Mold needs an environment that is high in moisture and oxygen to thrive. This means that with adequate prevention, you can generally prevent mold growth in your building. Unfortunately, if mold has already developed, it is not always easy to see, so it can get worse before someone notices it.

Why Your Business Should Work To Prevent Mold

Mold can be harmful to some people, especially those with allergies, weak immune systems, or respiratory problems. Although, mold can cause health problems for anyone, particularly if they are exposed to it over a long period of time.

Common symptoms associated with exposure to mold are skin irritation, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion, among others. So, although you’ll always want to be on the lookout for mold if your workers start having these symptoms, you may want to check more closely for mold problems.

Different Kinds of Mold

There are many different types of mold, but there are five species that are common in buildings, listed below.

• Penicillium: This common type of mold can easily be identified as it is yellow or green. If this mold is inhaled in large amounts, it can be toxic.
• Alternaria: People will generally see this type of mold outside of buildings. However, it commonly ends up in buildings due to being carried in by people.
• Aspergillosis: This kind of mold grows quite well in closed spaces. It also releases spores that can cause health problems when people breathe them in.
• Stachybotrys: This mold is generally known as the black mold. It has a particularly unpleasant odor and can cause a number of health problems. It can also weaken the structure of buildings.
• Cladosporium: This mold is very common and can be hard to identify due to looking very similar to a number of other mold species. This mold can cause several health problems, including severe asthma attacks in some people.

What Causes Mold in Commercial Buildings

The most common cause of mold in commercial buildings is excessive moisture. This moisture typically comes from a leaky roof, leaky faucets, or other plumbing problems.

Mold can also come in from the outdoors in the air or by people carrying it in.

Preventing Mold

Preventing mold may cost some money, but it is far cheaper than mold remediation. So, here are some things you can do too. Prevent mold in your building.

• Clean Your Ventilation System. This is an ideal environment for mold to grow in, and to make matters worse, the spores from the mold will spread throughout your building through your ventilation system. So, keeping this system clean is vital.
• Inspect Your Building for Mold. This doesn’t mean crawling around in any dangerous areas looking for mold. But, it is a good idea to look around for signs of mold in moist areas, such as restrooms or basements, for signs of mold. The sooner the mold is discovered and dealt with, the less costly the remedies should be.
• Fix Any Leaks. Leaks are a common cause of mold, so they need to be fixed before mold develops. Additionally, repairing leaks could save your business money by avoiding costly repairs in addition to mold remediation since water leaks could cause structural damage to your building over time.

Contact Us

If your home or business is showing signs of mold infestation, contact Restore Pro. Our IICRC certified team will respond quickly to identify the sources of moisture, treat all affected surfaces, and restore your structure to pre-loss condition. Call us at 1-800-847-0114 and connect with us on Facebook.