Here Is Everything You Need To Know About Black Mold

There are many misconceptions when it comes to black mold, but if there's one thing you should know it's that it needs to be removed immediately. Water damage can cause fungal growth, creating a negative effect not only on your home or business, but also on your health. More often than not, black mold forms in your walls and ceilings, making it easy to go unnoticed.

So what can you do to protect your home and your health from black mold? For starters, you can learn from the experts in this exclusive interview with SERVPRO Waltham/Weston/Watertown/Wayland, leaders in the restoration industry who are dedicated to being "faster to the disaster." Steve Taylor, owner of SERVPRO, gives Patch the rundown on how to identify, remove, remediate and prevent black mold in your home.

Patch: What is black mold?

Taylor: Black mold or “toxic mold” is usually associated with Stachybotrys, which can be produced from a water damage that has not been properly taken care of. Other molds can be black also, that are not as harmful to humans. Mold spores are invisible to the naked eye. They are usually about 10 to 20 microns in size. By comparison, a human hair is about 50 microns. When you can visibly see mold, you are looking at “colonies” of mold that are made up of hundreds, thousands or millions of mold spores.

Patch: How does it differ from other types of mold?

Taylor: Stachybotrys is hydrophilic or water-loving and is one of the worst molds to have indoors. If there is a supply of water, Stachybotrys will eventually grow. Other common molds that occur indoors are Cladosporium, Aspergillus and Penicillium. There are over 150,000 different types of molds. Not all of them are bad, but the aforementioned molds should not have excessive amounts of mold spores inside of a home or business.

Patch: How can Patch readers identify black mold in their home?

Taylor: Certainly if anyone sees fungal growth on wood, sheet rock or leather, they should call SERVPRO for a FREE Estimate. If someone is feeling sick, especially if they just moved in to a new space, you may want to have “Air Testing” done to find out if there is a problem. There may have been a previous water damage and there may be mold inside ceiling, walls or flooring that the previous occupant did not remediate and just painted over it.

Patch: What can be done once mold has gotten into someone’s property?

Taylor: Call SERVPRO! Mold MUST be removed. Mold is forever! It will not go away on its own and may continue to grow years after a water damage, if new moisture is added to the structural materials that already have mold.

Patch: Tell us about some of the common misconceptions about black mold.

Taylor: Everyone thinks that black mold is the worst mold, and it can be. The color of mold is determined from the organic material that it consumes. If you have light colored wood, then the mold will be dark grey or black. If the mold consumes dark colored wood, than the mold will be light grey or white…same mold!

Patch: What’s the difference between removal versus remediation?

Taylor: Removal means that the effected building material has been completely removed, placed in a 6-mil trash bag that has had the air removed from the bag using a HEPA vacuum and duct taped close. This is referred to as “goose-necked” bags. The bags are then safe for normal trash disposal. Remediation refers to a material that is not removed, but the mold has been removed from the surface, such as, soda or dry ice blasting, HEPA vacuuming, cleaning with an antimicrobial or disinfectant and these days there are great mold remediation solutions that can remove the mold with ease and for a much less cost than dry ice blasting.

Patch: Describe the restoration process.

Taylor: The very first mold remediation protocol is in the Bible (Leviticus 13:43-59). SERVPRO has refined the process since then. The affected area is placed under negative pressure by sealing the area and installing a HEPA filtered Air Filtration Device, vented out of the area. All affected structural materials are HEPA vacuumed to remove any loose fungal spores. Next, all affected structural materials are removed to at least 2 feet past visible mold. Wood studs or joists are then either dry ice blasted or a mold remediation solution is used to remove any remaining mold. If necessary an antimicrobial sealant or encapsulate can be applied to prevent future mold from occurring. Lastly and most importantly, every surface in the contained area must be HEPA vacuumed and cleaned with an antimicrobial agent. SERVPRO always recommends to the customer to have air testing done after the mold remediation is done to ensure that the job was done properly.

Patch: How can readers keep black mold from coming back?

Taylor: During the spring and summer months, everyone needs to keep indoors below 60 percent relative humidity by using dehumidifiers or air conditioning. If that is not possible, then use an antimicrobial sealant.

Patch: Can you give our readers some tips on what to do until help arrives?

Taylor: Pregnant women, elderly, young children and people with immune deficiencies should not go into areas with visible mold.

Patch: How can Patch readers learn more?

Taylor: Visit one of our websites at www.servprowaltham.com or www.servprooflexington.com

Image Credit: SERVPRO Waltham/Weston/Watertown/Wayland