Few things more frustrating issues can happen to a home than mold. It is so common, and too often inevitable – without the proper waterproofing work done first, that is. It devalues the home and flaws both the appearance and the smell of the affected room. But worse than that, it can be dangerous. You may not even know you or someone in your family has a mold allergy until you actually have mold in the home, and then you learn the hard way. Plus, some molds can make you sick. If you’re trying to sell a home, you might as well forget your asking price if you don’t get rid of that mold. Basically, you want to do what you can to get rid of it and avoid it. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there is no way to get rid of 100% of the mold in your walls, so the way to beat it is to control moisture. And that is just one of the reasons Quality Dry Basements owner Charles Pellaton advises waterproofing your basement.
The effects of exposure to mold range from mild to severe, as explained by the EPA. You don’t have to have an actual allergy to mold to experience side effects. You can still have some nasal congestion, eye irritation - either watery or very dry depending on the mold and your own system, wheezing and coughing, and skin irritation. If you do have mold allergies, this symptoms can be even more intense. On top of that, the more mold in your basement, the worse your symptoms will be. In that case, you can experience issues like fever and shortness of breath. The most dangerous situation is if you already have some sort of condition in your lungs, such as asthma or lung cancer. Mold can then lead to infections and potentially serious health complications. Pretty scary, right? When it comes to problems like this and your family’s health, it becomes pretty clear how important waterproofing is.
The most common indoor molds that you may have are Cladosporium, Penicillum, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. Unfortunately, the worst kind of mold is Stachybotrys, and it’s not uncommon – it’s better known as black mold. These molds can grow on wood, fiberboard, gypsum board, paper, dust, lint, and more, and are formed as a result of excessive humidity, water leaks and damage, water infiltration, condensation, and/or flooding. There’s a good chance you won’t know which mold is growing in your home, so it is safest to simply remove it as soon as possible. Actually having an authority come test the mold to determine what kind it is can be expensive and timely. That’s more time wasted with you and your family being exposed to mold, so skip ahead and just get rid of it! It can be cheaper and it is definitely safer to skip right to the mold removal and prevention, especially since prevention is the only surefire way to keep your home mold-free.
That’s where basement contractors like Quality Dry Basements come in. You shouldn’t try to remove mold yourself, as you need the proper equipment to protect yourself. Professionals have the tools, skills, and experience to remove mold and actually track the source of it, to target waterproofing efforts there, and then around the entire room to ensure this problem won’t pop up elsewhere in the future. They can see if air ducts have been contaminated, which would be importing the dangerous toxins into other areas of your home. Everything needs to be cleaned and the mold needs to be properly disposed. That is when the waterproofing can be done, with a clean slate, to prevent water damage and its harsh effects. If you see mold, skip all the steps in between and call in the basement professionals, that way you ensure you are keeping your family safe.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
