Month: May 2016

The 4 Best Yeast Molds for Pizza

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4 Types of Mold that are Great for PizzaNo one likes finding mold growing unchecked in their home, but it has its own place in the world.  Oddly enough, mold is a type of fast-growing fungus that’s filamentous (giving it that stringy-sprawling build).  What you may not have realized is that mold and mushrooms are the same basic type of plant, they’re both fungus.  Mushrooms are a yeast-based fungus, and that is the difference between the two.  So while we’re not fans of mold in our home, we are big fans of bringing in the occasional yeast-based fungus for pizza.

1. Button Mushrooms

Courtesy Böhringer Friedrich
Button Mushrooms, Courtesy Böhringer Friedrich

The archetypical mushroom for the classic American pizza.  No matter where you order it from, a basic pizza with mushrooms is going to feature the humble button mushroom.  Interestingly enough, the button mushroom is an immature portobello, harvested before the cap opens.  The humble button mushroom is one of, if not the, most commonly eaten mushroom in America.  For the best flavor on a pizza, always pre-cook the mushrooms before cooking the pizza.

2. Portobello Mushrooms

Giant Portobello Mushroom
Giant Portobello Mushroom

Large, perfectly edible and flavorful mushrooms, portobello mushrooms can be cooked any number of ways.  Many people will even grill them similar to steaks.  In fact, for a vegetarian diet, Portobello mushrooms are a great source of nutrients.  They’re perfect for pizzas too.  They pair well with the cheeses, spinach, and dried tomatoes on a pizza.

3. Porcini

Porcini Mushrooms, Courtesy Alinja
Porcini Mushrooms, Courtesy Alinja

If you’ve ever seen any of Beatrix Potter’s stories (e.g. Peter Cotton Tail, etc) you’ve likely seen a porcini mushroom.  They can be eaten raw and are one of the most flavorful mushrooms used in meals, the world over.  They have a nutty and woody flavor, making them a good pairing for strong cheeses and heavier meats such as steak.  If you’re looking to make a pizza with a bit of a punch, smoked flavors and the porcini mushroom will do nicely.

4. Chanterelles

Chanterelles Mushrooms, Courtesy Игорь Лебединский
Chanterelles Mushrooms, Courtesy Игорь Лебединский

The chanterelle mushroom has an interesting fruity flavor.  In many ways it’s likened to apricots, from the color to the flavor.  It backs up its flavor with a subtle pepper taste.  They pair well with most pizza toppings, giving you a great deal of room to work with when deciding on what will make the very best flavor of pizza.  A pizza with sweet meats (e.g. pork or poultry) will help to bring out the flavor of the chanterelles for and amazing slice of pizza. A word to the wise: never eat a chanterelle mushroom raw.  They’re fine when cooked, but a raw chanterelle can make you sick.

Of course, there are plenty of other toppings you can choose, and many more mushrooms you can try like shiitake mushrooms or truffles.  Just don’t leave your pizza uneaten for too long (and we can’t imagine you would with such tasty toppings) or you’ll be dealing with the more common filamentous fungus.

Regardless of whether the fungus in your house is mold in the walls or mushrooms on the pizza, we’re ready to come over.  RestoPros techs are experts on the kinds of molds that grow in your home, but we’re also knowledgeable when it comes to pizza.

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How to Waterproof Your Basement

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How to Waterproof your BasementWe all know that the best way to fix something that’s broken is to keep it from breaking in the first place.  So the best way to clean up your house when it comes to water damage and mold is to prevent it from ever becoming a problem in the first place.  We know that’s not always possible.  And for the events where, despite your best efforts, storms and burst pipes have damaged your home, RestoPros Inc is always ready to go when you need someone to help clean up and restore your home after a disaster.

Still, a lot of damage for homes comes in the form of a flooded basement.  The very best way to prevent that is to have your basement waterproofed, protecting it from possible flooding.  Most waterproofing should have been done when the basement was built.  Fortunately, there are still things you can do even now.

Outside

As good as your basement and foundation are, constant water flow over time will erode the structure away and lead to eventual flooding.  The best thing you can do is channel and direct water away from the foundation.  Make sure that all gutters and downspouts are clear and clean.  The best way to test this is to pour water into the gutter and make sure it is draining properly.  You want water to be carried at least five feet away from the house.

Take a look at the ground around your leading up to the edge of your home.  It should always be slanted away from the home.  If the slant of the earth causes water to pool against your foundation, it will soak into the earth and eventually lead to foundation damage and basement leaks.  You should also stay mindful of plants that are growing too close to the edge.  You want some clearance between the wall and any flowers or shrubs, since you want to avoid roots growing into your basement or places where water can pool and work its way in.

  • Sloping Ground
  • Downspouts and Water Channels
  • Plants too Close to Foundation

Inside

Moving inside the basement, you’ll need to conduct a visual inspection of the walls and ceiling.  If your basement or cellar does have a window, make sure that it’s sealed properly.  Once your inspection is completed, you’ll need to repair any cracks in the walls with a cement patch.

Of course, fixing large cracks isn’t all you should be doing.  Using a sealant and waterproof paint on the inside of the walls will help to limit any water that does manage to trickle into the cement wall, without allowing it to damage items on the other side.

Waterproofing your basement means taking precautions for when water does manage to get into your home.  Conduct an emergency test of your sump pump.  Have someone monitor the outflow line outside and pour water into the sump pump well.  Emergency pumps should start almost immediately, while manual pumps will need to be turned on first.  Make sure that all of the water is being pumped away from the well and out past the foundation.  If your pump is malfunctioning, have it replaced immediately.

As a final task, if you’re worried about excess flooding, you can have a professional contractor inject hydroclay around the basement.  This substance absorbs water readily, holding it until the ground dries out and preventing water from assaulting your basement walls directly.

  • Fix Cracks and Holes
  • Waterproof Paint/Sealant
  • Sump Pump Installation/Repair
  • Hydroclay Injection

Again, preventing a basement flood, or any water damage from flooding and burst pipes, is cheaper and easier to do than fixing things when they break.  But, when water damage has become a problem, which can happen, you can rest easy knowing that there are reclamation teams, like those at RestoPros, who are readily able to help deal with extensive water and mold damage.

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What to Do After Mold Remediation

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What to do AFTER Mold RemediationDealing with mold is never fun.  While smaller infestations can be taken care of simply, large spreads of mold and mildew require professional remediation services.  But what happens after you’ve spent a day or two having the mold cleaned out of your home?  The infestation is gone, the damage is done, and it’s time to rebuild.  What’s the next step to make sure that this doesn’t happen again in the future?  While uncontrolled flooding and hidden leaks can cause mold in unseen places, there are actions you can take to help prevent a recurrence of mold.

Remove Source of Humidity

The fight against mold truly starts and ends with humidity.  The first thing you should do (often from the moment you find mold in your home) is determine where the moisture it’s thriving in is coming from.  A leaky pipe or roof, basement flooding, a damage water heater, or even a drip from the condensation line in your HVAC unit can be the source of moisture that’s feeding your mold problem.

Before you finish replacing the carpets, drywall, and insulation that you’ve had to replace, find what damaged them to begin with.  That way you don’t have to repair a wall twice if the source is a leaky plumbing fixture.

Regulate Overall Home Humidity

Again, humidity is key to preventing mold growth.  Install a thermostat with a humidity sensor.  Ideally you want your home to maintain 45% percent humidity at most.  If your air conditioner isn’t drying out the air to that level, or you find that the basement has a higher humidity level than the rest of the home, consider installing a dehumidifier to dry out the air in other rooms.  After all, a dehumidifier is inexpensive when compared to home repairs.

Monitor Likely Mold Growth Spots

Not all sources of mold growth are directly visible.  In many cases, mold grows in places that you won’t be expecting or looking at on a daily basis.  Roof leaks, drainage issues, leaky plumbing or hidden condensation points inside your walls are all prime real estate for mold.  Mitigating damage from mold is about early detection.  It’s important to take the time to inspect your home and monitor trouble spots for future mold growth.  If you catch it early, it will be much easier to clean up.

Use HEPA Filters

Cleaning up after an infestation is difficult.  When we clean a home, we’ll isolate the room cycle the air out through a HEPA filter.  High-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters are designed to trap the smallest airborne contaminants, and that includes mold spores.   IF you deal with mold on a regular basis, consider upgrading your home’s filter to a HEPA filter.

Additionally, if you’re cleaning up a room after a small mold infestation (one that’s only a few square inches of growth), be sure that any vacuuming done is performed by a wet/dry vacuum that has a HEPA filter installed.  Standard vacuums will only stir up and distribute mold spores throughout the room.  Cycling out the excess spores (there will always be some left) lowers the concentration of mold spores, leaving you with cleaner air and fewer possibilities for mold growth in the future.

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7 Tricky Mold Hiding Spots

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The 7 Trickiest Mold Hiding PlacesMold can grow anywhere, provided it finds three things: a comfortable climate, a surface, and a food supply.  Most things are a food supply to mold and most things have multiple surfaces.  So the last thing it needs is the right combination of humidity and temperature to grow unimpeded.  As soon as the climate matches, mold spores (which are everywhere) immediately begin to grow and reproduce, spreading across a surface and slowly eroding it away.

You know to check the problem locations: the utility closet, the bathroom, and the basement.  But there are other places where mold is not only surprisingly common, but often grows unchecked.  After storms, humid days, damaged plumbing, or even just once a month you should do a quick inspection of all these special hiding places to make sure you don’t have secret mold hiding away.

Chimneys

Brick crevices and molding give plenty of places for water and dirt to accumulate.  The inside of your chimney is also protected from harmful UV rays, which can kill off mold.  When chimney caps and damaged flashing allow water and moisture into the chimney, it creates a perfect breeding ground for mold.  Unfortunately, due to how difficult (and dangerous) it is to clean a chimney, your best option is to hire a professional mold cleaner (or get regular chimney sweeps).

Windowsills and under Sink Cabinets

Overhangs that are protected from direct sunlight but are still close to condensation spots or water leaks make great places for mold.  Sink cabinets (where a single drip from a leaky pipe can raise humidity) or around windowsills (where moisture can arise from the window condensation or from small leaks) make great places for mold to hide out.

The best thing you can do is clean up after storms or after you find a leak.  When a storm is through, open the windows and wipe away excess water and moisture.

On Dishes

Wet dishes drying on a rack are fine, but placing damp or wet dishes in cabinets (or leaving them sitting the dishwasher) will provide extremely humid and warm environments for mold to grow on the surface of dishes.  Fortunately, this can become obvious pretty quickly when you grab a dish and find spots on it.  But if you’ve left them sitting in the dishwasher it’s best if you give the dishwasher a thorough cleaning before putting any more dishes through.

Washing Machines

Anywhere you find water, there’s risk of mold.  So of course your cleaning appliances are at risk.  This includes your washing machine and clothes dryer.  For front loading machines, check the seals around the door for accumulated moisture and leave them open to dry after you run a load of clothes through.  Check the detergent chamber of your washing machine as well, since water can pool inside it start mold growth.  Mold here is especially damaging since it will eat through clothing over time.

HVAC Drain Pans

Your HVAC and Furnace are both going to generate a lot of water in the form of condensation.  Check the drain pans and drip lines, not to mention the areas around your HVAC unit for signs of mold growth or water spills.

Carpets and Carpet Mats

If there’s been a water spill in any room with a carpet, then you need to keep careful watch on that room for a few weeks.  The matting underneath your carpet will absorb and hold onto water, sometimes staying damp for far longer than the carpet above.  Whenever there is a major spill, use a wet-vac to try and remove as much water from it as possible.  Adding a desiccant or running an air conditioner to dry out the air will help as well.

Mold thrives especially well underneath the carpet and can stay hidden for months before anyone is the wiser.  With every step on the carpet, mold spores are spread into the air, leaving you with aggravated allergies and a higher chance of mold growth elsewhere.

If you find mold growing under your carpet, it may be time to call a professional.  If it’s a large infestation, then you need mold remediation immediately.  In either circumstance, replacing the matting is probably going to be necessary.

Inside Walls

Usually this one is hard to spot.  Plumbing drips, leaky roofs, and general flooding all have the chance to spur mold growth inside the walls of your home.  The easiest way to identify this will be in water stains on walls and ceilings.  Unfortunately, it’s too late to do much else but call for remediation by this point.  Performing regular leak detection for plumbing and roofs will go a long way toward preventing this unfortunate case.

Don’t forget to follow RestoPros on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ for new Updates, News, and Discounts!

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