Cornerstone IAQ Services - Mold Remediation

What is Mold?

Black, white, green, and orange. Aspergillus, Stachybotrys, Cladosporium, and Chaetomium. Different types of mold that are harmful include allergenic, pathogenic, and toxigenic molds. Allergenic molds cause allergies and allergic reactions. Pathogenic molds cause infections and can affect the immune system. Certain molds are toxic and can cause serious and sometimes deadly health conditions.

Aspergillus Mold	Stachybotrys Mold

How does Mold affect our health?

Sensitized individuals, those with numerous allergies, asthma sufferers, and those with compromised immune systems are more likely to be affected when mold is present in the home. There are also mold related infections. Toxic molds can affect anyone, even healthy individuals.

Causes

Mold grows naturally outside in moist areas. To reproduce beyond its moist home mold produces spores, which stay viable in dry conditions and easily become airborne. Spores can enter the home through open doors and windows, and on our clothing and our pets. A spore only needs to come into contact with moisture to grow into mold. So, if the home has high humidity or water leaks or has experienced flooding, mold can grow in it. Exacerbated by low air flow, wet areas can retain water even if stains are not visible. If an area stays wet for more than 48 hours, there is the potential for mold growth.

Prevention

Fix water leaks immediately and dry wet and damaged areas. Control how much moisture is present in areas such as bathrooms and ensure there is adequate ventilation. Consider using dehumidifiers in basements.

Why do I need Mold Remediation?

A specially trained and certified mold remediation company is needed to properly remove mold from a building. Mold remediation equipment is used to remove mold in a home and may include setting up containment areas with negative air pressure to avoid further contaminating the home.

More information can be found at

https://www.epa.gov/mold/
https://nadca.com/resources/blog/suspect-mold-growth-check-air-ducts
https://iaqa.org/consumer-resources/mold-keep-it-out-of-your-home/
https://www.survivingmold.com/ -Ritchie Shoemaker, M. D.

Recently, I had the pleasure of being introduced to Cornerstone IAQ Services through a strong recommendation of a Mold Testing specialist. From the moment I came in contact with Mike and Jason I could tell there was something different in how they conducted their business. Mike and Jason (as well as David) are full of integrity and professionalism. The initial visit was a learning experience for me, as they shared with me in detail how they would set up, treat, and tear down the mitigation.
They clearly like what they do, like working with each other, and most importantly did the best job possible in any mitigation that was needed. Their enthusiasm is contagious, their calming presence in the midst of mitigation is peaceful, and their integrity is beyond reproach. I would highly recommend Cornerstone IAQ Services to anyone in need of their expertise. Thank you Mike, Jason, Dave, and the team at Cornerstone.
Steve D.

Mold from long ago...

Problems from mold have existed for a long time. In fact, mold remediation is discussed in the Bible in Leviticus Chapter 14, Verse 33-45:

Cleansing From Defiling Molds

³³The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ³⁴ “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your possession, and I put a spreading mold in a house in that land, ³⁵ the owner of the house must go and tell the priest, ‘I have seen something that looks like a defiling mold in my house.’ ³⁶ The priest is to order the house to be emptied before he goes in to examine the mold, so that nothing in the house will be pronounced unclean. After this the priest is to go in and inspect the house. ³⁷ He is to examine the mold on the walls, and if it has greenish or reddish depressions that appear to be deeper than the surface of the wall, ³⁸ the priest shall go out the doorway of the house and close it up for seven days. ³⁹ On the seventh day the priest shall return to inspect the house. If the mold has spread on the walls, ⁴⁰ he is to order that the contaminated stones be torn out and thrown into an unclean place outside the town. ⁴¹ He must have all the inside walls of the house scraped and the material that is scraped off dumped into an unclean place outside the town. ⁴² Then they are to take other stones to replace these and take new clay and plaster the house.

⁴³ “If the defiling mold reappears in the house after the stones have been torn out and the house scraped and plastered, ⁴⁴ the priest is to go and examine it and, if the mold has spread in the house, it is a persistent defiling mold; the house is unclean. ⁴⁵ It must be torn down—its stones, timbers and all the plaster—and taken out of the town to an unclean place.

New International Version Bible (NIV)