As water damage contractors in Lawrence, KS, we deal with a lot of mold. That’s because moisture creates a perfect breeding ground for this persistent fungus. But what many people don’t know is that mold is more than just some ugly discoloration you’ll find on damp walls and other water-damaged materials. It can cause permanent structural damage to your home. How does something that looks like nothing more than green fuzz damage your home’s structure? Keep reading to find out, and learn what you can do about it.
Mold Feeds on Material
Mold plays a crucial role out in nature. It is one of Mother Nature’s decomposers, helping to break down old, rotting material so that the nutrients can return to the soil and grow new plant life. But that ability to break down material is precisely what makes it so dangerous to your home. When mold takes root somewhere, it can feed on that material—be it carpet, drywall, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, floorboards, and even the wooden studs in your walls.
While the damage won’t be as quick or dramatic as something like termites, to give one example, mold damage is no less dangerous to your home’s structural integrity. If it’s not dealt with promptly, the infested materials can begin to fall apart and crumble at a simple touch.
Mold Hides for a Long Time
As we said, mold doesn’t destroy materials quickly—but it doesn’t have to. This is because mold is an expert at hiding in places you can’t see. It can take hold inside your drywall, behind your shower tiles, in the padding under your carpet, and in any number of other dark, hidden spaces that you can’t see. By the time the mold spreads enough to become visible to the naked eye, it’s likely already caused significant damage.
Mold Spreads Fast
Another factor that makes mold so dangerous to your home’s structure is how quickly it can spread. As it grows, mold releases thousands of microscopic spores into the air. While many of these spores will take root right alongside the original mold colony, others can be swept up into your home’s HVAC system and spread to other parts of your home. If those spores find any moisture, they will begin a new mold colony in a completely separate area of your home. The bigger your mold problem, the faster it will spread until you have a significant infestation on your hands.
What Can You Do About It?
This leads us to the big question that most people have: What can you do about it? When it comes to mold, an ounce of prevention is worth about a thousand pounds of cure. It is far better to prevent the mold from ever-growing in the first place than it is to deal with trying to remove a mold infestation. Typically, a severe mold problem begins after water damage has occurred. So, if rainstorms or a burst pipe has recently flooded your home, you should look for professional water extraction in Lawrence, KS, right away. Because mold can begin to grow in just 24 hours, it’s vital that you have the water removed and the area dried out as soon as possible.
If mold has already begun to grow in your home, you need to act quickly and ensure that all mold colonies are thoroughly removed; otherwise, it will just grow back from new mold spores released into the air. Extracting mold often involves tearing out and replacing all mold-infested materials, so be prepared for significant renovations if you have a massive mold problem.
If you have water damage in your home, contact Emergency Mitigation Services for rapid emergency cleanup services in Lawrence, KS, so you can minimize your odds of developing a mold problem in your home.