How to Get Rid of Mould Yourself and Why to Hire a Pro

When you think of mould, you may think of a household nuisance, something that creates a musty odour in your shower. You can easily remove small areas of mould with a spray bottle of Mould Removal and some paper towels. But mould can destroy building materials and create miserable health problems for those encountering hidden colonies or scattered spores. Just like water damage or smoke damage, mould remediation requires a professional touch. Here are five reasons why:


  1. Your problem may be too big to do it yourself


The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends homeowners handle any mouldy area less than 10 square feet by themselves. However, that's the equivalent of a square a bit more than 3 feet 3 inches on each side. A small roof leak might provide that sort of area before you notice, but most serious sources of water damage—flooded basement, storm damage, burst pipes, etc.—can easily cause a far larger mould infestation.


  1. If you have mould, you probably have structural damage


Some mould infestations are due to excess humidity in the home or poor ventilation. But in cases where mould grows after water pours into your home or business, mould may not even be your main problem. Water itself is an emergency. If mould is growing on or in drywall, insulation, flooring or ceilings, they can be structurally compromised, especially if it's been more than 24 hours since they became wet. It could be necessary to remove and replace these materials for safety.


  1. The health effects can be serious


Mould can cause serious health problems up to and including fungal lung infections or poisoning from mycotoxins, but a far more common response to mould spores is a simple allergic reactions. These reactions can range from irritated skin and eyes to a runny nose, sinus problems, hoarseness and throat irritation, headaches, wheezing or chronic coughing and sneezing. Mould can also trigger migraines and asthma attacks.


It's essential that all the mould is removed as quickly and completely as possible, especially if anyone who spends time in the building is allergic, asthmatic or has a weakened immune system. Bringing in a mould removal specialist ensures it will be completely gone on the first pass.


  1. Killing surface mould is not enough


The Centers for Disease Control recommend donning proper gear (rubber boots, rubber gloves, goggles, dust mask) and cleaning mouldy items with a bleach and water mixture. But to guarantee safety, mould needs to be removed completely. Allergic reactions and asthma attacks can be caused by dead mould as easily as live mould.


 


On top of that, mould often grows through or inside building materials and fabrics, so killing the visible mould on the surface leaves the rest of the colony free to grow, destroy more materials and spread more mould spores into the air. It may be some time before you're aware of the full extent of the mould infestation, even when you assume the problem is solved.


True mould remediation—like true water damage repair—requires the full removal or restoration of all damaged materials. A surface treatment can't accomplish that, but mould removal experts with the best training and equipment available can.


  1. Peace of mind is worth its weight in gold


Wondering whether there's mould lurking in your home or facility, continuing to cause damage day in and day out isn't going to help your stress level, or help you return things to normal after a disaster. To have peace of mind, you need certainty, and unless you can be absolutely sure you've found and dealt with every place where excess moisture has given mould a chance to grow, you won't have that.


Bringing in a professional mould remediation contractor will not only give you peace of mind, it may be covered (or required!) by your insurance carrier. Professional mould contractors will work with your insurance adjuster to carefully document the extent of the damage and what items need to be replaced.


For all but the smallest mould infestations, bringing in professionals is the common sense, zero stress solution to get you back to normal as soon as possible.