Mold: Bad for Health, Bad for Property Value?

Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. The spores float through the air, landing on every surface. Mold grows where there is moisture, plus a food source, and a humid temperature. As common as mold spores are, they concern us for two reasons: our health and damage to our property.

How Dangerous Is Mold?

Most molds aren’t dangerous to humans, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports that there is sufficient evidence to link indoor mold exposure to respiratory problems among generally healthy people. Extended periods of concentrated exposure to mold can create additional problems that are even more serious.

According to WebMD, mold sensitivities in people can cause major allergic reactions like shortness of breath or asthma attacks, skin rashes, and eye and nose irritations.

Mold growth can cause a number of problems for homeowners, causing those with allergies to suffer, and impacting the health of sensitive populations or those with compromised immune systems. Mold spores are an important part of nature, but concentrated levels inside your home can create an unhealthy environment.

Cost of Mold Damage to Your Home

Mold can also affect the structure of your home, causing deterioration of building materials including floors, ceilings, and walls. It causes stains on walls, ceilings, and floors and leaves an unpleasant odor. Moldy conditions have the potential to cause rot, structural damage, and premature paint failure.

Rot can occur anywhere in the home, but usually is worse in areas of high moisture, low or no light and poor airflow. The attic crawlspace is a common location. Here, floor joists, girders, and sill plates (the entire floor framing system under your house) are vulnerable to rot from moldy conditions.

Worst of all, mold might ruin the value of your home. Large overgrowths of mold and mold in unusual locations are especially likely to lower a home’s value. Home inspectors will find any hidden mold and disclose the condition to potential buyers. If an FHA appraiser finds that the mold overgrowth is dangerous, you might be required to remove the mold before you can get an FHA loan. Any perceived complication might cause your potential buyer to pass on your home and look for another (mold free) option.

ServiceMaster Restoration by Century

Mold removal in Houston and structural repairs will not solve the problem individually. Both services must be performed. Cleaning mold does not support the home structure. And, if structural repairs are done without fixing the problem, the problem will return; it’s only a matter of time before the new framing rots out and must be replaced again. If you want your house to last, it’s imperative to eliminate the moist conditions that lead to rot in the first place.

When you find mold in your home, contact a full-service disaster restoration company immediately to prevent further damage. To restore your home, it is critical to select the most qualified professionals for the job. As the leader in the restoration and cleaning services industry for more than 40 years, ServiceMaster Restoration by Century is committed to maintaining the highest standards of business, ethics, and quality.