Month: June 2018

Mold and Its Effects on Your Health

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When mold is discovered in your home, a common first thought is “is it harmful?” After all, many media publications, blogs, and internet discussions have labeled mold as “toxic,” “deadly” and “poisonous.” So, it’s not far-fetched to believe that encountering or touching mold could be dangerous. However, the connection between mold and your health is more ambiguous than you might think. And answering the question “how does mold effect your health” requires more than a one-sentence response.

RestoPros would like to provide Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners insight about mold and its impact on their health. We recommend following this article to help acquire a better understanding of mold, preparing homeowners for a plan if it appears.

What is Mold?

Before we attempt to explain the health effects of mold, we must first understand what mold is. Mold is a type of fungus that grows in environments with warm, dark and humid conditions. It spawns and feeds off organic matter. Mold’s appearance varies on the species, but you’ll generally see it as stain-like with different shades of black, brown, yellow, green or blue. It can also appear fuzzy or as a slime.

With the abundance of trees, grass, and vegetation, mold is ubiquitous in nature. You can find mold on rotting trees, dead plants, and animal carcasses. There are over 100,000 species of mold that can work in tandem, meaning one instance of mold growth could contain several different species.

How Does Mold Effect Your Health?

Mold reproduces via spores. Essentially, these are the “seeds” of mold, which travel through the air to find a suitable location to plant themselves and initiate new mold growth. These spores hold the allergens and other contaminants that can make you sick. Symptoms could be runny nose, irritated eyes, chronic cough, headaches, and other allergenic responses. 

Along with spores, certain species of mold can also produce mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are small, toxic substances that can also cause symptoms of sickness and allergies if contacted.

We come in contact with mold spores and mycotoxins almost every day when going outside. So, if all the claims and rumors about mold’s health effects were true, we’d probably all be sick right now. However, considering the openness of the outdoors, mold spores and mycotoxins are so spread out that you’ll usually be safe being outdoors, provided you’re not constantly near mold.

But as the space becomes more confined, the more of a health impact mold can have. Mold spores and mycotoxins in tight spaces are now closer together and larger in quantity, meaning you have a higher chance of inhaling more of them. Therefore, having mold grow somewhere such as your home could possibly lead to negative health effects. And the adversity of these effects depends on factors such as the size of the mold infestation and the status of your own health.

Mold growth has been proven to cause worse symptoms for those with asthma or other respiratory conditions. For example, if you have a lung infection, mold can exacerbate the issue, increasing the severity of your systems. Additionally, those with weaker immune systems such as children or the elderly can also experience more severe symptoms from mold spores.

In Conclusion

Mold can have an effect on your health, but only under certain conditions. Although we recommend following safety precautions when mold has been identified in your home (contacting RestoPros for mold remediation services), you shouldn’t cower in fear upon the sight of a mold-infested plant or tree.

RestoPros is happy to inform Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners about the possible effects mold can have on your health. And be sure to contact RestoPros for affordable mold remediation services if a mold infestation has appeared in your home. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to get started.

Related Links

Basic Facts About Mold – CDC

5 Things that Cause Paint to Peel

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While paint is meant to protect your home from corrosion and warping wood, it’s not without its own vulnerabilities. Certain situations can cause paint to peel and fall off. And too much peeling paint can expose your foundation to damage, as well as ruining the overall look of your home. But what causes paint to peel?

RestoPros would like to answer this question by informing Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners on 5 common issues that can lead to peeling paint.

1. Water

How is water what causes paint to peel? Paint acts as a form of adhesive when coated on a wall or other surface.  And as with any adhesive, water is its number-one enemy!

When water splashes onto a painted wall, often moisture begins to seep behind the coating. The moisture then slowly separates the paint from the wall, which can eventually lead to peeling.

This is the most common cause of peeling paint. And you’ll often find this issue in the bathroom and kitchen, due to the heavy water usage in those rooms.

2. Dirt

One of the most important rules of painting is to always clean the wall before applying a coat. Dirty walls don’t let paint set adequately, as the dirt particles block the paint from settling. So, if you coat a dirty wall with paint, it has a higher chance to peel later down the road. This issue exacerbates if you use paint with latex in it, as latex is especially vulnerable to dirt.

3. Extreme Temperature

Paint isn’t always weather-proof. And temperatures that are too hot or cold can cause the paint to crack and peel. This can easily happen if you use interior paint for exterior use, as the paint was not designed for changing weather conditions.

Additionally, paint can be ruined by extreme temperatures before you even use it! Leaving a paint can in the garage over the winter could cause it to freeze. This makes paint lose most of its consistency, rendering it relatively useless after being thawed.

4. Bleach

Bleach is a potent substance, which makes it a great cleaning agent. However, its potency can sometimes be damaging, especially if you don’t dilute it with water. Using undiluted bleach to clean a wall can ruin and damage the coating, causing it to peel. We generally recommend using a less harmful substance such as dish soap when cleaning any painted surface.

5. Incompatible Paint Coverings

How could paint be what causes paint to peel? The answer lies in the compatibility of each type of paint. Not all paints are compatible. And mismatching multiple layers can lead to peeling. For example, you shouldn’t apply an oil-based paint over a wall already covered in latex-based paint, as it will not set properly and will age quickly.

Additionally, you must consider the surface that’s going to be painted. Not all surfaces can hold paint coats well. Surfaces such a cured wood are too oily for paint to stay for long periods of time, and a coating will begin to peel more easily and quickly.

Be aware of the things that might cause your paint to peel – doing so helps you prevent it from occurring in your Dallas/Ft. Worth home. However, if your paint has peeled significantly, or there’s any other damage to your drywall, contact RestoPros for our affordable damage repair and remodeling services. Give us a call at 855-587-3786 to schedule an appointment and get started.

Related Links:

How to Fix Peeling Paint – The Family Handyman

3 Ways to Test for Mold in Your Home

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Not all stains are made equal. While some are just spilled food or water, others can actually be splotches of mold that have infested your home. Additionally, musky, pungent smells in your home can also be a sign of mold. While bad smells and unexplainable stains are both common signs of a mold problem, they’re not always indicative of an infestation. If you’ve noticed either in your home, it’s best to test for mold.

RestoPros recommends every Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowner llearnsabout mold testing. We have provided some mold testing methods below to help guide you in discovering and treating a mold problem.

Note: Do not perform any mold testing without the proper mold cleaning equipment. Wear the appropriate goggles, face mask, gloves, and long-sleeved clothes before proceeding.

1. Test Your Home’s Humidity Using a Hygrometer

Is your home a suitable habitat for mold growth? Mold flourishes in warm, dark, and humid environments. And if your home falls under these conditions, the stain or smell could have a higher chance of being from mold. Humidity arguably plays the biggest role in mold growth, so you’ll want to test your home’s humidity using a hygrometer.

Hygrometers can be found at almost any department store and are used to measure humidity levels in a given area. Adequate humidity levels for homes are between 40-60%, with anything higher possibly making your home more suitable for mold growth.

2. Test the Fragility of Stained Surfaces

Mold can lead to rot, especially in porous surfaces such as drywall. You’ll want to test the fragility of stains using a tool such as a ruler or screwdriver. If the surface of a stain feels crumbly or squishy, this could mean mold is causing rot. Be careful not to puncture the surface using a tool.

3. Utilize a Mold Testing Kit

Mold testing kits are available to purchase at almost any home improvement store and are used to detect mold and its associated contaminants. Depending on the type of mold kit, it can measure for mold spores in the air in addition to possible mold stains. Be aware that some mold testing kits require mailing samples to a lab, which could take some time to process and return the results.

What if You’ve Discovered Mold?

If a test has indicated the possibility of mold, you’ll want to contact RestoPros for quality mold remediation services that help restore your home to a healthy condition. Our mold-removal experts utilize only the highest-quality products for eradicating mold, such as Bad Axe Particulate Conqueror.

Bad Axe Particulate Conqueror is a high-tech cleaning aid used in our mold remediation process. This product attacks airborne contaminants (such as mold spores) directly, immobilizing and increasing mass for easier clean-up. This reduces the possibility of further mold growth after remediation, as well as less contaminants in the air.

Throughout the RestoPros mold remediation process, we utilize Bad Axe Particulate Conqueror for both contamination control and more thorough mold elimination. We utilize this product to contain particles before, during, and after remediation, helping to ensure your home is restored to a healthy condition.

If you have tested and found mold in your Dallas/Ft. Worth home, contact RestoPros at 855-587-3786 for “Bad Axe” mold remediation services!

Related Links:

A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home – EPA

Mold – EPA

Father’s Day Gift Ideas: Give Him the Essential Mold Cleaning Kit

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father's day gift ideas

In need of some Father’s Day gift ideas? How about gifting dad with a mold cleaning kit! While the gift may seem a bit unusual at first, the benefits of a mold cleaning kit outweigh the stigma. When mold occurs in a home, it’s important to have some tools that can help get rid of it. And with a mold cleaning kit, you can help prepare your dad in the case of an infestation. But what items encompass a mold cleaning kit?

RestoPros would like to help Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners in keeping a clean home. For those in need of Father’s Day gift ideas, here are our steps for building an essential mold cleaning kit!

Protective Gear

When dealing with mold, it is important you remember safety. Mold is a fungus and can contain various allergens and bacteria that should not be inhaled. And these contaminants grow in number the larger the infestation. Therefore, it’s important to have protective gear in the case of mold growth.

Generally, it’s best to have disposable gloves, face mask, and goggles when dealing with small amounts of mold. Adding long sleeve shirts, closed jeans, and work boots provides formidable defense against smaller stains. However, we do not recommend relying on this gear for larger instances of mold growth. Instead, you’ll need to contact RestoPros for professional mold remediation.

Choice of Mold-Cleaner

When it comes to killing mold, you have several choices of weaponry. While commercial mold products do clean away mold to an extent, you’re also at risk of polluting your air with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are found in the chemicals. Instead, we recommended using more harmless, natural cleaners. We have listed a few below:

  • Vinegar
  • Lemon Juice (Store this in the fridge to avoid spoiling)
  • Borax
  • Hydrogen Peroxide

For more information about these mold cleaners, click here.

Baking Soda

Aside from mold cleaners, it’s also important to have a deodorizer in your dad’s mold cleaning kit. Mold can have a pungent, musky smell which can linger. After removing a mold stain, it’s recommended to sprinkle the area with baking soda, and giving the surface a quick wipe. This helps to remove the smell of mold without filling the area with chemicals, as baking soda is a natural deodorizer.

Spray Bottles

Most mold cleaners should be diluted with water and placed in a spray bottle. Not only does this increase your cleaner’s supply by minimizing usage – it also prevents more acidic cleaners from possibly ruining the affected surface. It’s best to keep a few spray bottles in the mold cleaning kit, in case one of them stops working.

Brush, Sponge, and Cloth

It’s recommended to have different cleaning tools for different surfaces. Areas such as paint-coated drywall are fragile and can be damaged by brushes with thick or rigid bristles. While more durable areas, such as concrete, won’t be cleaned as well with a simple cloth. Therefore, it’s important to have the appropriate tools for both fragile and durable surfaces. We recommend adding a thick brush, sponge, and cloth in your dad’s mold cleaning kit.

Treat your dad with the gift of an essential mold cleaning kit this Father’s Day! But be sure not to solely rely on this kit if an infestation has gotten out of hand. If mold growth is in your home, do not hesitate contacting RestoPros for further consultation. Contact us at 855-587-3786 for Dallas/Ft. Worth’s leading mold remediation services.

5 Common Mold Types in Homes

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Ever wonder what types of mold can get into your home? With hundreds of thousands of mold types around, this question may seem negligible at first. But we’d like to focus on the ones that have a higher chance to grow in your home. While it’s important to treat all mold outbreaks the same, it is also essential to know the qualities and capabilities of certain common mold types – as allergy and health problems can be associated with different strains.

RestoPros recommends every Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowner know the common mold types in homes. We have detailed 5 of these mold types below.

1. Alternaria

Alternaria is the most common allergenic mold found in homes. Although the strands originally resided on leaves and plants, their reproduction can spread to any area with considerable dampness. If mold growth occurs in your bathroom, for example, there’s a high chance Alternaria is present. Usually, Alternaria is found in different shades of green, gray, and black. However, these are not the only colors.

As described above, Alternaria is a known allergenic type of mold. Inhaling the spores or coming in contact with the strands can lead to symptoms such as a runny nose, chronic cough, and irritated eyes. For those with asthma or other lung conditions, these problems can exacerbate, so it’s important to remove any mold from your home as quickly as possible.

2. Aspergillus  

Being another extremely common type of mold found in homes, Aspergillus is known to form in thick mold layers and in large amounts. They come in a variety of colors, due to there being hundreds of different species.

In small amounts, Aspergillus is generally unharmful, provided you have a healthy immune system. However, this mold also carries allergens, and in large amounts could produce symptoms of allergies. This mold produces rapidly and, as described, can coat a surface in many layers. Aspergillus is also a leading cause of Aspergillosis, which is an infection commonly located in the respiratory system.

3. Penicillin

Although Penicillin was a breakthrough in creating new and more powerful antibiotics, it’s also a type of allergenic mold that can reproduce in your home. Penicillin is most commonly identified by its blue and green color. It can grow on food, carpet, wallpaper, and other damp, porous surfaces.

Much like the other allergens on this list, Penicillin can also cause allergy symptoms if spores are inhaled in large quantities.

4. Mucor

If there’s a place where mold has no right to be in, it would be your air conditioning. Unfortunately, this is a common location where Mucor can spawn. Mucor is a longer, hairy type of mold that produces similar allergy effects as other mold types on this list.

5. Stachybotrys (Black Mold)

Stachybotrys has a more notable reputation compared to the other molds. It is often known as “black mold”, with their nickname being enough of a sign you should probably stay away from it, although studies on black mold have been inconclusive, one thing is for sure – they produce mycotoxins which can be irritable to inhale.

As its nickname suggests, you’ll tend to find black mold in different shades of black. However, as with most molds, this isn’t the only color it will appear as. Regardless, you’ll want to remediate any mold you see in your home, regardless of whether you can tell if it’s black mold or not.

Although we recommend Dallas/Ft. Worth homeowners have some knowledge of the types of molds commonly found in homes, we must stress that attempting to identify the variety is secondary to fighting them. A single instance of mold growth could have multiple species residing in it. Instead, we recommend you contact RestoPros as soon as you notice an infestation in your home. Contact us at 855-587-3786 for affordable and quality mold remediation services.