Bleach is great for killing mold on nonporous surfaces such as grout and tile, concrete, or linoleum. However, it is ineffective for killing mold on porous surfaces such as wood or drywall because bleach cannot penetrate beyond the top layer of these materials, leaving the mold roots intact. It may temporarily look cleaner as the bleach will clean the surface, but the mold will soon return.

The Badger likes to use chlorinated bleach for tile, grout, and non-porous substances, but otherwise, prefers one of the alternative solutions listed below. This is because bleach is extremely caustic and can cause rust on metals, heavy vapors in the air (make sure the area is well ventilated), and can damage skin. If you do choose to use bleach, be sure to wear gloves, and use the instructions below.

To clean mold with chlorinated bleach:

Lastly, never mix bleach with Ammonia as it will create poison gas and YOU WILL DIE.

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Mold Removal Products and DIY Cleaning Solutions

Melissa Godoy with family dog Roman, a French bulldog and dachshund mix, at their off-post rental home in Olympia, Nov. 18, 2019. Godoy's family, including their dog, experienced health issues at their previous home. (Lindsey Wasson for Crosscut)

Advocate and military spouse Leigh Tuttle points at that decision as a possible turning point. My worry is that through the contracting process, the Army essentially sold their soul to the devil for 50 years, she said.

Tuttle recently relocated to the Tacoma area when her husband transferred to JBLM, but she moved her family into off-base civilian housing after she had similar problems with mold and health problems while living at a previous military installation. She has testified before Congress and regularly takes to social media to speak out on housing and other issues impacting military families. She said its not just about the health of individuals at stake, but potentially severe impacts on military readiness.

JBLM is a hub for special operations, and we are still a nation at war. Soldiers who are deployed to theater should never have to worry about their loved ones living in a hotel room for weeks on end due to the negligence of privatized housing, said Tuttle.The Army needs to take a strong and meaningful stance against these companies that are harming our soldiers and families, and to prove they do care and to rebuild a sense of community.

In January 2019, Godoy still had bronchitis. By that time military leadership had gotten more involved. During a visit by leaders from her husbands unit, housing maintenance personnel were present, and Godoy asked them to look for mold. A maintenance specialist checked the crawl space, came back and reported that there was an improperly installed shower drain. It wasfixed the same day. Godoy asked him if he saw mold, and he told her he hadnt looked and to call housing if she had other concerns.

She did. Godoy went directly to the housing manager and complained that the staff had dismissed and ignored concerns about mold, despite repeated documented instances of water buildup from bad plumbing. She said the manager insisted again that there was no mold and told Godoy to talk to a doctor instead of housing personnel about her symptoms.

By summer she and her children were still sick. My doctor was really concerned about my toddler, she said. Doctors asked her if she had mold in her house, telling her that could potentially explain the symptoms. I told them I dont know.Housing says theres not, Godoy told Crosscut.

Godoy said she was rapidly losing weight, up to 5 pounds a month. She found herself in the emergency room and urgent care several times. She got tested for cancer and the test came back negative. We couldnt find an explanation for why I was losing so much weight and why I couldnt eat anything, said Godoy. It really scared my husband and me because I would cry every day, thinking to myself, Why am I so sick? How can I go from this CrossFit, boxing athlete to this withering away woman?

In July she asked maintenance to come to her house again. They told her they found nothing. I just decided to look for myself, Godoy said. She grabbed a flathead screwdriver and hammer and began to peel off wood paneling in the bathroom near the shower. She quickly found grayish shading in the wall. She said that when she turned over the wood panel in her hand there was black fuzzy spotty stuff all on the inside of it. I found it, I found out why me and my family are so ...sick.

She continued pulling off panels, finding more mold. Same thing, black stuff, all inside of it, she said. She then noticed a piece of tile at the base of the shower that was abnormally white. They had painted over it, she said. It looked like mildew was coming through the paint. She decided to pry that loose too, and said she found black, wet fuzz inside. It was covered in toxic mold, she said.

She called LMH and recorded the walkthrough on her phone. She demanded to know how they could miss the mold for months even as she specifically asked them about it. They put us in a hotel within the hour, she said. She posted video and people began reaching out. Godoy started a Facebook group called Lincoln Military Housing Toxic Homes JBLM. It soon grew to over 1,000 members. She began to receive messages from other families reaching out to her with reports of breathing problems, rashes and other issues. Some asked her to look through their houses asshe had her own.

She started doing walkthroughs with families and pulling up boards. She said that within just the first week she found mold in 26 houses. [We] found really high levels of toxic mold in their houses, she said. They began posting videos and sharing resources on how to find mold. Other families began tearing out panels and tiles to look for mold. They also reached out to local TV stations.

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Military families are getting sick from mold in their homes. Now they're suing - Crosscut

FAIRFIELD, CT Work to remove arsenic from the Jennings Elementary School playscapes starts this weekend, Superintendent Mike Cummings said Friday afternoon in an email to parents.

The arsenic, which leached into the soil from treated wood timbers surrounding the playscapes, was found when officials in August ordered contamination testing of all school district fields and playscapes not already identified for tests after contaminants uncovered at a park were connected to the misuse of town fill. The elevated arsenic at Jennings is otherwise unrelated to the fill pile controversy, which involves the contamination of public sites across town and multiple felony charges against two former Fairfield employees and a contractor.

"Many thanks to the Jennings community for their patience during this process," Cummings said in the email. "It took too long."

Crews from ACV Enviro will be on site Saturday and Sunday to remove the contaminated soil and timbers, according to the email. Town environmental consultant Tighe & Bond will be present as well to monitor the dust. Residents are asked to stay away from the school over the weekend.

The remediation at Jennings will involve about 250 tons of soil, Cummings told school board members at a meeting Thursday.

"It's, like, railroad cars full of soil," he said. "... It's an extensive project."

The ground under the removed soil will need additional testing to confirm all the contaminated material is gone, the email said. The tests will take place Monday, with results anticipated Tuesday. If the tests show there is no more contamination, crews will put down new clean soil and wood chips. The work will require students to stay inside, but the playscapes will be ready for use by Thanksgiving.

Should tests find more remediation is needed, work will continue Thanksgiving weekend and the completion date will be pushed back, according to the email.

"Continued testing is part of the remediation process," school board Chairman Christine Vitale said at the Thursday meeting.

Also Thursday, Cummings updated the board on another situation requiring testing and remediation the discovery of mold at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Pressure leaks from a steam pipe may have contributed to mold in the floor, he said. The mold appears contained to one room in the staff office area, Cummings said after the meeting, noting licensed environmental professional Woodard & Curran as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have been involved in responding to the issue.

The office is vacated, with all visible mold removed, according to Cummings, who said the district will ensure testing is conducted to determine if there is any lingering mold. Headmaster Greg Hatzis also sent an email to the Ludlowe community clarifying the situation in response to "conjecture," Cummings said.

Remediation plans are still pending for the former McKinley Elementary School playground and a walkway at Mill Hill Elementary School, he said.

Since August, at least 66 areas in Fairfield have been tested for contamination amid concerns about misuse of fill. The vast majority have been deemed safe, but some sites were found to contain asbestos and other contaminants.

Fairfield had accrued roughly $609,000 in costs connected to environmental consulting, remediation and additional expenses for sites other than the town fill pile, as of a Board of Finance meeting in late October. Another approximately $406,000 was projected to be spent on similar services at the time of the meeting.

For more information about contamination testing and remediation, visit fpsct.net/fieldsor http://www.fairfieldct.org/filluseissues.

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Remediation At Jennings Elementary School Starts This Weekend - Fairfield, CT Patch

WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The West Vigo Elementary School building will reopen to students and staff on Wednesday, but some classrooms impacted by mold will remain off limits.

Vigo County School Corporation Communications Director, Bill Riley, says crews are continuing to deal with the mold issue at the school. He says the entire school was tested and the issue is isolated to three rooms, which tested 'slightly out of above the industry standard' foraspergillus/penicillium.

The rooms that tested positive are receiving new flooring, new ceiling tiles, new point, and new air filters. The school corporation also rented air scrubbers to clean and circulate the air.

In a release late last Friday, the school corporation noted, "The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry notes that all air indoors and outdoors contains fungal spores, and that aspergillus/penicillium is not the same as stachybotrys chartarum, the black mold that has most been associated with the toxic effects of fungal exposure."

School officials are looking into the possible source of the mold.There will be more testing before allowing students back in the affected classrooms. Another week or two may pass before that can happen.

A handful of students and staff reported coughing and eye irritation last Thursday afternoon, prompting an evacuation. As a precaution, students were sent to Consolidated Elementary on Friday, and again on Monday.Tuesday, Vigo County schools are not in session as educators attend the 'Red for Ed Action Day' in Indianapolis.

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School building to reopen this week, some classrooms remain off limits as mold is handled - WTHITV.com

Finding mold in your home can be pretty scary. But while many molds are generally harmless, some can contain mycotoxins and be harmful, which is why its smart to identify the source of a mold problem and take steps to remove it. But is removing mold a DIY project or one that requires the specialized skills of a pro? The answer is it depends but generally speaking, if the affected area is small enough, mold removal can very well be a project you can do yourself! Heres where to begin:

Before you consider whether to fight the mold battle yourself, its important to understand the enemy. Mold tends to thrive in moist/damp environments but mold spores spread quickly and easily through the air. Nearly all molds carry the risk of nasal, lung, or eye irritation for people who have sensitivities to them. In some cases, mold can cause infection and can be particularly dangerous to individuals with suppressed immune systems or asthma.

The CDC identifies the most common types of mold as:

Growing indoors or outdoors, cladosporium mold and spreads through the air and appears as black, green, or brown.

The word penicillus is Latin for paintbrush which is what the spores of Penicillium mold resemble. Although the source of the first ever antibiotic, this mold can trigger reactions to those with allergies. It is the most commonly found in indoor environments and is a good indicator of dampness in a building.

Alternia mold is more commonly found outdoors but can be spread quite rapidly during dry, windy conditions. Pale gray to olive brown in color, it is known as a well-recognized allergenic.

Aspergillus spores can cause a number of health problems from irritation to serious infections. It is powdery in texture and has a very high growth rate.

However, there are more than just four types of mold and any variety of mold can pose risks to the health and/or air quality of your home environment.

But knowing what kinds of molds there are, does not help alleviate the problem if you are experiencing mold in your home. Even if there are no immediate health risks to anyone in your household, the odor and damage to your property is enough reason to start the mold removal process as soon as possible.

There are a number of ways to treat and go about mold removal but it is important to know the EPA recommends hiring a professional if the affected area is more than 10 feet (3x3 approximately) in size. They suggest reading their Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings guide which applies to all buildings.

But if you are a DIYer who wants to clean up a moldy problem here are some tips for you to follow. Remember to always wear proper safety equipment including eye protection, mask, and non-porous gloves.

Determine the source of mold. This is critical to not only determining the extent of the damage but making the necessary repairs to prevent future mold infestation.

If you are removing absorbent materials such as moldy ceiling tiles, wood, carpet, or flooring, be sure to have plenty of ventilation. Open the windows and use a fan to pull spore-infested air away from you, out the window. Cut flooring in sections before bagging and disposing of them. Vacuum area thoroughly. Ensure you have proper ventilation as doing so will certainly stir up spores.

Detergent and Warm Water

Vinegar

Mold can make your safe home a place of concern and risk. After cleaning your mold, be sure to prevent future mold problems by following these 10 tips on having a mold-free home.

With any DIY project, always make sure to follow manufacturers instructions and when working with absorbent materials, do a spot check to make sure the surface will not be harmed by the treatment. If it all seems to work out and no damage is being caused to the surface, these mold removal tips may be the answer youve been searching for.

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Do-It-Yourself Mold Removal | The Money Pit

Quick Tips #210

Mold is everywhere around usoutside in soil, wood and rotting plants, and inside on carpet, drywall, wallpaper and insulation. Outside molds carry out natures work by breaking down decaying organic material such as dead plants, fallen trees or dead animals. Inside, mold growth can cause an array of health concerns. However not all mold is harmful; without mold we would not have certain food and medicines like cheese or penicillin. Mold is one category of non-green, plant-like organisms (along with mildew, mushrooms, rusts, smuts and yeast) that fall within the fungus family. All fungal matter shares the common characteristic of being capable of growth without sunlight. Because of this, mold can be found almost anywhere, and can grow on almost anything as long as moisture and oxygen are present. Many types of mold exist with approximately 1,000 known species found in the United States, and over 100,000 species worldwide.

Currently, there are no federal standards or American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) established threshold limit values (TLVs) for airborne concentrations of mold or mold spores. According to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings resource, allergic reactions to mold are common. Mold can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions, asthma attacks or produce potent toxins and/or irritants. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (lung inflammation) has also been linked to mold exposure. People with the greatest risk of health effects from mold exposures are the elderly, the very young and expectant mothers, as well as individuals with mold allergies, asthma and other chronic respiratory ailments.

Mold growth frequently occurs when excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors. There is no feasible way to eliminate all molds and mold spores indoors, so the most effective way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture. In buildings where mold is a problem, the mold must be remediated and the sources of moisture identified and eliminated.

It is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth from starting. Water-damaged porous or absorbent materials, such as ceiling tiles, wallboard, cellulose and fiberglass insulation, should be discarded and replaced. Discard non-valuable books and papers. Be sure to photocopy important paperwork before discarding the originals. Use a water extraction vacuum to remove water from carpeting. Then use dehumidifiers and fans to accelerate the drying process. Carpet that becomes moldy usually must be replaced. Nonporous surfaces can be vacuumed or wiped with mild detergent and allowed to dry completely.

Identify and repair leaky plumbing, roofs and other sources of water in a timely fashion to prevent moisture and mold growth. The EPA suggests you can minimize mold growth by reducing indoor humidity to below 60% and ideally between 30 and 50%. This can be done by venting bathrooms, kitchens, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; using air conditioners and dehumidifiers; increasing ventilation; and using exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing and cleaning.

Also, reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces like windows, piping, exterior walls, roofing and floors by adding insulation. Do not install carpeting in areas where there is a continuous moisture problem, such as near drinking fountains, sinks or on concrete floors with leaks or frequent condensation.

A visual inspection is the most important initial step in identifying a possible contamination problem. The extent of any water damage and mold growth should be visually assessed. This assessment is important in determining mold remediation strategies.

Ventilation systems should also be visually checked, particularly for damp filters, but also for damp conditions elsewhere in the system and overall cleanliness. Ceiling tiles, gypsum wallboard, cardboard, paper and other porous surfaces should be given careful attention during a visual inspection.

The use of special equipment to view spaces in ductwork or behind walls, and/or by using a moisture meter to detect moisture in building materials, may be helpful in identifying hidden sources of mold growth and the extent of water damage.

The EPA's remediation guide for schools and commercial buildings offers detailed recommendations for a variety of mold removal scenarios and is a tremendous resource for anyone facing a mold problem.

Mold should be cleaned as soon as it appears. OSHA considers small remediation areas, less than 30 square feet (sq. ft.), of mold, which can be cleaned using a detergent/soapy solution or an appropriate household cleaner and allowed to dry completely. For larger areas (30-100 sq. ft.), there are commercial products that can be used for cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing. Mold-resistant coatings are also available for use on insulation materials and inside duct work. A HEPA vacuum can be used to clean items such as furniture, concrete, carpeting or books after the material has been thoroughly dried.

According to OSHA, for small areas of mold growth, an N95 respirator, non-vented goggles and long gloves compatible with the chemicals used for surface cleaning should be worn. For larger mold remediation jobs, or in situations where high levels of airborne dust or mold spores are likely or long-term exposures are expected, the EPA suggests a full-face, powered air purifying respirator (PAPR) along with disposable coveralls, gloves and shoe covers. The cleaned area should be thoroughly dried. Dispose of any sponges or rags that were used to clean the mold, along with the used personal protective equipment (PPE).

If the mold returns quickly or spreads, it may indicate an underlying problem, such as a leak or excessive humidity. Any underlying water problems must be fixed to successfully eliminate mold problems from reoccurring. If mold contamination is extensive, an experienced remediation professional may need to be consulted.

Sources

EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial BuildingsEPA - Mold ResourcesOSHA- A Brief Guide to Mold in the WorkplaceOSHA Quick Card MoldOSHA Fact Sheet Mold Hazards during Disaster Cleanup

(Rev. 1/2017)

Find even more information you can use to help make informed decisions about the regulatory issues you face in your workplace every day. View all Quick Tips Technical Resources at http://www.grainger.com/quicktips.

Think Safety. Think Grainger.Grainger has the products, services and resources to help keep employees safe and healthy while operating safer facilities. Youll also find a network of safety resources that help you stay in compliance and protect employees from hazardous situations. Count on Grainger for lockout tagout, fall protection equipment, confined space products, safety signs, personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency response and so much more!

Please Note:The information contained in this publication is intended for general information purposes only and is based on information available as of the initial date of publication. No representation is made that the information or references are complete or remain current. This publication is not a substitute for review of the current applicable government regulations and standards specific to your location and business activity, and should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. Readers with specific questions should refer to the applicable standards or consult with an attorney.

2018 W.W. Grainger, Inc.

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Mold: Remediation, Prevention and PPE - Quick Tips #210 ...

A mold remediation project is something that might be small enough to handle on your own or requires professional intervention. Costs range from the price of some cleaning products and some elbow grease to thousands in professional restoration services like shown above. This large price discrepancy is why hiring an independent mold inspector separate from the removal process is a wise decision. Having an unbiased third party assess your proper is the best way to determine exactly what your home or business requires in terms of cleaning.First, we will discuss situations that professional mold removal services are NOT necessary. These instances can be seen when common non-toxic mold like cladosporium or basidiospores are seen throughout a property. Examples of this type of mold growth can be seen in showers, tubs, sinks, around window ledges, and on air conditioning vents. Fungus like this grows because of condensation that happens at a place where environments naturally change from hot to cold. Anyone can handle a cleanup like this because it is happening on a non-porous (Hard) surface like tile, aluminum, or metal and the species present is non-toxic. A bleach based cleaner can be used to clean up this type of growth, but we always recommend a more specific mold cleaning solution.On the other hand when a home or business has had some type of water damage you may require professional restoration services. Things like a pipe burst/leak, roof/window leak, flooding can all cause these types of issues. Organic building materials like wood, drywall, and insulation are perfect nutrients for mold to feed on. Add water to the equation and you have the recipe for some serious problems. Even if you do have these types of issues, it is possible that they can be cleaned and dried before any fungus starts to grow. Having air and surface samples collected by an independent mold inspector is the best way to determine if any problems have indeed started from the water damage. In the event mold colonies have in fact started to sprout on the building material inside your home or business, here is a typical procedure for what needs to be done in order to get rid of the problems.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Containment

HEPA Vacuum

Applying Biocide

Removing of Contaminated Materials

Cleaning the Contained Areas

Air Cleaning

Air Duct Cleaning

Containment Used During Reconstruction

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Mold Remediation - Mold Inspection & Testing

The mold remediation industry is inundated with techniques totreatattic mold. Wire brushing, HEPA vacuuming, dry ice blasting, coatings with mold killing swords (seriously this exists), the list is quite long. One would assume this plethora of options would allow the best solutions to rise to the top and eventually the dubious techniques would fall away. This assumption would be very wrong.

The problem is revealed even before we talk about the types of treatments available. Its in the name itself. By referring to the task of mold remediation as a treatment it implies that the solution lies in some sort of chemical or coating. Treatments make sense in many situations. If youre building a deck, pressure treated wood will greatly increase the life of your lumber. If you have an insect problem, spraying a bug treatment around your property is a sensible technique for keeping the pests away.

You would not, however, treat a leaky pipe or a flooded basement. You would fix/ repair/ remediate/ the water intrusion problem. Yet when you step into the unscrupulous mold remediation industry, something strange occurs. Many contractors are perfectly happy to sell a treatment without fixing the underlying problem. All too often this succeeds. Why? Most homeowners have never dealt with a mold issue and have a difficult time parsing out the scam from the solution.

The motivation to forego fixing the underlying problem is understandable. Fixing the cause of attic mold growth can be hard. Crawling around the entire attic counting can lights and collecting measurementsis fairly unpleasant. Popping your head up in the attic for 2 minutes and performing your inspection from the hatch is a tempting alternative.

But of course, this is worthless. This is akin to hiring a plumber who, after finding a leaky drain pipe, doesnt bother fixing the broken pipe and instead tries to sell you a dehumidifier. If this sounds absurd, youre right. Yet, this is how 90% of attic mold projects are handled.

The attic in the image above was treated only 4 months before this photo was taken. Youll notice the mold growth is unimpeded by the mold treatment. Why is this? Unfortunately, all treatments run about against a cold, wet, unyielding fact: Within a few months a layer of dust settles on the treated surfaces (even inverted surfaces). This dust contains a lot of organic material. Mold eats organic materials. So, while the coating is proudly protecting the the sheathing beneath it, the mold is happily growing on the dust. Now, this is not entirely true. In time, the coating will fail and the mold will extend its growth into the sheathing.

This is a big giveaway. If the service a contractor isoffering doesnt actually solve the problem, the verbiage in the warranty will reveal the lack of confidence. Youll find it lurking amidst the legal jargon as an exclusion against any recurrence of moisture issues. Which, of course, is the whole reason you would seek a warranty in the first place. Mold growth onlyoccurs when elevated moisture is present. It will not grow in a dry attic. Therefore, if a warranty becomes void in thepresence of elevated moisture, the treatment hasnt accomplished anything.

Now the hard part begins. Its easy enough to shoot holes in the treatment only techniques. Its quite another task to successfully identify the cause of attic mold growth in each unique situation. The cause of the excess moisture must be clearly identified. In most cases, this is due to several compounding factors.

Poorly connected exhaust fan

Condensation often masquerades as a roof leak. The image below is showing the conjunction of the skylight and the roof. This is a common place for roof leaks. Its also a common location for condensation problems. During showering, a bathroom is inundated with tremendous amounts of humidity. If the exhaust fan isnt working well or the skylights are set in a deep channel in the ceiling, the warm moist air will become trapped in this area. Unless its well sealed, the moisture will quickly move into the attic space where it will hit the cool surface of the roof sheathing.

Attic mold remediation should include techniques to limit the amount of air movement from the occupied portion of the house into the attic. Much of the condensation that leads to mold growth in an attic is due to moist air move up through the ceiling. The discoloration on the insulation in the photo below shows this air movement.

Mold caused by lack of air sealing

Can lights can be a major source of air infiltration in the attic. This is especially true with older can lights without an AT rating. Notice the discoloration of the insulation around the can light. This is due to the leakage of warm, moist air through the gaps within and around the can light assembly.

If the mold remediation occurs during the winter months, dry out of the attic sheathing is often necessary. This can be accomplished either through the natural moisture loss that will occur due to the increased ventilation, or through active dry out with heaters, dehumidifiers, etc. We prefer to let an attic dry out naturally, as this provides strong evidence of the effectiveness of the ventilation improvements.

During extremely cold weather, the moisture on the sheathing may even freeze, leading to a white, frosty coating. If the condensation is heavy, dripping from the sheathing will begin to occur. This can look very similar to a roof leak and often leads to a misdiagnosis.

Water droplets on attic / roof sheathing due to condensation

Severe condensation leading to dripping on rafters

After the first two steps are addressed, themold growth itself is addressed (although sometimes this step is addressed before/during the dry out period).

*Heads up I earn a small commission on sales through Amazon links. This helps cover the expense of running the website (and answering your questions!)

Happy to help. In the photo it appears the soffit vents (assuming you have soffit vents) are blocked by the insulation. If so, its important to pull these back to allow the movement air up through the soffits. I always recommend rechecking the attic again during the fall/winter months as the condensation issues are most prevalent during cold weather.

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Attic Mold Removal & Remediation| Scams vs Science - Environix

For many New Jersy residents, mold remediation is a difficult process to understand. Making it even more difficult is the stress that is often involved when dealing with such a major home problem. Simply, mold remediation is a process that seeks to remove any and all appearances of mold growth or spores in a home. At Above and Beyond, our mold remediation experts can assist you with halting the spread of mold in your home and preventing it from happening again.

The team at Above and Beyond know that we are not your only choice when it comes to mold removal experts. That is why we take great pains to help potential clients understand the difference between us and several other "providers" out there. The process of mold remediation is not actually something that is regulated by the government, which means that there are a lot of providers who claim to be experts in the field, but really aren't. These companies may claim to have qualified mold remediation experts, but they likely lack the kind of certifications that our professional inspectors do.

We want to help you avoid the kind of poor results and lackluster service that many families receive when they trust a mold cleanup NJ company like this. More often than not, we see these families come into our business asking for help after they have already spent a great deal of time and money on something that could have been simple and stress-free.

You're likely struggling right now, and you need a helping hand to get you through. All you have to do is call us today at (732) 490-5900, and our qualified team of certified mold remediation experts take care of your mold problem.

The great thing about Above and Beyond is that we are an IICRC, EPA, and MICRO-CMRC certified company. We know exactly what it takes to get the job done and get it done right. We have been assisting clients just like you since our founding in 1998, and our history of satisfied clients speaks for itself. It is because of our commitment to our clients, our 5-year warranty on encapsulated materials, our professionalism, and our years of experience that have allowed us to be ranked as an A+ company with the Better Business Bureau for several consecutive years.

As a reputable mold remediation company, we have done everything within our power to adhere to each and every regulation and guideline set down by the EPA. When we complete a mold remediation at your home, you can rest assured that we utilize only the best EPA-registered mold disinfectants and encapsulates in our work.

This process is important. If you don't have the right professional using the correct tools during your mold remediation, you could be in a world of trouble. The guidelines set down by the EPA allow us to know and utilize the proper equipment to handle your specific mold problem, and help us to prevent you from ever having to go through this again in the future.

When you consider Above and Beyond as a service provider, we want you to know that we are not just a mold cleanup service. We actually provide our customers with a long list of mold-related construction services, including:

Whatever your mold or cleaning needs are, we can do it all. If you are ready to get started on tackling your difficult mold or cleaning project, call us now. Our team of experts is available to answer any of your questions today. All you have to do is call us at (732) 490-5900, or you can send us your information via the Contact Us page on our website.

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Certified Mold Removal & Remediation - NJ | Above & Beyond

Homeowners insurance covers mold damage if it was caused by a "covered peril." Otherwise, an insurance company will likely not cover mold damage. There are exceptions, which we will get into later in this article.

Home insurance policies usually don't cover mold that resulted from a preventable water leak, flooding, or high humidity.

Home insurance companies also typically don't pay for maintenance issues that insurers think a homeowner should have prevented. Insurers expect homeowners to proactively take care of those problems before they need to file an insurance claim.

Home insurance covers mold if a "covered peril" caused the mold. In that case, your home insurance policy will likely pay for repairs and clean-up.

Here are some of home insurance's covered perils:

Let's take a look at some real world examples. When home insurance will likely cover you:

These are "sudden and accidental" incidents. Insurance companies typically cover this type of damage. In fact, non-weather-related water damage is one of the most common home insurance claims and one of the most expensive.

There are many instances when your home coverage won't protect you. Here are some examples.

Your basement pipes freeze and burst. You don't notice it for a few weeks. Now, you have a few inches of water on your floor and mold growing.

Broken shingles on your 40-year-old roof allows water into the attic. Water saturates wood and insulation and leads to mold in the attic.

Mold forms in your shower. You don't think much about it until one day you notice that it's really unsightly and you're concerned about whether it's making your family sick.

In these cases, an insurer will likely not cover the damage. Why? An insurance company expects you to take care of your house. That means properly ventilating the bathroom, replacing an old roof, and checking your basement regularly. An important reason to stay on top of home maintenance.

Also, the standard homeowners insurance policy doesn't cover water damage caused by a flood. Thus if a flood causes water damage that leads to mold, the resulting mold issue wouldn't be covered by your home policy.

A separate flood policy will cover mold and mildew, as long as its not caused by the homeowners failure to inspect and maintain the property after the flood. That means, once you can get back into your home, you need to start trying to clean up and keep mold from growing or spreading.

Home insurance companies usually don't cover mold damage unless it's directly related to a "covered peril." The good news -- there are exceptions.

Check your homeowners insurance policy to see if there is any language about mold claims. Some insurers offer limited coverage for mold claims. This may mean limiting how much the insurer will pay for a mold-related claim. Or an insurer may increase the cost of a home insurance policy if you have mold-related coverage.

If you don't have mold coverage, you can buy an endorsement to your insurance policy that adds mold coverage. An endorsement is when an insurance company adds additional coverage to a regular home insurance policy, for an additional fee.

Some home policies provide a limited amount of coverage for mold claims. This can be by capping the amount the insurer will pay, for example at $5,000, or stating that the insurer will only pay for certain services, such as clean-up, and excluding others, such as testing and remediation.

Insurance companies hate risk. In fact, the insurance industry is all about limiting risk.

Risky homes, such as old homes with old wiring and plumbing, and risky areas, such as high-crime neighborhoods or homes near woods that often catch fire, usually have more claims. Insurance companies don't like paying out many claims.

The same goes for a home with mold or ones with previous mold-related claims. Insurance companies view those homes as risky.

In that case, your insurance company will likely decline a mold endorsement or charge you a lot for that coverage.

That means it might be worth paying for the mold removal yourself.

Similar to any other home insurance claim, contact your insurance company as soon as possible to file a mold claim.

If you're not sure if your policy covers mold damage, check your home insurance policy or call your insurance company.

Mold grows quickly so take photos and then stop the source of the leak and clean up the water before calling your insurance company. An insurance company expects you to be proactive in fixing problems and avoiding further damage.

Here are the steps to take:

Don't throw the materials away until you call your insurance company. Take photos and keep the damaged materials. An insurance adjuster might want to see the damaged materials. Put them in a garage or another place that's away from your living areas until you meet with an insurance adjuster.

If you're concerned about possible health risks, discuss with your insurance company if there's a need to move out of the house. If you do need to move out until the mold is removed, determine how much additional living expenses (ALE) your home insurance will provide you.

Mold forms and spreads quickly so it's important to prevent mold by reducing moisture.

The Centers for Disease for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the following ways to control mold growth:

Mold needs moisture and a "food source" to grow. Food sources include insulation, drywall, carpeting, and mattresses.

Mold is most commonly found in places with high humidity. That can include under leaky pipes and appliance hoses, in attics under a leaking roof, and in basements with drainage issues.

If you want mold insurance and it's excluded from your homeowners insurance policy, ask your home insurance company if you can add an endorsement to your policy. An insurer bases the cost on your home and area's risks.

Mold endorsements will cost you more in humid areas and in older homes made with materials more prone to mold. The cost can range between $500 and $1,500 annually.

Read more here:
Is mold damage covered by homeowners insurance? | Insurance.com