Do You Have Black Mold Behind Your Walls?

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The question we pose in the title is a bit of a trick one. Any type of hidden mold in a business or home can pose a health risk.

Black mold produces mycotoxins that usually do more harm to human and pet health than molds that do not have these mycotoxins. What most building owners do not realize is that there are many types of black-colored molds that are not toxic, as well as many non-black-colored toxic species. Stachybotrys chartarum (Stachybotrys atra) is the black mold that you usually hear most often about in the news.

Yet, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention points out, you should be worried about any type of mold hidden behind walls.

Various non-toxic molds exacerbate certain health conditions, such as a weak immune system or allergies, in anyone who is sensitive enough to them. Plenty of mold species also weaken the immune system and cause neurological damage in previously healthy people.

Signs of Hidden Mold

At Stern Mold, we recommend you get an immediate building inspection if any of the following applies:

  • Visible mold growth or a musty smell exists.
  • Wet spots and discoloration have appeared on walls or ceilings.
  • Wallpaper or paint damage, such as cracking and peeling, recently started to appear.
  • Rust has formed on pipes.
  • Building occupants have complained of more allergies or “sick building” symptoms.

Warning: It is especially important to get an inspection if any of the above applies and one or more recent or past leaks or floods have taken place.

Stern Mold offers a free inspection and price quote. Contact us today at 888-887-8376 or use our convenient online form.

Posted in Mold Identification, Mold Tips, News

Mold Testing – What You Need to Know

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Mold doesn’t make a grand entrance. It’s a stealth invader, finding its way into hidden spaces in your home. Even if you have no reason to suspect a problem, mold testing provides peace of mind by ensuring your home’s safety or detecting a problem before it gets out of hand.

The techniques are more sophisticated than relying on visual cues. Here is a primer on mold testing to give you a better understanding of the process.

  • Air tests are helpful if there are not any visible signs of mold. A sample of the air in your home is examined under a microscope to check for the amount of mold spores present.
  • In surface testing, swabbing or other methods are used to lift samples from household surfaces for examination. This technique identifies the presence of mold but cannot determine its airborne presence.
  • Bulk testing collects actual pieces of material from your home for examination to determine if mold is present and how concentrated the particles are.
  • While testing gives you a picture of mold presence for a particular time and place, mold spores travel, causing the concentrations to fluctuate. Conducting a series of tests at different times and locations provides more accurate results.
  • DIY test kits are available on the market, but hiring an experienced professional mold tester is the most effective way to obtain a thorough and accurate report.

If a mold problem is discovered, our friendly, trained technicians will use our eco-friendly MoldExterm system to remove all traces from your home and install measures to prevent future infestations. Contact us today to schedule a free mold inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, MoldExterm, News

Tenants in Mold Infested Housing Fear for Their Lives

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Tenants in the Bronx have filed suit against NYCHA, New York City’s public housing authority, after mold and fungus issues have been left to linger. The agency had settled previous complaints in 2013 with a new system for handling mold problems in a timely manner — but tenants say no real solution has ever come.

The lawsuit says housing conditions at Castle Hill Houses put tenants’ “life, health, or safety,” at risk. That’s no exaggeration. Mold and fungus pose significant health risks for tenants with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Anyone can develop breathing problems, infections, or even cancer after prolonged exposure to mold.

Building management blames budget cuts and old infrastructure for the problem, but that serves as little excuse to the tenants who have been reporting mold problems for months or years without an answer. Modern mold removal treatments exist that could have wiped out the building’s mold and fungus problem completely while preventing reoccurrence.

A Lasting Answer to Household Mold

When NYCHA has made mold repairs, the problem has returned. About 80% of tenants with mold issues say that previous efforts to curb the problem have been unsuccessful in the long run.

One solution for recurring mold and fungus problems: Stern’s MoldExterm system. Instead of simply killing the mold, MoldExterm applies a special polymer seal after cleaning. The seal prevents mold from regrowing, effectively blocking the underlying problem from developing more mold in the future.

The sickening health effects of mold make this problem one that landlords should never ignore. If anyone discovers mold in your building, management can take action by calling Stern Mold for advanced mold treatment and prevention.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Identification, Mold Treatment, News

The Dilemma of Mold in Public Housing in NYC

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Mold In Public Housing

Mold In Public Housing

Mold can cause mild to severe health issues, especially for children and adults with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Prompt removal is important, but it doesn’t always happen. In some cases, tenants have had to turn to the law for help.

Tenants in Manhattan have been waiting to have black mold in public housing removed for more than a year. This mold problem has caused ongoing health issues for some of the tenants, including several children.

Recently, these tenants have asked for help from a judge, claiming that New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In Dec. 2013, NYCHA vowed to get rid of the mold in these buildings, but the organization has not taken any steps toward that.

Tenants who have had to continue dealing with health problems due to mold are hoping that the judge will be able to force NYCHA to comply. They’re also asking to have someone officially oversee NYCHA’s day-to-day progress on having the mold removed.

This case is an important reminder of how important it is to have mold treatment done sooner rather than later. The mold in these Manhattan buildings has been able to spread and cause ongoing health problems because it wasn’t dealt with early enough. Whether you’re concerned about mold in public housing, a commercial building or a residential property, finding a dependable mold treatment company to get rid of it as soon as possible is crucial to avoid putting tenants or occupants at risk.

If you have a mold problem in your building, contact Stern Mold for safe, reliable treatment.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Treatment, News

Mold May Force Pensacola Federal Court to Relocate

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Mold can cause serious health issues for some people, including respiratory and sinus problems. That’s why it’s so important to eliminate mold growth in homes and commercial buildings. When mold is removed, those who live or work in the affected building usually have to go elsewhere during mold treatment. In Pensacola, Florida, though, workers at the downtown federal courthouse might actually have to stay in the building while it’s being treated.

General Services Administration, which manages the courthouse, has stated that the building will still be in use while black mold is being removed. This decision affects more than 100 employees.

Some mold experts have expressed concern about this, since it could put these workers at risk of experiencing health issues while mold remediation is going on around them. Judges who work at the courthouse are trying to determine whether or not to hold trials in another location temporarily in order to reduce the public’s exposure to mold. If not, they will need to find other ways to lower this risk while trials are going on inside the courthouse. For now, several parts of the building are closed off to try to stop the mold from spreading to other areas.

This case illustrates the problems involved with some kinds of mold treatment methods. Remediation, for example, is a time-consuming process that inconveniences the building’s occupants and raises the risk of exposure as materials that contain mold are pulled out. These methods also do little to stop mold from coming back and requiring another round of treatment.

If your building has a mold problem, don’t hesitate to contact Stern Mold. We offer safe, effective mold treatment that does not disrupt drywall and can be completed typically in one to two days.

Posted in Mold Identification, News
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