frequently asked questions:
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Questions:
What are molds?
Molds are tiny microscopic organisms that digest organic matter and reproduce by releasing spores. Molds are a type of fungi and there are over 100,000 species. In nature, mold helps decompose or breakdown leaves, wood and other plant debris. When mold is in your home that’s when it becomes a problem they attack organic materials such as paper, books, cloth, photographs, leather, drywall and wood.
What makes mold grow in my home?
Mold enters your home as tiny spores. The spores need moisture to begin growing, digesting and destroying. Mold can grow on almost any surface, including; wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. The mold grows best when there is lots of moisture from a leaky roof, high humidity, or flood. There is no way to get rid of all molds and mold spores from your home, but it can be brought down to a normal fungal ecology.
Can mold affect my health?
Most molds do not harm healthy people. But people who have allergies or asthma may be more sensitive to molds. Sensitive people may experience skin rash, running nose, eye irritation, cough, nasal congestion, and aggravation of asthma or difficulty breathing. People with an immune suppression or underlying lung disease, may be at increased risk for infections from molds. A small number of molds produce toxins called mycotoxins. When people are exposed to high levels of mold mycotoxins they may suffer toxic effects, including fatigue, nausea, headaches, and irritation to the lungs and eyes. If you or your family members have health problems that you suspect are caused by exposure to mold, you should consult with your physician.
When is mold a problem?
You know you have mold when you smell the “musty” odor or see small black or white specks along your damp bathroom or basement walls. Some mold is hidden growing behind wall coverings or ceiling tiles. Even dry, dead mold can cause health problems, so always take precautions when you suspect mold.
Mold is often found in areas where water has damaged building materials and furniture from flooding or plumbing leaks. Mold can also be found growing along walls where warm moist air condenses on cooler wall surfaces, such as inside cold exterior walls, behind dressers, headboards, and in closets where articles are stored against walls. Mold often grows in rooms with both high water usage and humidity, such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements.
Will Insurance cover and pay for mold?
Most homeowner’s insurance policies include a standard “Mold Endorsement” that usually has a $10,000.00 limit of coverage. Coverage provided varies from company to company, some require a “ covered loss” in order to provide coverage, other companies will pay up to $10,000.00 when mold is present, regardless of a “covered loss”.
Under an Insurance policy, are mold repairs separate from repairing water damage?
Yes. Remediation is the process of properly containing, controlling, removing and disposal of mold contaminated building materials. There are standard guidelines set up through IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration) that should be followed when the remediation process is completed. The Rebuild process consists reconstructing the building materials that were removed and damaged due to mold or the water damage. Usually, there are 2 separate estimates written separating the remediation damages from the rebuild damages.
Is Emergency Service work for water damage covered by Insurance?
Yes. If Emergency Service work is required, a separate (different from remediation and rebuilding) estimate is completed for the water removal and drying only. This would entail extracting the standing water from exposed flooring, extracting water from flooring coverings, and placing blowers in an attempt to save the floor covering from replacement. Additionally, dehumidifiers are placed in water concentrated areas to restore moisture parameters back to normal and impeding any future mold growth.