When is Encapsulating mold appropriate

12/9/2024 (Permalink)

When is Encapsulating Mold Appropriate?

Always wear the proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) before removing as much mold as possible by scrubbing the moldy surface with a fungicide. Professionals will sometimes sand wood to remove additional mold that could not be removed by scrubbing. Sanding mold is rather hazardous though, because it sends so many microscopic mold spores flying into the air, where they are easily inhaled. Only professionals should attempt to sand moldy wood. After as much mold as possible has been removed, a mold sealant is applied. Note that you should never paint over mold with regular paint. Regular paint, or even mold-resistant paint, will not prevent mold in the wood from growing or spreading. It will only make it harder to see the mold when it does begin to grow. Only a product designed specifically to encapsulate mold should be used for that purpose.

Mold Remediation

12/2/2024 (Permalink)

Mold in Bathroom to be remediated

This was a water damage that went left untreated at a business. SERVPRO of Lake County was quick to respond and proper steps where taken to make this business safe for customer and staff. 

Mold Action Guide: What to Do About Suspect Mold in buildings: Step-by-Step Action Guide to the necessary steps to address mold in buildings, How to find mold in a home, house, building, or office, how and when to hire an expert, how and why to test for mold, how to remove mold, how to prevent mold.

Mold Containment

12/2/2024 (Permalink)

Doorway Containment

SERVPRO of Lake County Florida was contacted by a home owner for some remediation services. When we contacted the home owner he stated that she had the home inspected by a environmental company and that they took air samples in his home. We ask him if we could see the written protocol (report). After reviewing all the documents we began putting up containment in the bedroom. The drywall under window was effected and had to be removed.  After all this work was completed the environmental company did a clearance test in the home since the homeowner had some health concerns. The home owner was extremely happy with the entire process and would highly recommend SERVPRO of Lake Co. Florida        

Mold on Kitchen Cabinets

11/4/2024 (Permalink)

Mold on kitchen cabinets

So you just opened a cabinet door to grab something from under the sink and noticed a musty smell, moved some things around and noticed some mold growth. Now what? Well, don’t get overly worried right now. It may be the case you just have a very small problem on your hands that can be dealt with fairly simply and affordably. Of course, it may also be the very small tip of a larger iceberg. How can you know for sure? Well, technically it’s impossible to know what’s going on below the cabinets without removing them. But that’s clearly an expensive process that you don’t want to begin unless you know you have a bigger problem on your hands.What we suggest in this case is to call SERVPRO of Lake County Florida a certified water & mold damage restoration company to have us assess the situation. We can check behind and underneath the cabinets to see if moisture has traveled elsewhere. If that is the case, it’s usually the case the mold growth has also expanded. But mold damage can be tricky because you really don’t know what you’re up against until you start peeling back layers. Given that, many homeowners can’t help but start doing a little demolition themselves. If you feel inclined to start pulling back cabinets or punching through drywall, please just keep in mind that doing so will kick up mold particles that you can end up breathing or that can travel to other parts of your home. That’s why SERVPRO® will contain the affected area before removing any areas as well as wear full body and face protection.

Drywall Removal

9/26/2024 (Permalink)

Cutting out affected drywall

When sawing through moldy drywall, you can have an assistant hold a vacuum hose with a Hepa filter nearby to further decrease the spread of mold spores or our SERVPRO® franchise uses a drywall saw with an attachment for our Hepa-vacuum. When removing moldy materials, place them in heavy plastic garbage bags before carrying it out of the home so no mold spores are spread to other areas of the home in the process. It’s imperative that you do everything possible to prevent spreading mold spores throughout the house so that you don’t end up with mold in other rooms. If there is any mold on the wooden studs, clean those as well as you can with an antimicrobial cleanser. Allow them to dry completely, then apply anti-microbial sealant to make sure any remaining traces of mold cannot continue to grow and spread. Sanding wooden studs to remove mold growth should only be done by a professional who is suited up in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), since it greatly increases exposure to potentially harmful mold spores. SERVPRO technicians are well trained to preform remediation services on any scale whether small or large projects. Please call SERVPRO of Lake county Florida at 1-352-735-3311

Mold Remediation

9/12/2024 (Permalink)

Moldy Kitchen apliances

When sawing through moldy drywall, you can have an assistant hold a vacuum hose with a Hepa filter nearby to further decrease the spread of mold spores or our SERVPRO® Franchise uses a drywall saw with an attachment for our Hepa-vacuum. When removing moldy materials, place them in heavy plastic garbage bags before carrying it out of the home so no mold spores are spread to other areas of the home in the process. It’s imperative that you do everything possible to prevent spreading mold spores throughout the house so that you don’t end up with mold in other rooms. If there is any mold on the wooden studs, clean those as well as you can with an antimicrobial cleanser. Allow them to dry completely, then apply anti-microbial sealant to make sure any remaining traces of mold cannot continue to grow and spread. Sanding wooden studs to remove mold growth should only be done by a professional who is suited up in PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), since it greatly increases exposure to potentially harmful mold spores. SERVPRO technicians are well trained to preform remediation services on any scale whether small or large projects. Please call SERVPRO of Lake county Florida at 1-352-735-3311.

Mold in House

8/13/2024 (Permalink)

Mold in the home: how big a health problem is it?

Whether it is a cold damp winter day or a humid summer day, mold can grow on walls, clothes, books, toys, and even CDs. It can turn prized possessions into musty relics that only look fit for the garbage. But is it also a health hazard? What effects can mold have on a person’s body? Molds are a form of fungus. There are many different types, and they can occur both indoors and outdoors. Mold produces spores, which spread by floating around in the air. Mold spores are present in all indoor environments. There is no way to prevent spores, and they can persist in conditions where mold itself cannot grow. Mold spores thrive in environments that are moist and warm, so when they land on a damp spot, they begin to grow. Molds can grow on a variety of different surfaces, including fabric, paper, wood, glass, and plastic. As they grow, they may digest the material they are growing on.

Realtors and SERVPRO

7/16/2024 (Permalink)

Mold Growth

Realtors and SERVPRO

The word is out that it is a sellers’ market here in central Florida and many investors and home owners are looking to capitalize on the money making opportunities that are becoming available. If you have a home you’d like to sell then now is the time to learn about what SERVPRO of Lake County can do for you.

It is not uncommon for a house to sit vacant for months before it is sold and in this case there may be un-detected leaks as well as insect and rodent problems that can occur. The services we specialize in can help your clients pass home inspections and generally get their homes in top show condition. Whether the problem is a water stain on a hardwood floor, a mildew smell in the closet or even if the home was lived in by a heavy smoker we offer free inspections and can come determine the scope of mitigation services that are necessary. We also offer residential cleaning services such as full detailed micro cleanings, carpet cleaning, tile cleaning, upholstery cleaning and even drape and curtain cleaning.

Let us turn a problem listing into a quick sale. 

Call us today at (352)735-3311

Mold Remediation

5/28/2024 (Permalink)

Mold on wall behind kitchen cabinet

It's summer and it is heating up! With the temperature and humidity on the rise this summer be sure to look for signs of mold. 

Mold – Take Precautions

Mold is more than likely to spread when an environment has been subject to moisture for a long period of time. If your property has sustained a recent water damage, it is vital to remove excess water and dry the structure promptly. If there is an ongoing moisture problem in the building, it is important to be alert for:

*The presence of visible mold

*Strong musty odors which may indicate mold is present

*Any evidence of past moisture problems that might have caused undetected mold growth.

*Excessive humidity

HELP IS HERE

If you think you might have a mold problem, please give us a call  of La SERVPRO of Lake County at 352-735-3311.  We will be more than happy send out one of our professionally trained technicians in mold remediation to examine the structure for any visible signs of mold.

If extensive mold growth is present, additional assistance may be required. Some situation require the addition of an Indoor Air Quality / Environmental Professional with the specialized equipment and services needed to assess and / or repair property. You may also wish to consult with your insurance adjuster if needed.

We are always here to help don't hesitate to call  SERVPRO® with your mold concerns today!

Industrial Hygienist

5/14/2024 (Permalink)

Moldy Ductwork 2024

An Industrial Hygienist is often called in to test the indoor air quality of structures affected by growth. The hygienist takes air and lift samples to be sent to the lab for comparison to outside levels. The samples are sent out to a lab, who tests each specimen and compares the results to a control group and samples from the outside environment. These tests help determine whether the spore levels inside the structure are outside of the safe range. If the structure "fails" the preliminary test, the hygienist will write a protocol that remediation companies can follow to help deem the structure safe. Here at SERVPRO of Lake County, we frequently work with protocols. Growth jobs can include setting containment, demolition, and micro cleaning. Our crews work diligently to clean the affected areas and reduce spore counts. After mitigation is complete, the hygienist will return to perform a post-test. This test shows whether the mitigation efforts were successful or if further action must be taken.

Moldy Subfloor

4/2/2024 (Permalink)

Removing Contaminated Subfloor

Mold - you can't wish it away and you can't really avoid it. However, you can get rid of it. There are many kinds of mold. In nature, they're beneficial as those molds decompose biological matter that would otherwise drown the world in waste. When the mold spores drift inside your home, if the spores find a suitable, damp environment, they begin to grow. The result is more than distasteful - it can cause health effects. If it's growing under your flooring, you need to fix the cause, kill and remove the mold, then replace the flooring. In this particular case the damage floor was present for the last few months and they didn't notice until their floor was about to cave it. For all your mold assessment and remediation needs, please call SERVPRO of Lake County Fl. 1-352-735-3311 

Got Mold

3/28/2024 (Permalink)

Microscopic mold spores naturally occur almost everywhere, both outdoors and indoors.

This makes it impossible to remove all mold from a home or business.

Therefore, mold remediation reduces the mold spore count back to its natural or baseline level.

Some restoration businesses advertise “mold removal” and even guarantee to remove all mold, which is a fallacy.

Consider the following mold facts:

• Mold is present almost everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
• Mold spores are microscopic and float along in the air and may enter your home through windows, doors, or AC/heating systems or even hitch a ride indoors on your clothing or a pet.
• Mold spores thrive on moisture. Mold spores can quickly grow into colonies when exposed to water. These colonies may produce allergens and irritants.
• Before mold remediation can begin, any sources of water or moisture must be addressed. Otherwise, the mold may return.
• Mold often produces a strong, musty odor and can lead you to possible mold problem areas.
• Even higher-than-normal indoor humidity can support mold growth. Keep indoor humidity below 45 percent.

If your home or business has a mold problem, we can inspect and assess your property and use our specialized training, equipment, and expertise to remediate your mold infestation.

When you see signs of mold, Call Us Today

(352) 735-3311

Growth in HVAC System

3/5/2024 (Permalink)

Growth in the HVAC System

SERVPRO of Lake County Florida was called to this home to do an HVAC inspection when the owner spotted mold on the returns. After further investigation there was visible growth and this turned into a mold remediation within the HVAC system. At that point, we contacted a Air Quality Hygienist to assess the HVACT system and write a protocol for remediation. 

Commercial Mold Remediation

2/6/2024 (Permalink)

Drywall removed due to lots of growth

If you find mold growing on drywall, trim, or unfinished wood surfaces, and especially if the affected area is more than 10 square feet, hire a mold professional to discover the root and extent of the problem. They’ll also be able to direct you to a reliable mold remediation company such as SERVPRO of Lake County Florida. Reputable companies work with third-party Hygienist's instead of doing the inspection themselves. But be sure to check credentials when hiring an Hygienist. The mold industry is largely unregulated, but there are guidelines to help you know when you’re hiring a true professional.