How To Identify Black Mold

9/18/2018 (Permalink)

La Marque, TX home covered with mold

Many homeowners have heard tales of the horrors of mold, but few may have actually encountered it. When you suspect that your home in La Marque,TX, has a mold problem, you need to conduct a mold inspection. While it may be prudent to have this examination done by a professional, you may be able to tell if you have black mold just by observation. Here are a few tips on where to look and how to recognize it.

Where You Find It

Mold loves moisture and pulpy surfaces. Those two factors give you ample places to start your search:

• Carpet
• Ceiling tiles
• Wood paneling or furniture
• Dry wall

A mold problem is especially likely if any of these surfaces are in contact with a lot of water. If you know that a portion of your home experienced water damage, conducting a mold inspection in those areas is a good idea. If you smell a musty odor and cannot locate its source, you may have to hire an environmental hygienist to test for hidden mold.

What It Looks Like

There are many species of mold, but relatively few of them are often present in homes. Mold comes in a variety of shapes, colors, textures and sizes. The strain commonly referred to as black mold is called Stachybotrys Atra. It is typically black with either dark green or gray tints. It is also slimy and less airborne than other species. What it lacks in air travel, however, it makes up for in lateral moves. This type of mold is often found in large patches on walls, and it can grow rapidly. The sooner you identify the mold, the sooner you can get the problem taken care of, and the more likely you are not to let the problem get worse.

Finding mold is only the first step. If you discover that you have house mold during a mold inspection, you need to hire remediation experts to resolve the problem.