On a very regular basis we are asked technical questions about the types of mold found growing in people’s homes, whether it’s attic mold, basement mold, or mold found in other parts of the home. We find mold in newer and older homes from Glen Ellyn and Wheaton, to Orland Park and Mokena – it seems no one is immune.
Many people wonder how the type of mold present in their home will affect the health of those who inhabit the space, while others wonder how the type of mold will affect the actual scope of the work necessary to remediate the infestation. Mold seems to be a subject that so few know about…and quite frankly care about, until they find a problem in their own home.
In answering the array of questions that come our way, we try to establish a baseline understanding that we are not alarmists. As mold removal contractors we obviously take our craft very seriously, however we do not feel it is our job to create a panic within a homeowner in order to leverage business. There are plenty of those type of contractors out there….and we pride ourselves on being level-headed while attempting to help our clients make the best decisions for their family.
While it is certainly true that there are a wide variety of molds, there are certainly some molds that if found growing in a home should be handled with the utmost respect. One example of a type of mold that is considered to be an absolute “no-no” in an indoor environment is Stachybotrys. Stachybotrys is the type of mold that you would normally find associated with the term “toxic black mold.” This type of mold is found in a space that has seen an excessive amount of moisture over a prolonged period of time. A study of the health effects of Stachy will reveal that it can be very damaging to a person’s health. Other molds that would be considered to be more commonly found would be cladosporium and penicillium. A study of the effects of exposure to these types of molds would most likely reveal a far less risk to an individual’s health. The main point that we try to express to a homeowner who faces the decision on how to handle a mold infestation in their home is that at a bare minimum even the most commonly found molds on the planet can cause respiratory irritations if high enough levels are found….and symptoms can escalate depending on any given individuals sensitivity to exposure. In other words….if you have a mold problem that appears to have affected more than 10 square feet of your home, it is wise to hire a professional to remediate the issue.
In terms of how any given mold issue is remediated…..we do not tailor our scope of work to a type of mold, but rather the specific area that is affected. Obviously we would treat mold found in an attic considerably different then we would a mold problem found in a basement. Whether you discover stachybotrys or cladosporium in your basement, we would treat the problem with the same caution.
We service homes and businesses in the entire Chicagoland area, from Glen Ellyn and Wheaton, to Orland Park and Mokena – everywhere between, give us a call or use the form to the right to contact us today!
Dan Redden
Guardian Mold Prevent Corp.
866.681.6653