Commercial Mold

12/1/2020 (Permalink)

Sheetrock cut down hall

If your commercial business is located in Washington or Oregon, it can easily become a breeding ground for mold growth. Even with regular inspection and maintenance, mold problems can still occur. Excess moisture and dust can linger in hidden places and combine forces to cause a fungal infestation that can only be remedied by mold remediation experts. Here are the top four places you might find mold hiding, in your commercial building.

1. Carpet:
Carpet has many crevices where mold spores can hide and many surfaces to which it is easy for mold to adhere. While you can't prevent all spills and can't always control how well people clean up after themselves when they do spill, you can dehumidify the room by increasing air flow to the area. This can help dry out the carpet and prevent mold growth.

2. Ceiling Tiles:
Ceiling tiles are often made of porous material, which allows mold to take root. Watch out for water damage in ceiling tiles and get it fixed as soon as possible. It only takes a day or two for mold to start to grow in places where leaks have occurred. Because the growth usually starts on the side of the tile that is hidden, it can become a big problem before it is noticed.

3. Walls:
Walls present the same difficulty that ceiling tiles do. The moisture problem contributing to the mold issue is often inside the wall and thus can become significantly moldy long before it is detected. When this happens, it is best to let remediation experts handle the problem to ensure it is resolved completely.

4. Air Ducts:
The dust in air ducts can attract mold spores and give them a place to grow. When coupled with high humidity, the mold problem gets larger. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the HVAC system is necessary to detect or prevent mold problems in the ducts.

If your business has suffered a water damage in the past, a proper dry out is vital.  You can't always prevent mold growth. You can, however as the business owner, can be proactive. Walk and inspect your building at least once a month. If you see a spot of moisture or a dark shadow in a place it should not be, call the bright green clean up team at SERVPRO Longview/Kelso. We will come out and perform a moisture inspection with our meters. We will perform a visual mold inspection and if need be complete mold remediation.