Black mould, for any homeowner, is a terrifying sight. Spots of it on a basement floor or wall, bathroom, ceiling, or on a wall can leave you wondering what to do.
Calgary residences are exposed to moisture from leaks, condensation, flooding, and wet spots due to poor ventilation or dampness in walls or ceilings that encourage mould growth. When black mould occurs, moisture must be removed, and experts should be notified to make certain that black mould removal will take place before the issue becomes worse.
HazPro Restoration offers its professional services to help restore your property by providing expert mould removal and remediation, locating and eliminating sources of moisture, and treating all mold-infested surfaces.
What Is Black Mould?
“Black mould” is a general and often misused term that refers to any mould that has a colour similar to the hue of the inside of a black marker. While there is a specific type of mould called “black mould,” there are other types that can look black, or appear black and must be evaluated to know what type it is.
Mould flourishes in moistures and can begin growing where there are damp spots, or materials have absorbed moisture and are still damp. Mould grows on drywall, wood, carpeting, ceiling tiles, insulation, and other porous or absorbent materials.
Since black mould often grows in areas that are not easily examined, visible signs may indicate a far greater infestation of black mould, with multiple hotspots.
Sources of Black Mould
Moisture causes mould to grow and spread in your home. Many homeowners dealing with mould problems in Calgary often wonder what causes black mould and how they can avoid it. The most general causes of moisture in a home are:
1. Leaking Pipes or Water Appliances
A leak that runs for days or weeks can leave your basement or cabinets damp and moist due to the presence of water and can encourage black mould growth. You may observe a faint stream of water from the back of a cabinet in the kitchen or in the bathroom.
2. Wet Basements
They can invite a variety of household bugs and are a home infestation or invasion risk. Basements are often cool, damp, and dark, which is an environment that mould and bugs thrive in.
3. Overflows or Flooding
Floods are common in Calgary and are a leading cause of many home mould problems. Removing moisture, debris, and other contaminated matter from flooded areas such as basements or bathrooms in your home is critical. It is important, for instance, to dry wet carpets, rugs, or any item that has absorbed moisture. The faster the better, to avoid moisture being trapped in your home.
4. Condensation
Warm, moist air meeting cold surfaces like windows or outside walls forms condensation that can leave wet spots on your walls, windows, and even pipes. Warm water pipes, for instance, may form moist spots on cold surfaces such as concrete walls, leading to condensation that can encourage blue mould growth.
5. Poor Ventilation
It is important to ensure that your home has adequate ventilation, especially bathrooms and kitchens. When air can’t circulate, it leaves wet spots on surfaces.
Symptoms of Black Mould in Residences
While any growth of black spots on your walls is an obvious sign of mould, other symptoms may indicate the presence of black mould.
Some of these symptoms include:
• Black mould patches or streaks on walls, ceilings, and/or floors
• Unpleasant odours
• Discoloured areas
• Damp smells
• Mold recurring after its removal
• Peeling paint or wallpaper
• Swelling drywall
• Flooding or leaks
• Visible dampness, especially on windows, around pipes, or in basements
A musty or foul odour combined with other signs is usually an indicator of black mould growth, even if it isn’t readily apparent.
Locations That Encourage Black Mould Growth
Mould grows anywhere there is a moisture source. There are commonly known areas and places where black mould tends to grow.
They include:
• Basements
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Attics
• Crawlspaces
• Windows
• Behind appliances and under sinks
• Around the house – on concrete or drywall
• Inside materials exposed to water leakage
• On materials inside basements that have been flooded
Mould reappearing in the same spot indicates that cleaning the surface on which it has grown may not be enough to eliminate it unless the water exposure is eliminated.
Can I Remove Black Mould Myself?
It depends on the problem’s size, scope, and location. While some minor and superficial black mould maybe cleaned, a large area affected by mould or one that recurs after cleaning needs to be professionally assessed to identify the cause.
Attempting to remove large spots of mould, when not properly equipped, can expose your family to more significant health hazards. Similarly, disturbing substantial infestations of mould can cause it to aerosolize and affect other parts of your home not exposed to moisture. Lastly, if extensive infestation and mould have invaded drywall and soaked into it to the point of deterioration, it maybe necessary to remove the affected material.
Professional Mould Remediation
Mould remediation is a complicated process that goes well beyond the simple scrubbing of visible mould from its location. A professional will examine the property, locate the infestation of black mould in your house, evaluate the severity of the issue, recommend the most suitable course of mould remediation or management according to the extent of the black mould infestation and the materials it has invaded, and will then remove the black mould from your property.
Professional black mould remediation or mould remediation in general entails the following procedures:
1. Inspection: The affected property is examined, mould and its locations are mapped out, sources of moisture are identified, and musty or foul odours are located.
2. Moisture Evaluation: Sources of leaks are located.
3. Mould Location: Containment procedures are deployed for affected areas.
4. Mould Removal or Remediation: All material surfaces affected by mould are assessed for possible cleansing, repaired, and recast if they require special treatment. Unstable material structures and those that support the continued growth of mould will need to be removed and replaced.
5. Filtration, Cleaning Procedures, Drying, and Restoration of Property: Appropriate air filtration procedures are deployed to prevent the growth and spread of airborne mould spores and other contaminants. The appropriate procedures are deployed to help expedite the restoration process for the affected property, which will depend on the type of material it is constructed with.
6. Prevention Procedures: To prevent future infestation of black mould and ensure that your home is safe, a series of measures may be advised and deployed in your house.
Why It Is Important to Deal With the Moisture Issue
Removing visible mould does not always remove the primary infestation of black mould. When black mould develops, its primary issue is usually one of moisture, which may continue to encourage its growth even after visible traces are removed. For instance, if your bathroom is plagued by black mould and you clean all traces of it, leaving the continuous source of moisture like a dripping pipe, it’ll continue to encourage black mould growth. Hence, during the mould remediation process in Calgary, both the physical traces of black mould present are dealt with while the underlying cause that encourages such infestation is removed or resolved.
Why Choose HazPro Restoration for Black Mould Removal in Calgary?
When you spot black mould, it is essential that you get the right professionals involved. HazPro Restoration offers its professional expertise in mould inspection, mould removal and remediation, and water damage restoration to help deal with any black mould problems affecting your property in Calgary.
We are aware that black mould can be a worrying experience, but our experts will ensure that the cause of the problem, its extent and nature are identified, and an appropriate treatment is deployed to ensure it does not recur.
Whether it is from standing water that has stagnated and encouraged the infestation of mould or dampness from basement moisture, you can entrust us with finding the issue and repairing it.
FAQs About Black Mould in Calgary
Is all black mould harmful?
While black mould can be harmful when present in substantial quantities, its colour is no determinant of its effects. Any black mould infestation should be treated with care.
How do I know if I have black mould in my residence?
Black or dark streaks, patches, odours that emanate from areas of your home or recurring black spot mold on surfaces may indicate its presence but appearance is no determinant of its type.
Can black mould grow behind walls in Calgary?
Black mould grows on any material exposed to it.
Therefore, if it grows behind walls in Calgary, it indicates that there is moisture behind drywall or drywall paper that has sustained its growth and it can, therefore, be removed.
Does black mould continue to grow once it is removed?
If there continues to be a source of moisture, the answer is yes.
How quickly should I have black mould, in my house, removed?
It is recommended that you get expert advice as soon as possible after a suspicion of its presence to limit its spread and effects.
Does HazPro Restoration offer black mould removal in Calgary?
Yes. We provide professional black mould removal in Calgary. We have extensive expertise in tackling the problems caused by mould and remediation of affected residential or commercial properties.
Get Professional Mould Removal in Calgary
The discovery of black mould can trigger fear in any homeowner, but there is no need for alarm. However, it does indicate a problem that needs to be dealt with, as it may be hazardous to your health.
The next course of action should always be to identify and eliminate the source of moisture and, if necessary, eliminate all traces of black mould that have grown on it.
If you suspect that you have black mold in your residence or you have had recurring or unusual dampness and smells in your house in the Calgary area, don’t delay—get HazPro Restoration to sort it out!
Learn more about mold removal & mold Remediation in Calgary.