Mold: Have a plan in place and resources readily available

Mold is a four letter word and it's one that can invoke both fear and panic. It's ubiquitous and sneaky, it can hide behind walls, lie dormant for years and it can certainly cost thousands to remediate. In the last several years, weather events, like Superstorm Sandy, have lent a hand in putting this four letter word in the forefront of people's minds and made it a hot topic for debate and discussion. Molds are naturally occurring and beneficial to our outside environment; they help break down dead organic matter like leaves and dead trees. Conversely, when mold is found indoors, it can potentially invoke subtle to serious allergic reactions in otherwise healthy individuals. If you discover mold inside your property, it is due to an underlying water issue. Whether it stems from an ongoing leaky pipe or a flood that wasn't properly mitigated, mold will not grow and colonize without a water source and a food source. Water also translates into a high humidity problem. Humidity refers to the amount of water vapor in the air, meaning, the higher the humidity is, the more water vapor is in the air. This, along with the many food sources in our homes (sheet rock, wall paper, carpet and pad, etc), provide an excellent environment for mold spores to begin growing and becoming a problem. You must correct the water/moisture problem before you begin cleaning and removing moldy building materials. Also, be aware that while you can scrub and clean hard surfaces (sinks, tubs, toilets, counters, etc.) you cannot do the same to remove the mold on porous materials (walls, wood, fabrics, etc). If the surface of sheet rock is wiped down, you are removing the surface mold only; you are not getting to the roots (mycelium) that are below the surface. According to the EPA website, http://www.epa.gov/mold/cleaup guidelines.html: "Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely." With the extreme weather patterns over the last several years, we are experiencing record highs of flooding from events like Hurricane Irene, Superstorm Sandy and most recently, the Polar Vortex. Inevitably, these events have been followed by record highs of mold outbreaks. In these situations, being prepared is paramount. When a structure isn't mitigated and dried out in an expeditious manner, mold most certainly will come make a visit. Should that be the case, it would be a much more fluid process if you have a plan in place and resources readily available for you. More so than ever, disaster pre-planning is becoming something that is necessary, especially if you cannot control the water flow, like during Superstorm Sandy. Know the professionals that you are going to hire ahead of time. PLAN. PLAN. PLAN. Erica Gitin is director of client services at Maxons Restoration, Wayne, N.J.