longer you try to cover up moldy drywall or any other surface, the more mold remediation services are likely to cost.

Many mold issues can indeed be handled with light maintenance and regular cleaning, but what about the times when it can’t? To remove mold safely and effectively takes specialized equipment and deep knowledge of mold species. If mold has taken over a building, there is no amount of scrubbing that can stop it. The only way to fully remediate mold is to find the source and destroy it from the core.

Mold damage is covered in many homeowner insurance policies, but only under certain circumstances. If the mold is a result of water damage caused by a faulty fixture or appliance, from fighting a fire, or in some cases after a storm, then you could be covered. If mold removal or remediation is needed in the aftermath of one of these situations, it is likely to be covered.

The root cause of the mold damage is essential to determine insurance eligibility. Acceptable reasons for a claim should be detailed in your policy. It should also disclose what percentage of the cost, if any, is covered.

Yes, you can sell a house with mold inside on the condition that the new buyer is aware of the situation. If you do not disclose a known issue then you could be liable for the costs and could be sued. You should also make a buyer aware of any previous leaks or plumbing issues. Additionally, let them know about any previous mold removal or remediation operations on the property.

Yes. If you have reported mold-related health issues or safety concerns to your landlord and they make no plans for mold removal, it is possible to sue. Anyone who rents property to others should remove mold as soon as possible to protect themself and their tenants.

Mold remediation is the general removal, disinfection, and overall cleansing of mold-infected structures. The process entails the use of remediation equipment and methods of complete removal for the prevention of future mold growth.

Depending on the size and scope of the mold damage, remediation can take anywhere from a day to 3 weeks (sometimes more). Remember, the process eliminates mold completely and surfaces are treated so as not to allow growth in the future.

Mold growth thrives where moisture and organic materials are found. Often leaky pipes, indoor humidity, and flooding can trigger growth.