Mold damage is a problem in a lot of older homes.  This is usually because the older ways of doing things did not include proper moisture barriers.  It just wasn’t standard practice.  Of course, even new construction can have the same types of problems if the moisture barriers are not installed correctly.  A buildup of moisture anywhere in a structure can result in this type of growth.  This is really dangerous because some leaks are obvious and spotted right away, while others may take time to actually come through a wall or ceiling so that they become visible.  This time allows for the growth to take place.

Mold damage can begin in as little as twenty four hours after an area has become wet.  This is a huge problem for homeowners who have become victim of a flood or in a basement that has filled with water.  The areas where the growth can be seen can be treated right away.  However, other areas such as in between walls and beneath dry wall can be the areas that are hardest hit and not readily detected.  The roof can leak for days before it finally shows through in the ceiling, and even then it may not be leaking where the ceiling lets it soak through.  This is because it can travel along support beams and other paths before reaching an area where it can soak through and drain out.  This makes a roof leak extremely tricky to find sometimes.

Mold damage is not just limited to a structure.  It can be very dangerous for human beings as well.  It causes problems with breathing with symptoms such as congestion and runny nose, just to name a couple.  It has also been linked to causing asthmatic symptoms in some patients.  It is extremely dangerous for those who have chronic respiratory diseases.  

Mold damage can be cleaned by a homeowner if the right precautions are taken, but because of the fact that it can be inside the walls and other areas, a bigger job may mean calling in a professional company that deals with this type of growth removal.  A professional removal will include the use of equipment such as moisture meters, thermographic cameras, borescopes, humidity gauges, and respirators for their own protection.  This equipment will allow them to see in areas that are hidden and find the growths that can threaten both property and health. 

There are levels of contamination when rating mold damage.  These levels begin at level 1 and increase depending on the area of contamination.  Larger areas are given a level 5 rating.  These large jobs must be done by professionals because of the scope of the cleanup.  There will be a need to not only stop the growth but remove it as well.  There are still contaminants that are dangerous to human beings even in the dead spores, so it must be completely removed from the area for it to be regarded as safe and habitable once again.  This is why using chemicals to merely kill the growth is only the beginning.  It has to be completely removed.