What You Need to Know About Mold

1/19/2023 (Permalink)

Mold is a problem that you could possibly solve yourself, but it's best left to the professionals.

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow indoors and outdoors. It is commonly found in damp or humid areas and can cause problems for some people. Mold can grow on a variety of surfaces, including walls, floors, and ceilings, and can appear in various colors, such as black, green, or white. It is important to address mold growth promptly to prevent further growth and potential issues.

Mold is everywhere: in homes, offices, schools, and even outdoors. Mold can grow almost anywhere that there is moisture—even on clothes in your closet! And since mold spores are microscopic and float through the air, they can be found just about anywhere you go.

Here are some things to know about mold:

Mold’s Smell

While mold does have a distinct smell, it can vary from person to person and even from home to home. Some people are more sensitive than others, and some may not notice the smell at all.

Some common smells include:

• Mildew/earthy
• Bleach-like
• Paint-like (sweet) or vinegar-like (musty) odor (more common with Aspergillus species)

Bleach & Mold

You've probably seen or heard this advice: if you want to get rid of mold, just spray the area with bleach and let it sit for a few hours. You might even have done it yourself. But does bleach kill mold? Can you use it safely in your Longmont, CO home?

The short answer is no—bleach does not kill mold on soft surfaces like drywall and fabric, which can be damaged by bleach. In fact, using chlorine-based bleach on these materials will only make the problem worse by releasing harmful toxins into the air that are more likely to cause problems than removing mold growth. 

Hidden Mold

While it's true that mold often begins to grow inside a home and then spreads outward, many types of mold can grow in places where you don't expect them, including dark corners and places you don't often visit and clean. Mold can also form behind the walls, especially if there was some water damage.

Testing for Mold

If you’re worried about the presence of mold in your home, you can purchase a test kit at your local hardware store. However, these kits are not always accurate and can be expensive. Many professional mold testing companies offer free consultation services to help determine whether or not there is a problem with contamination.

Call the Professionals at SERVPRO of Longmont

Mold is a problem that you could possibly solve yourself, but it's best left to the professionals. If you find mold in your home, call SERVPRO of Longmont to remediate your home and get you back to normal. We know the proper techniques to remediate mold safely and effectively.

Is Mold Inspection Required Before Remediation?

12/22/2022 (Permalink)

If you have mold damage in your Longmont, CO home call SERVPRO of Longmont

Is Mold Inspection Required Before Remediation?

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow in homes and other buildings. While it’s often associated with damp, dark places like basements and crawl spaces, it can also be found on drywall and insulation. If you suspect your Longmont, CO home has mold or want to know whether there are any visible signs of the problem before remediation takes place, you should hire a professional for a mold inspection first.

Mold Inspection Before Remediation

Mold inspection is important because it can help you determine the extent of your mold problem, and whether there are any other underlying issues that need to be addressed. If you don’t know how far-reaching your mold problem is, it could lead to an overreaction and additional costs on remediation efforts.

Mold Inspection Basics

A mold inspection is a comprehensive visual and air sampling analysis of your home, performed by a certified professional. During a mold inspection, the inspector will conduct an initial walk-through with you to identify problems that may be contributing to moisture issues in your home. Areas such as windows, doors and walls are inspected for water ingress or other factors that may be causing moisture buildup within the structure.

The inspector will also make note of any visible signs of mold growth on your property: discolored areas on interior surfaces; small black spots (aka colonies) on hard surfaces like wood paneling or drywall; musty odors emanating from rooms; etc.

If there are obvious signs of mold growth inside your home during this initial walkthrough then additional steps may be necessary before remediation can proceed—such as removing contaminated materials from the area being treated—but otherwise, most inspections should only take about 30 minutes at most.

In addition to identifying problem areas where moisture has built up within the house itself, inspectors can also check for high humidity levels outside so that you know if it's necessary to install ventilation systems near windows or doors.

Finding the Right Company for the Job

As you search for the right company to help you with your mold problems, it's important to keep in mind that not all companies are alike. The best way to find a reputable company is by asking for references from past clients. 

Another way of doing this is by checking out reviews online. When choosing the right professional for your job, consider these factors:

• Experience in mold remediation - A good contractor will have experience with dealing with molds and should be able to provide references from previous jobs they've done. If a company has been working in this industry for many years, then they're likely more knowledgeable and skilled than one that just started recently.
• Reputation - Reputation matters when it comes time choosing a contractor! You want someone who has built up an excellent reputation over time so that you know who they are and what kind of work they do before even contacting them. Otherwise there's no way of knowing whether or not their services will even meet expectations at all! There may also be benefits associated with using an established business rather than one still trying build its customer base.

Molds can cause serious issues and should be taken care of as soon as they are found.

Many people are surprised to learn that mold is a fungus. However, it is important to know what this means for your home and its inhabitants.

Mold grows on organic matter, which can include anything from paper products to trees. When you find mold growth in your home, there is usually an item nearby that has become wet or damp enough for the spores to grow on it, such as a basement wall or even a carpet pad. Mold damage can be costly to repair because it damages not only furniture but also walls and ceilings as well.

If you have any concerns about finding mold in your home, we encourage you not to delay in contacting our professional team of certified inspectors today!

It’s important to know that it is not always dangerous. If you are concerned about the presence of mold in your Longmont, CO home or office, the best thing to do is hire an expert who can inspect your property and give you an honest answer about whether or not remediation is necessary. If you need mold remediation in your home or business, call SERVPRO of Longmont.

3 Ways Liability Insurers Avoid Covering Mold Claims

3/4/2022 (Permalink)

Insurance companies continue to create new ways to avoid CGL coverage for mold insurance claims.

Liability Insurers Avoid Covering Mold Claims In Three Ways.

Mold has been receiving a lot of media attention lately, and an unprecedented number of mold-related lawsuits have been filed in recent years. Insurance companies have responded to the sudden increase in mold insurance claims by finding new ways to exclude mold coverage from commercial general liability policies.

1. Exclude Mold Claims Under Existing Policy Exclusions

When mold claim numbers first started to spike, liability insurers attempted to deny coverage for mold-exposure claims under two exclusions that were standard at the time: the Pollution exclusion and the Business Risk exclusion. Denials under these exclusions were questionable at best and did not hold up well on appeal: Mold infestations don’t quite fit within the commonly understood framework of either type of exclusion.

2. Add Specific Exclusions for Mold Claims to Policy Terms

It soon became clear that the Pollution and Business Risk exclusions were not reliable grounds for denying mold insurance claims. Consequently, insurance companies began adding new endorsements to CGL policies that did specifically exclude mold coverage. A common example is the “Fungi or Bacteria Exclusion,” which specifically excludes coverage for mold remediation costs and mold exposure claims. Another example is the “Limited Fungi or Bacteria Coverage” endorsement, which specifies a separate, often very small, coverage limit for mold-related claims.

3. Offer Mold Coverage as a Separate Policy Type

In addition to adding mold-specific exclusions to their CGL policies, some insurance companies began offering pollution legal liability policies, which specifically include mold within the definition of “pollutant.” Companies that offer both PLL and CGL policies usually have policy language stating that any claim that could be covered under the PLL policies is completely excluded from coverage under the CGL policies.

Insurance companies continue to create new ways to avoid CGL coverage for mold insurance claims. Erie, CO, contractors and business owners should carefully review all policy changes and discuss any concerns with their insurance providers.