You fix the leak, clean up the water, consider the problem solved, and go on with your life. However, weeks later, you notice a smell in the air and a discoloration on your wall. Your minor water issue has escalated into a major mold problem.
You have allowed mold to grow in the hidden areas of your house, underneath your floors, and behind your walls. For homeowners, the fast mold remediation in Coeur d’Alene is not only a smart move; it’s physically and financially imperative.
What Happens When You Experience A Simple Leak
Mold does not need to have a flood to take over your house; all it takes is a small drip underneath your sink, a roof leak after a rainstorm, or simply having moisture trapped behind drywall to cause mold to begin to grow. In North Idaho, when moisture remains on floors, walls, and ceilings for over 24–48 hours, the mold spores will start to grow and colonize the surfaces in your home.
Because we live in a more moderate climate, Coeur D’Alene homes are subjected to extreme climate changes. The seasonal changes and increased humidity can be detrimental to homeowners. Many residential homeowners are unaware of how quickly mold spreads and how deeply it penetrates their building materials. A minimal amount of surface moisture can quickly cause large amounts of mold contamination.
The Actual Financial Burden of Delaying Mold Remediation
When mold is caught early, once remediated, it generally is treated in a small, confined area. Whereas, when mold is left untreated and allowed to continue to grow, the spores will spread throughout the walls, insulation, flooring, and HVAC. The longer that mold continues to grow, the more materials must be removed and replaced.
What may have cost hundreds of dollars becomes thousands of dollars because of the amount of demolition required for reconstructive and restorative work. Additionally, structural components, including wooden framing and subflooring, ceilings, and so on, will typically require a complete replacement.
- Insurance Will Often Not Cover Damage Due to Neglect
Typically, homeowners believe their insurance will cover all aspects of a mold claim; however, in many instances, insurance policies have restrictions that limit or deny payment for mold claims when damage is caused by negligence or long-term moisture. When the insurance company feels the homeowner did not take appropriate action promptly, the homeowner could end up with a considerable out-of-pocket expense.
If a homeowner requests immediate Coeur d’Alene Mold Removal, he/she will be protecting his/her property and the rights to his/her insurance policy.
- Respiratory and Allergic Conditions Grow with Time
The spores and mycotoxins produced by mold adversely affect the indoor air quality and can aggravate chronic coughing, sneezing, and nasal congestion when people are continuously exposed. The longer a person is exposed to mold, the more susceptible they are to developing chronic coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, and irritated eyes. The effects of mold exposure can escalate quickly for those suffering from asthma, allergies, and weakened immune systems.
Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to health issues if mold is allowed to proliferate without being remediated immediately. Delaying professional mold remediation in Coeur D’Alene allows families to be exposed to harmful health consequences due to prolonged exposure to mold spores and mycotoxins.
- Risk of Structural Damage to Your Home
The effects of mold are not limited to what is visible. Mold grows well in areas that are dark and damp, such as walls, crawl spaces, and behind cabinetry. As the mold grows, it consumes organic matter, causing it to deteriorate.
Eventually, mold growing within a home’s structure will create problems for its owner’s safety and finances. You may see the warping of floorboards, softening of walls, and weakening of frames, but these are only the first signs of what will happen when mold continues to grow within a home. By this time, the home’s structural integrity is already compromised.
- Axing The Resale Value
If a mold remediation company reports a history of mold infestation in your home, it is likely to lower the resale value of the property. Potential buyers will be wary of purchasing a home with a history of mold and the risks associated with maintaining it.
Even if mold removal in Coeur d’Alene is addressed before selling, the potential buyer may not be willing to make an offer on a home with a known mold issue. Mold can cause you to lose a significant amount of money when it is allowed to grow into a major infestation. It is important for property owners to remediate their mold as soon as possible to avoid such a loss and maintain clean property records.
- Failed House Inspections Due to Mold
During real estate transactions, many times the home inspector often identifies mold. When mold is not addressed during a home inspection, the buyer or seller can delay or completely halt the transaction. A delay in addressing these mold issues will also create large amounts of pressure for the seller (financing deadlines) to fix the issues just before closing.
The way mold spreads throughout a home is via the air and/or through HVAC systems. Mold spores have a tendency to move throughout the air in a home. What does this mean? If there’s a leak in your basement, chances are very high that the spores will contaminate your entire upstairs area within days.
Once the spores have become airborne, they are extremely hard to contain. Therefore, it is critical to remove the mold immediately to prevent it from spreading throughout the entire home.
- Cross Contamination Extends the Scope of Remediation
When mold expands from one room into multiple rooms, the professional remediation team must isolate an entire area of the house and use specialized air scrubbers to remove mold from the home. The longer you delay remediation of a mold problem, the more difficult and expensive the restoration process will be.
The complete and safe removal, proper containment, and prevention of mold is what professional Coeur d’Alene Mold Removal provides.
Emotional and Financial Costs Involved with Delayed Mold Remediation
The stress of living with mold is overwhelming. Many homeowners experience anxiety about their health, the smell of mold, and concern about the potential for further hidden damage to their property. When major remediation is required, it can cause families to temporarily relocate while their homes are being treated for mold.
While the financial impact of being under continuous stress is often outweighed by the emotional burden placed on families by being treated as though they are living in a contaminated environment, taking prompt, professional action will help to minimize emotional trauma and will be much easier to manage than having to meet the demands of a complete mold removal later.
Brothers Restoration is a reputable company providing Coeur d’Alene residents with expert mold removal, water damage restoration, and property recovery services. Through dedication to a quick response time and use of cutting-edge remediation techniques, we work diligently to help property owners restore their properties safely and quickly.
Contact us for dependable and experienced mold removal services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How quickly should I schedule Coeur d’Alene Mold Removal after my leak occurs?
If you discover a leak, you should call a professional for mold removal services as soon as possible, but no later than 48 hours after the leak has occurred. Even though the area appears to be dry within the first 24 to 48 hours following a leak, mold can start growing within that window.
Q2. Should I wait to see if I develop mold before contacting a professional?
Waiting to see if you develop mold presents a greater health risk and increases the cost of mold remediation services. In addition, even if you do not see visible signs of mold, it is common for mold to grow behind walls and under floors before it is detected.
Q3. Does homeowner’s insurance cover Coeur d’Alene Mold Removal?
Whether or not your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover any damage to your home from mold will depend on how long it took for you to address the problem and the conditions underlying the situation. Homeowner’s insurance is typically denied for claims related to mold damage resulting from neglect or delayed response to the situation.
Q4. Is it possible for mold to pose health risks even if it is not black mold?
Yes. Several different types of mold can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions regardless of their color.
Q5. On average, how long does a Coeur d’Alene Mold Remediation take?
The amount of time required for professional mold remediation will depend on the level of severity and existing quantity of mold at each site, but complete Coeur d’Alene Mold Removal and Restoration will take anywhere from a few days to up to one week for full containment and restoration.
