SERVPRO - Lebanon Mold Damage

4/27/2017 (Permalink)

Has Mold Taken Over your Lebanon Home?

Fire and water damage are evident to even a casual observer. A homeowner, insurance agent or a restoration specialist can begin the process of categorizing damage and repairs once they set foot on the property. Combating mold is a slightly more difficult process to begin.

The first step to stopping mold damage in Lebanon is finding it. SERVPRO maintains a trained team of inspectors who have the latest in training and detection equipment to find mold growth and then direct our 24-hour response team in the best way to keep it from spreading and remove it.

A mass of spores, no larger than a pinhead, can contain thousands. When this small mass is disturbed, the spores spread out in every direction. How far they spread is determined by the amount of force that strikes the mass and the airflow around the affected area. Even a gentle air current can spread spores down hallways and into multiple rooms. The air currents generated in a house fire are much more violent and push mold spores farther throughout the structure.

After they spread, spores can lie dormant on any surface for months or years. While they are clear to see on a kitchen counter, spores are invisible on a high shelf in a laundry room or garage. Spores wait, hiding in these places, for three conditions to grow; they are a high moisture level, food source, and the right temperature range.

The air humidity is much greater after flooding or other water damage. If the fire department responded to a fire in your home, the standing water left after they stopped the event serves the same purpose. Spores expand thanks to the extra moisture and send out a network of hyphae that spread across a surface or grow down into it if it is a suitable food source and once the temperature is between 68 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mold grows especially well on paper material in drywall and the wood in floors and wall paneling. The cotton, rayon, and wool in carpets and rugs are also excellent food sources for a thriving mold colony. Once we remove the standing water and expose the property item to air, spores begin to expand within hours. Our inspectors use specially designed air content meters to check for mold before deciding to pull up a carpet or begin pulling down drywall.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

If mold is suspected, our inspectors enter every crawlspace, look behind every wall, and dig under every floor to clean it out. SERVPRO of Wilson County understands that any missed spores quickly grow again if we do not remove them or change the conditions to prevent further growth. If you need our help or simply suspect there may be a problem, contact us at (615) 449-5000 today.