Black Mold

Inspection & Testing for Black Mold

Everyone has seen and know what mold looks like, but can you visually determine if mold is in fact stachybotrys chartarum with the naked eye alone? The answer to this question is quite simply yes and no. For a mold expert, it is fairly easy to identify a mold as stachybotrys as it has a very distinguishable appearance when in a mature state. Since it is a slow growing mold, it has the tendency to be very thick in context and you guessed it… black. At the same time, if you are addressing a situation in a prompt manner it might not look much different than other species of mold that are also black in nature. Here are some pictures of what black mold can look like. Be aware that most of these pictures are serious problems and other than the enlarged photos of stachybotrys under a microscope, there are usually other species of mold present as well.

Black Mold Test Kit

There are many companies out there that offer a “mold test kit”. You might think that these must be good as they appear so often and throughout major stores like Home Depot, Loews, and Ace Hardware. Unfortunately that is simply not the case and these kits are not only inaccurate, but just about worthless. There is a natural level of mold in every home or business because non toxic varieties occur naturally outdoors and spores find their way inside as well. The petri dishes sold in stores will only tell you if mold is present or not and will give you any indication about how much of that species is present. This is problematic as many species of mold is acceptable at certain levels and not others. As we mentioned earlier on this webpage, not all stachybotrys is easily airborne so petri dishes will not pick up on its presence unless it is. Most people purchase this as inexpensive alternative only to realize they need to pay extra to have the lab analyze it. On top of that there is zero customer support to help you figure out what everything means. Simply put, most people waste money trying to save it and those with real problems end up needing a real mold inspector anyways.

How Long Until Black Mold Grows

There is no exact amount of time for how long it will take for black mold to start growing. Every situation is extremely unique in the fact that there will never be all the same variables. However, most species of mold take about 24-48 to start to colonize under the right circumstances. Stachybotrys on the other hand is a slower growing mold and will typically start to appear in about a week or so. This is why we say that whenever black mold is around, it is usually accompanied by various other species like Pennicillum Aspergillus and Cladosporeum. Hopefully this helps see why it is so important to address a mold problem as soon as you suspect one might be present. The sooner that you act and detect an indoor air quality issue, the easier it will be to deal with and less problems it will cause.

What Causes Black Mold to Grow

Certain variables are necessary for mold to start and continue growing. As mentioned above, stachybotrys does take a bit longer to begin to grow, but in terms of causes everything is the same as other species. Here is a list of the requirements for Black mold to start growing:

• Water/Moisture/Oils
• Organic Nutrients
• Darkness
• Warm Temperatures/Elevated Humidity
• Time

With all of the above being true, here are some examples of common problem areas to look for these types of issues:

Flooding

 

The first thing that comes to most people’s mind when it comes to a cause of mold growth is                              

experiencing some type of flooding in a home or business and the fact that it could potentially 

lead to problems. Whenever organic building materials like sheetrock, wood, and/or insulation

get wet the possibility for growth  is always there.

The best thing that you can do to avoid these types of problems is take swift action.

Many people try to take on dryout by themselves and end up  paying for it later.

Since mold can start growing in 24-48 hours air drying will usually not suffice.

Professional water damage restoration companies are equipped with industrial dehumidifiers

and air movers that can dry out building material in a fraction of the time.

If you are looking to save money on this service, you can try to handle the demolitian

on your own and remove any saturated materials including but not limited to carpet and drywall.

Condensation

 

This accumulates when humid air comes in contact creating a cold surface.

Essentially this is how mold growth can start from humidity problems described

in the above situation. It can also cause some of the most common mold growth

seen by most people.

If you look at window sills or A/C vents you might see some spotty mold growth.

The growth that you see is probably not toxic black mold, a non toxic very common

mold called Cladosporium.

If this is on a non porous surface like tile, marble, plastic, or metal simply clean

it off with a mold cleaner found in the store. 

Unless it is directly on drywall and left untreated for an extended period of time,

this is likely not a big deal.

Humidity

 

To put it simply high humidity equals excess moisture in the air. Combine that with the fact that

there is a natural amount of mold spores in every home or business and an environment like this

has the  potential to start colonizing in certain areas. Most specifically dark, poor ventilated

areas like closest, cabinets, bathrooms, etc. However, if you do not address humidity problems they

can become widespread issues faster than you think.

This is the main reason why you’ll see  vacant homes like foreclosures have

serious mold problems.  Keeping your indoor environment controlled with the use of an

Air Conditioner is the best thing you can do to  prevent these types of problems.

Most do not realize that an  air conditioner is also a natural dehumidifer and

many encounter people problems after leaving it off for an  extended period of time. 

Most mold growth needs over 55% humidity to start growing, making sure

you are at or below that level will do wonders.

Ventilation Problems

 

If there is an area of a home or business that has poor ventilation, it has a higher potential for mold growth.

This is especially true when you combine other ingredients like moisture and high humidity.

Commonly poorly ventilated areas include bathrooms, garages, closets, attics, and crawlspaces.

Plumbing Issues

 

Another common cause of mold growth is excess moisture or water

damage caused by plumbing issues. These issues can either be very obvious or happen

slower than you think and go unnoticed for extended periods of time.

It varies so greatly as it could be a pipe burst, slow leak, or failed vapor barrier.

Each of these scenarios definitely calls for professional intervention.

Due to the fact that plumbing is within walls, we highly recommend an

inspector and testing to determine exactly what is going on. It is very possible

for plumbing issues to to cause toxic black mold growth.

Roof and Window Leaks

 

These types of issues are very similar to the plumbing issues mentioned in the

fact that they can be obvious or take some time to spot.

How bad one of these issues is entirely dependent on the location and extent of the problem.

You might start to notice drywall stains, visible growth, pooling of water

or an all out collapse of the building material.

Either way it is important that any saturated materials be discarded and/or treated properly

immediately to prevent spreading of the problems.

Roof leaks offer a unique problem as an attic is not part of the indoor environment,

but it can cause problems to the indoor air quality if it is bad enough.

A professional should evaluate and take air/surface samples to see where mold remediation

work needs to be done, if anywhere.

Basement and Foundation Problems

 

Areas of the country where homes have underground basements have another place

that is extremely susceptible to mold problems.

Heavy rains, foundation cracks, poor draining of water, and sump pump failures

can all lead to excess moisture and water intrusion of a basement.

If your basement is finished, the chances for toxic black mold growth go up tremendously

because the organic building material acts as a food for the fungus to grow and colonize.

Other than fixing the source of the water intrusion, the same rules still apply as

it would to other areas of the house. Most serious water damage issues in a basement

should be handled by a qualified professional.

Black Mold Removal and Treatment

Since stachybotrys is only able to grow on porous surfaces like wood and drywall there is no way to simply wipe away this species of mold. Any time toxic black mold is present the building materials that have been contaminated must be discarded or at the very least treated by a professional. Drywall is one of mold’s favorite foods and it can never be restored.

Think of fungus like a tree that are deep rooted into the ground, only the tree is mold and the ground is drywall. You might be able to clean the surface/visible problem but you’ve only scratched the surface and it will come right back. That is why sheetrock must be cut away and trashed whenever these types of problems are present. Restoration companies use containment areas which are basically plastic barriers to prevent the spread of spores during the work. At the same time they are likely running air scrubbers and using negative pressure to force everything to the outside environment. Cleaning of framing includes but is not limited to using antimicrobial solutions, scrubbing, hepa vacuums, and anti-microbial sealants. Whenever you are trying to remove stachybotrys from an indoor environment, it is important to get a clearance test to make sure the job has been completed correctly.

How Common is Stachybotrys Chartarum?

Unless you have experienced some sort of problem with you indoor environment like water intrusion, leaks, elevated humidity, etc then you are most likely same from toxic black mold. Unlike what a lot of people think, stachybotrys is not a common occurrence. We get quite a few people that see “black” growth on tile, ac vents, porcelain, and metal. They assume this is stachybotrys but that is simply not possible as it needs a porous surface to grow on. On the other hand if you have had a recent water damage, leak, or moisture problem it is not uncommon to find this species if the problem is not taken care of immediately.

Should I be concerned about a serious health risk to me and my family?

Evidence continues to grow (no pun intended) about the health risks that not only stachybotrys but any kind of elevated mold levels pose to those living alongside it for an extended period of time. The jury is still out on just how much damage it can cause, but we have seen first hand how people suffer from living in these conditions; even at a slightly elevated level. Reactions to elevated mold conditions are very individualized as well. Some people are hyper sensitive to these types of problems. It is not uncommon for us to see 2 people at the same place with 1 experiencing symptoms and the other person thinking everything is fine. Young children, elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions are usually the highest risk for developing complications from mold.

If a Mold Inspector Finds Black mold, should I vacate the premises?

A mold inspector should provide you with a mold removal protocol along with the labs test results. This should indicate whether or not vacating the premises is warranted. Typically these problems are in an isolated area of home that is actually occupied. If that is the case, containment areas can be used during remediation to prevent the spread of mold spores throughout the home or business.

Stachybotrys chartarum and acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants?

Although there is not concrete evidence, stachybotrys has been linked to idiopathic hemorrhaging in infants. If you have a young child, I’m sure we do not have to tell you that it is best to keep them away from any possible dangers to their health and black mold is no different.

Can I provide MI&T with a sample of mold from within my home to have it tested?

We can have a surface sample that you collect analyzed but highly recommend getting a full inspection if you in fact think a problem is present. A surface sample will be able to tell you what species of mold you are looking at but will not give any indication about your indoor air quality which should be the number one concern. This is why we always start with two air samples, 1 inside and 1 outside to determine if elevated conditions do in fact exist. Know what species of mold is present and also how much of it gives a much clearer picture about what is happening with your indoor environment and allow us to make the best recommendations possible for mold removal if necessary.

How do I Schedule a Mold Inspection?

Visit all of our Mold Inspector Locations to make sure we service your area and call the local number listed, or call our toll free number for immediate assistance855-600-6653.