When the topic of molds comes up, just hearing the words “black mold” are enough to make you cringe. Most people only know that they don’t want it in their home, but they don’t know exactly what black mold is,
When the topic of molds comes up, just hearing the words “black mold” are enough to make you cringe. Most people only know that they don’t want it in their home, but they don’t know exactly what black mold is, how it occurs or how to get rid of it if they do find it. Another important thing many people don’t realize is the dangers of molds can have on your health. It can cause breathing problems, allergies and other serious health problems. It is the last thing you need in your home, so it is important that you understand how to identify black mold and how to remove it.
What is Black Mold Made of?
Simply put, molds are a microscopic living organism. A single spore is so tiny that it cannot be seen by the naked eye, which means that it may be in your home and behind a wall, without you even knowing it. If you can visibly see that you have a problem, it typically means it has been there for a long period of time, because it has time to grow and spread in an area large enough to be visible. It generally grows on porous materials, such as wood, drywall, fabric and carpets; however, it can also grow on non-porous materials such as tile. It needs the right conditions to grow. There has usually been some type of water damage and the area has stayed wet long enough for the spores to grow.
Black Mold on Walls
Removing the problem from a painted or non-painted wall can be quite challenging. If you have visible problem with it growing on the walls, there is a chance it is also growing inside of the walls, which usually means removing the wall. When there is black mold inside of the walls, it often causes allergy-like symptoms, including watery eyes, sneezing and running nose. If anyone in your home has respiratory problems, such as asthma and those with a weakened immune system may have a higher risk of infections from exposure to the mold. Black mold can also cause more serious illness, such as sleep disorders, memory loss, bleeding lungs in infants and sudden infant death syndrome.
What Causes Black Mold on Walls?
Black mold, like most molds, thrive in conditions that are dark, unventilated and damp. The less the spores are disturbed the more they will grow; it can grow for months, even years behind a surface without being noticed. It may have started out in an area, such as behind or underneath appliance, anywhere there are pipes, especially leaking or sweaty pipes and/or around leaky windows. It can also seep in from the ground around your home. High humidity can also cause excess moisture which can develop into spores. Once it has started to grow it can spread on and into the walls.
How to Identify and Where to Look for Black Mold
Before you can start to remove molds from a wall, it is important that you identify all areas that have been contaminated. The most common areas where it is found typically include the basement, bathroom, kitchen garage and bedroom, especially a bedroom that is next to a bathroom or a bedroom next to the laundry room. You should look in areas that have a lot of dampness or moisture, such as the laundry room, basement and kitchen. You should also look at the grout between the bathroom tiles, above ceiling tiles that water stains, in any area where you smell mildew or there is a musty smell and any area that has been subjected to flooding. If you have water stains on the wall, or peeling or bubbling paint, it may be inside of the wall, which means you may need to remove the drywall to look behind it, especially if you smell a musty odor. Identifying black mold is fairly easy, because it is as the name suggests, black in color. It also usually has a slimy appearance.
When talking about the best way to remove it and the best way to prevent it, it is es