 Mould in the Home
The first thing to understand about mould is that there is a little mould everywhere indoors and outdoors. It's in the air and can be found on plants, foods, dry leaves, and other organic materials.
It's very common to find mould in homes and buildings. After all, mould grows naturally indoors. And mould spores enter the home through doorways, windows, and heating and air conditioning systems. Spores also enter the home on animals, clothing, shoes, bags and people.
When mould spores drop where there is excessive moisture in your home, they will grow. Common problem sites include humidifiers, leaky roofs and pipes, overflowing sinks, bath tubs and plant pots, steam from cooking, wet clothes drying indoors, dryers exhausting indoors, or where there has been flooding.
Many of the building materials for homes provide suitable nutrients for mould, helping it to grow. Such materials include paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood and wood products, dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
The importance of mould in the real estate market today
Much has been made of indoor mold in advertising and the media lately, so its a common concern for homeowners and buyers. It's common to find mould even in new homes. Whether you're selling your current home or looking into buying one, IT'S VITAL TO GET A MOULD INSPECTION. Presence of active mould can drastically affect the resale value of any home.
For homeowners, an EAGLE-EYE MOULD INSPECTION will either put your mind at rest or make you aware of any problems that could otherwise cause delays or deal breakers once you've entered negotiations with a buyer. A professional mould inspection will give you a signed report from an expert, before you put the home up for sale. Imagine being able to show a clean bill of health to potential buyers. They'll be impressed by your thoroughness and commitment to your home.
For buyers, getting an EAGLE-EYE MOULD INSPECTION will ensure that you're not surprised by costly clean up, and the potential health hazards of mould. If any mould is found to be present and active in the home, the mould inspection will allow you to ask the seller to do the clean up prior to buying the home.
Everyone is exposed to some amount of mould on a daily basis; most without any apparent reaction. Generally mould spores can cause problems when they are present in large numbers, and a person inhales large quantities of them. This occurs primarily when there is active mould growth.
For some people, a small exposure to mould spores can trigger an asthma attack or lead to other health problems. For others, symptoms may only occur when exposure levels are much higher.
The health effects of mould can vary. The production of allergens or irritants can cause mild allergic reactions and asthma attacks. The production of potentially toxic mycotoxins can cause more severe reactions, and in rare cases death.
Yes. If indoor mould is extensive; those in your home can be exposed to very high and persistent airborne mould spores. It is possible to become sensitized to these mould spores and develop allergies or other health concerns, even if one is not normally sensitive to mould.
Left unchecked, mould growth can cause structural damage to your home as well as permanent damage to furnishings and carpet.
According to the Centers for Disease Control*, "It is not necessary, however, to determine what type of mould you may have. All moulds should be treated the same with respect to potential health risks and removal."
First address the source of moisture that is allowing the mould to grow. Then take steps to clean up the contamination. Here are helpful links to lean more about cleaning up mould in your home.
*Sources: California Department of Health Services Indoor Air Quality Info Sheet, "Mould in My Home: What Do I Do?" revised July 2001; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and other moulds" last reviewed November 30, 2002.
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