What is Mold?

Mold is not a great mystery,  this common type of fungus has existed on Earth since the time of the dinosaurs and will continue to play a vital role in the natural environment.  Mold also has an important purpose. Outside, mold breaks down dead and decaying organic materials like leaves and trees to help achieve the balance necessary to sustain life.  At Restoworx we are often asked by home and business owners what mold is and how mold can impact their health and personal assets.  Many seeking mold remediation services from Restoworx are faced with time sensitive challenges.  They have immediate needs to address mold issues surrounding a pending closing or serious concerns about mold contributing to an illness or health condition. Regardless of the reason, when indoor mold issues arise it is important to understand what you are facing and why there is a problem to begin with.  At Restoworx, we are committed to answering your questions and providing the best remediation solution for your unique situation.

So what is mold and what should we do about it?

The truth is mold is hard to escape and can be found virtually everywhere.  Some estimates suggest mold and other types of fungi make up as much as 25% of the Earth’s biomass. Without mold, dead organic materials would never break down and as a result would continually build up making our world a challenging environment to navigate. Mold spores are microscopic organisms usually not visible to the naked eye. These spores travel unnoticed both indoors and outdoors.  Spreading through the air and through physical contact, spores hitch rides on our clothes, persons and household items. If these spores find the right humidity, moisture and food source they begin to colonize.  The right conditions outside allow mold spores to perform its necessary role in nature,  the right conditions inside however can open the door for mold growth inside our homes and places of business.  At Restoworx, we want to first identify and remove the source responsible for mold growing inside your home or business.  Failure to do so will leave the door open for future problems.

Mold needs an organic food source.  Wood, sheetrock, fabrics and most building materials found inside our homes provide the organic food source mold needs to begin growing.  Over time mold spreads and threatens the structural integrity, cleanliness and air quality of the structure it occupies.  Although some molds have positive impacts on our lives such as the development of medicines and certain foods, mold residing where we live and work should be addressed as soon as possible and provide evidence of moisture and unwanted water intrusion.

Within the fungi kingdom as many as 300,000 different species have been identified world wide.  The United States is home to at least 1000 varieties. Molds come in many forms, sizes and colors that require microscopic investigation for accurate identification. Molds can exist in two stages, growth and dormant.  Depending on conditions, mold can stay in the dormant stage for long periods of time.  Some molds produce mycotoxins and are often referred to as toxigenic fungi. Exposure to mycotoxins can come through inhalation or physical contact and pose health risks to some.  Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are microbial compounds produced by some molds.  Evidence of VOCs are unpleasant odors or smells released into the air producing a musty, moldy odor.  Along with compromising air quality these odors should alert those affected that mold is growing in the structure warranting an investigation and remediation as soon as possible.

Mold can complete the growth process in as little as 24 to 48 hours where conditions for development are right. Common places to find indoor mold are often dark and provide insufficient airflow.  Areas often overlooked like attics, basements or crawlspaces, wall cavities, floors and ceilings, closets, cabinets and showers are the perfect breeding grounds for mold to establish and colonize.  Problems can often go unnoticed for long periods of time given the hidden nature of these areas.