Toxic Blck Mold



             


Thursday, March 19, 2009

The Benefits Of Professional California Mold Removal

Are you a California homeowner or business owner? If you are, have you ever taken the time to think about mold? If not, you are advised to do so. You will want to give your home or business a close look to see if you have mold lurking around. In fact, you may even want to contact a professional California mold inspector. Should you or a professional inspector determine that you have a mold problem; it is advised that you get your problem fixed. This is done by having the mold in your home or business removed.

When it comes to mold removal, you are advised to contact a professional. This professional is often referred to as a California mold removal expert or mold remover. One of the reasons why you are advised to do go with professional mold removal is because of the unlimited number of benefits there are to doing so. Just a few of the many benefits to having your home or business undergo a professional California mold removal job are briefly touched on below.

When it comes to removing mold, it can be dangerous; that is why it is advised that your home or business undergo a professional mold removal. California residents, at least most, are unfamiliar with how to properly remove mold. This not only means that the job may not be done the right way, but it may also mean that do-it-yourselfers may be putting their health at risk. There are certain steps that need to be taken to have mold removed from your home or business. If you do now know those steps or if you value your health, you are advised to go with professional mold removal. California residents are regularly impressed with the results that they get.

In fact, the results are another one of the many benefits to going with professional mold removal. California mold removers or mold removal experts are often trained and certified. This training and certification means that they underwent the proper amount of training. In training, many mold removers not only learn how to safety remove mold from a home or business, but they also learn how to do the best job possible. This is often what leads to better results for you; results that are worth paying a professional for.

Another benefit of professional mold removal is the time that you will be able to save. As it was previously mentioned, you are advised not to do your own mold removal unless you know what you are doing. Do-it-yourself projects, including mold removal, take time. By the time you learn what you need to do, buy the necessary supplies, and get started, a lot of time may have passed; time that could have been spend doing something else. If you regularly find yourself pressed for time or would like to spend your time doing something else, you are urged to go with professional mold removal. California residents who have gone with professional mold removal often enjoy they extra time they are able to spend doing housework, running errands, or spending with their family.

As you can see, there are a number of benefits to having your home or business undergo a professional mold removal project. California residents, at least a good number of them, have been turning to professional mold removers for years now and you may want to think about doing the same.

Tobin Rutherford is a writer for Acme Abatement . com where you can find an accurate guide to Mold Removal California and other related information.

 

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Saturday, March 29, 2008

How to Mold Your Current Job into the Perfect Career

Sometimes, no matter what our mantra is about loving our job, we just have to admit that it's hard to figure out how to get our career moving in the right direction. And we all know we're not getting any younger. Here are a few tips in molding your current job into the perfect career.

Little Steps Rather Than One Big Stride
Aiming for a promotion? Then start early, by doing things a litle bit better each day. Don't compete with your next-cubicle workmate; compete with yourself, and try to exceed your own expectations.

Learn from the Experts
Instead of envying workmates who has made it big in the company, try to learn from their experience. They'll be more than flattered to impart advice.

Get a hold of technology!
The office is no place for techno-phobes. Learn everything you possibly can about the software needed in your field, and you'll quickly make yourself more marketable. But don't limit yourself to just one software. Study other software because you never know when you're going to need them.

Keep Learning
The world we live in is fast-paced and new knowledge and information is transformed every second. Don't let your education stop the moment you leave school. The world is the much bigger arena for learning, and it pays to explore and keep learning. Those who are stagnant lose out early.

Turn your officemates into allies
Sound relationships with your workmates lead to better office productivity. Instead of perpetually competing with them for the top of the ladder, try to turn them into allies and teammates. When it comes to promotion time, it's not just skills and knowledge that matters but work ethics too.

Read a lot
Especially books that teach and update you in your fields of interest as well as in others. Pay attention to the quality of what you read, and before you know it, you would have added precious knowledge to your arsenal.

______________________________________________________
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Barbara Thorp is an article contributor for Jobs section of OzFreeOnline.com

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Friday, March 28, 2008

An Introduction to Decorative Molding in Your Home

Decorative molding includes all of the kinds of trim used in a home. It can serve a purely decorative function, or it can also be used to hide any unfinished edges of a wall. Moldings can be made of wood-most usually of pine or oak-or, as is used frequently today, polyurethane. Polyurethane is a lightweight, long-lasting, durable alternative to wood. Molding can also be painted or stained.

This article provides a brief description of the types of decorative trim available as well as information available to guide you in your use of decorative molding in your home.

5 types of molding There are five types of decorative molding commonly used. These include: baseboard, cornice, crown, wall moldings, and panel moldings. Let's take a look at each one separately.

Base. Base molding is the trim used to finish the wall along the floor. Also called a mopboard, the baseboard protects the wall. Ideally, your baseboard complements the casings around your doors and windows. A baseboard is commonly found throughout every room in most homes.

Cornice. The cornice is the decorative molding placed along the top of the wall. Cornice can be built up using many pieces of trim. Cornice is a more ornate version of crown molding. Ornamentation includes acanthus leaf, egg and dart, modillions, or dentil among many others.

Crown. Crown molding is also used along the top of the wall. Also called bed moldings, they are installed at an angle to adjunct surfaces. Crown molding is also used to finish cabinets, built-ins, and fireplaces. Cove molding, a rounded piece of trim at the juncture of the wall with the ceiling, provides yet another means of transition from the wall to the ceiling.

Both crown and cornice moldings have been around as long as the use of plastered ceilings has been. Cornice and crown moldings usually reflected the type or intended use of the room. For example, reception rooms were often decorated with more ornate cornice moldings, while plainer crown molding was often installed in the more functional areas of the home, such as the kitchen.

Wall moldings. This group includes the chair rails, and the less common picture rails and friezes. Chair rails are popular features and so can be found throughout many homes. It is the molding that sits approximately 30"-36" above the floor, right at about the height of a chairback. If you choose to panel the wall below, this trim is known as a dado cap.

Picture rails and friezes are often confused, while in actuality they are two separate entities, although the difference is slight. A picture rail has a rounded top edge protruding out from the wall, where hooks are often placed. Its main purpose is for hanging pictures. A frieze, on the other hand, is a flat molding, frequently decorated with relief carving or classical profile.

The picture rail or frieze and the chair rail form what is known in the Victorian architectural style as a tripartite. The wall is effectively broken up into three separate areas. This type of wall treatment extends your options for decorating considerably.

Panel molding. Panel molding is used to break large surfaces up into panels. Panel molding is normally found on doors, but can also be used to decorate walls and ceilings. Fairly easy to install for the average do-it-yourself homeowner, panel molding can be used to create a custom look. Panels can be used in creative ways utilizing such features as size, curves, and decorative corners. Little details may be slipped inside to create an even more elegant look.

Tips to Guide the Use of Decorative Moldings

Your use may be determined by a number of factors including the architectural style of your home, as well as your personal taste in design styles. Be sure that the size and scale of the trim is appropriate for the room to which you will be adding this type of ornamentation. If you choose to paint your moldings, keep in mind that contrasting colors can add a more "dynamic" element to your room. You may consider coordinating moldings with each other as well as with other design elements present in the room.

Synthetic polymer, or polyurethane, is a natural choice for molding today. As it is lightweight, it is easy to cut and install. Polymer is a more economically feasible choice if you opt for more elaborate decorative moldings. Moldings are also flexible, allowing the homeowner to trim curves and rounded areas of the home. When utilizing cornice and crown moldings, you can combine various types to create a more personal statement. However, this can be more challenging to install for the individual. Corner blocks are available as well in polymer. These can be useful in eliminating difficult corner cuts.

Now you are aware of many further options. Don't be intimidated. Installation instructions and informative articles like this one abound on the internet. Do your homework and investigate all of your available options. This is something that you will have to live with, so it should reflect your tastes. They will certainly set the decorative tone of any home. Good luck to you as you begin to use decorative moldings to create your wonderful space.

Visit GoCeilingMedallion for 100's of options to assist you in building the decorative home of your dreams

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Monday, March 17, 2008

You Can't Run, You Can't Hide, Mold Will Eventually Find You

Mold is everywhere and no one can escape it. You'll find it in the air, on surfaces, in the refrigerator, in the house or office, and outside. Like karma, it's one of those things that you can't run from. You can't hide from it. Mold will creep into everyone's lives and homes at some point or another.

While mold is not a health concern for many people, it can create moderate to severe allergic or asthmatic reactions for others.

Aside from health considerations, mold is an ugly fungus that damages your home or office. It's something you don't want.

The first step in dealing with mold is to identify and correct its cause. The rule of thumb is this: No mold can grow without moisture. If the amount of mold is not too big, mold remediation in your home can be a do-it-yourself job. The sooner you can get rid of the mold, the better. This is because the longer mold is allowed to grow the more difficult it is to clean up.

Molds reproduce by spreading tiny spores. These microscopic spores float on air currents until they can find a suitable spot to grow. If you have existing mold spots, the spores obviously do not have trouble finding good breeding grounds. With a mix of moisture and other conditions, these spores will germinate and produce new mold growth.

When inhaled by some people, these spores create allergic reactions or exacerbate asthmatic conditions. If you are suffering from allergic reactions to airborne mold spores, you might consider using a negative ionizer (or negative ion generator). Negative ions are able to remove the spores from the air.

Having mold in your home is certainly not uncommon. It's a little known fact that 70% of homes have mold in their wall cavities. Some homes are worse than others. Homes with bad mold damage might have mold spores growing from the shower head that become airborne and then take over large portions of bedroom or other walls. Obviously, homes that have had flood damage will also fare worse in the mold department than others.

If ignored, small moldy areas will grow larger over time, so it's important to remediate little patches of mold as soon as you see them. If mold is visible, it is not necessary to test for mold. Take care of it straight away.

Remediation is the term used for the cleanup and removal of the mold infestation or growth. If the job is small enough, mold remediation might be something you want to do yourself by drying the area, scrubbing away the mold and using bleach to kill the mold. There are also antimicrobial coating products on the market that you can use to remove mold and prevent its re-growth. Any product that touts mold killing abilities should have an EPA registration number on the label. No cleanup or remediation is complete until you have repaired the water or moisture problem that contributed to the mold's growth in the first place.

Mold is something that everyone has to deal with at some point or another. The best way to handle mold in your home is to stop it early by reducing the moisture that contributes to the mold growth. Use a negative ion generator to remove spores from the air. As soon as you see small mold patches, remediate them before they become a bigger problem.

Mold will eventually find you, no matter how much running, hiding, or ignoring you do. Discover how to fight back by visiting http://www.mold-mildew-info.com

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Toxic Molds - What You Don't Know Can Hurt You!

Mold is something we all know about, or do we? I thought I knew about mold. It smells musty, it looks gross, and it's found everywhere. Right? Well that is true, but it should not be in our homes, in the walls, and under the floors, or in the basement, or attic. Mold can make some people very, very ill, and in some cases it even kills! The story below is our story. Our hope is that by telling what we have been through and we continue to go through, that others will learn about the dangers of mold, how to deal with it and when to leave it altogether.

5 years ago we moved to what we thought was "Our dream home". We had a couple of acres of land to grow our gourds and a place for a veggie garden. A nice 3 bedroom 2 bath house. All nestled on a 194 acre farm.

In January of (2005) we all became very sick. High fevers, lungs full of gunk, head full of gunk. Our youngest daughter got a horrible infection in her ear that looked like white mold was growing all inside her ear. The doctor gave her antibiotics which did NOTHING for her! It took two weeks for the infection to be totally gone. After the antibiotic did not work for our daughter, we all started taking Olive Leaf Extract. Olive Leaf is a natural, (God's) antibiotic. It does not build up in the body as antibiotics do, and it will treat viral infections as well as, bacterial and fungal infections! After starting on the Olive Leaf we all started feeling better, but not 100%. We remained "almost well" for weeks and weeks. Then one day for some odd reason I don't even remember now, we moved our bed from where it was and when we did, we found black mold growing on the wall. The mold was growing on the corner walls where our bed was up against the wall. We immediately threw the mattress and box springs out, because the mold was all over them. With this discovery we began to understand WHY we had all been so sick for so long and WHY we were not getting entirely over it. We also began to understand why the outer east wall of our bedroom had always looked like something was eating the drywall under the paint. Moisture and mold was eating the drywall and had been since before we moved in. I also began to understand why our older daughters room had always smelled musty and moldy, and why she always seemed to get sicker than anyone else in the house. There was a serious mold problem with our home and it was making us all sick. We then started researching mold on the web. We learned more than we had been ready for.

Us like many people in this country thought of mold as a musty odor and gross black or green or some other color that is growing on a wall or other surface. What people do not know about molds and funguses is that high levels of the stuff can make a lot of people very ill, and in some cases can be deadly! Some of the symptoms of toxic mold exposure is, Nasal Congestion, Irritation of the eyes, nasal passages, Inflammation of the sinuses, Irritation of the skin, Breathlessness, Headache, Runny nose, Fatigue, Cough, Sore throat, Hoarseness, Inflammation of the ear, Bleeding Lungs, Nose Bleeds, Memory Loss, Arthralgia ( Pain in the joints without swelling ) and the list goes on.

I have always had a sensitivity to just about everything, certain plants, pollens, dust, chemicals, medications, etc. We moved to the house mentioned 6 years ago. The second Spring we were there I noticed that my allergy to tomato plants, had gotten much worse, and I could no longer mow the grass without breaking out in a red rash all over my face and arms that itched and burned something horrible. Over the past 5 years it has gotten almost unbearable. Not that it is excruciatingly painful. It's just aggravating to burn and itch just because you picked a few tomatoes, or mowed the grass. It's even more frustrating though, when the same thing starts to happen when you dust or sweep, when it never was a problem before.

My allergies have grown and are now magnified to the point that I'm almost constantly itching, sneezing, coughing, have a runny nose, headaches all the time, swelling and extreme pain in my legs, ankles, feet and knees as well as my wrist and hands and especially throughout my entire spine. My whole body hurts. I have horrible pains in my chest, ribs, and back. It hurts so bad in my chest at times, that in the beginning, I questioned if I wasn't having a heart attack!

My hope and Prayer in writing our story and publishing it on the web, is to help others to see the dangers of mold exposures. Mold is very dangerous, and anyone who tells you otherwise is flat out LYING! Sorry but it urks me to no end when doctors try to tell patients there is no danger. Yes folks doctors all over the country are trying to say mold is safe. Oh please! Tell my family and the other thousands of family's deathly ill from mold that it is safe. Think about it folks, mold is dangerous. Do you think the mold remediation teams would wear space suits to clean it up if it were safe? Not a chance.

You can read more on molds and their dangers on my web site. http://www.carmellasplace.com

My name is Carmella Dunkin, I am a mother of 8, grandmother of 4 and wife to the most wonderful man in the world. I enjoy listening to and singing Christian music, reading my Bible and Praying, and designing and creating jewelry, and crafts of all sorts. I also enjoy writing now and then.

My dream is to hit the road in an RV with my hubby and three youngest children and travel the entire US and see all there is to see in God's beautiful country.

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Monday, March 10, 2008

Black Mold Removal And Small Bathroom Remodeling: How To Keep It Out

Black mold is a fungus that spreads relentlessly in your bathroom

Very few bathrooms escape the dreaded black mold fungus. Sooner or later it finds a nice damp corner of your shower or your walls and begins to grow. Slowly at first then before you know it it's all over your beautiful bathroom. Black mold is notoriously difficult to get rid of and control but a cure is possible. I reveal the secret below.

How to spot black mold in your bathroom

Well it's difficult to miss it. It's a black blight, which starts in corners and cracks then grows along joins and seals. The bigger it gets the faster it grows It loves to follow the lines of silicon sealer and grout between ceramic tiles. It seems to get inside the silicon sealer even the fungal resistant kind. It can turn your lovely bathroom into a dirty pit if you don't do something about it quickly.

General measures to keep black mold out of your small bathroom

There are some common sense things that you can do to slow down the march of the black mold in your bathroom. Black mold thrives on moisture so keep your bathroom well ventilated. Open windows and doors after use and wipe down surfaces to encourage them to dry faster.

Wiping down all ceramic surfaces with a dilute solution of bleach every few days will also help to slow down the growth of the fungus.

Traditional remedy for black mold in the bathroom

The traditional cure for black mold has been to cut out the affected areas of sealer and grout and any bits of wall covering that is contaminated. Wash the whole place down with a dilute solution of bleach and then re tile, re grout and re seal. This cures the problem for a while but sooner or later, usually only a few months or weeks later, the black mold returns.

This is a very frustrating cycle to be riding on because you have to keep doing it. Many people eventually just give up and the black mold takes over.

The secret that can banish black mold from your small bathroom

Black mold in my small bathroom had been defeating my efforts to keep it under control and finally I decided to remodel the whole bathroom which I thought would get rid of it forever. Was I wrong! I managed to keep it out for a few short months but somehow it found it's way in again.

I cut out and replaced the contaminated silicon sealer but this only slowed it down. Then someone told me about a product called 'Mold and Mildew Remover'. You simply spray it onto the affected areas then leave it for 3-5 minutes before rinsing it off. This sounded too good to be true but I thought that I would give it a try anyway.

The person that told me about the product also told me that the secret was to be patient with it and not expect to see instant results from just one spraying so I set about treating the affected areas of my little bathroom 2-3 times a week and watched what happened. After the first month I dropped the treatment to 2-3 times a month.

The results were nothing short of amazing and fantastic. I thought that I saw an improvement after the first week and after the second week I was convinced that the black mold was at least not growing any more. After a month the patches of black mold were definitely smaller than they had been and after 6 months they are nowhere to be seen. They have completely vanished and I'm so very pleased with it.

Get the full story of how I beat the black mold in my small bathroom in the article Small Bathroom Black Mold Removal

How to fit a shower into a very small bathroom Small Bathroom Shower at www.bathroomsremodeling.this-info.com Steve Gee

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Friday, February 29, 2008

Renovating That Moldy Old Bathroom

However much you may have thought through the options while making that dream home of yours, it seems that there are always improvements that can be made at home. Taking a decision to renovate your apartment is not an easy one since these projects can cause havoc with your daily routine. One such project that can really disrupt your entire household is bathroom remodeling. This is especially so because once the project begins this room will need to be off limits for several days.

Although the bathroom is often the smallest room in your house, it is one of the most important rooms. Many aspects make bathroom renovating a serious project. You can save money as well as avoid undue hassles if a bathroom makeover is handled methodically.

The first thing required to be settled is to prepare a schedule for bathroom use to accommodate family members and plan for guests if any are coming over during the renovation.

To avoid overshooting your budget it is recommended that you finalize the fixtures that you would like to put back again and the ones that you need to replace before actually beginning the process of remodeling. Once you list the fixtures you will realize why bath remodeling often takes more time than anticipated and disrupts budgets. The main fixtures involved in bathroom remodeling include the tub, shower, toilet, sink, cabinets, lighting and flooring.

Storage is another aspect that needs to be kept in mind as certain decorative fixtures, like a pedestal sink, leave no room for storage under them. For a well functioning bathroom it is essential that there be storage space for storing towels, toiletries and cleaning supplies.

While going in for expensive fixtures like whirlpool tubs it will be better if you talk to friends, neighbors and relatives who might have installed these, as they take up a lot of space and are expensive to repair.

Lighting and flooring are two aspects of the bathroom that are often over looked. If you have natural light it will be better to go for lighting that will complement it and still retain privacy. In the absence of natural light, try to create one using the kind of lighting that you prefer. You could chose to have a bold, strong lighting environment or a relaxing, dim environment for your aroma bath.

Easy cleaning should be the foremost consideration when completing the bathroom renovation project. Although they cost more than other surfaces, natural stone or ceramic tiles are the easiest to clean and last a life time. Bathrooms are messy and in turn can mess up the house. Being able to quickly clean up surfaces is a great time saver and can also ensure that you avoid slipping on wet surfaces later.

Discover more articles about home improvements and diy by visiting http://www.home-articles.com

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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Removing Mold Stains from Your Hardwood Floors

 Wood floors are a glorious addition to your home, as well as extremely practical. They are good in all types of weather and last a very long time, as long as they're taken care of. And that's where things get a bit soggy-literally. Even if you're super careful with your floor, any water or liquid left standing for a long time can cause mold to develop.

This is especially true of plant and flower pots that are kept inside and leak. Now the leak may be quite small so that you don't notice it for months, and then you realize that the floor around the plant is looking a little worse for wear. You lift the plant up and lo and behold, a moldy mess has established itself into the cracks of your beautiful hardwood floor.

Not to worry, however, as there are ways to get rid of the mold, and if it is finished like most floors, the wood itself will remain in tact and unharmed; only the finish will suffer.

The first thing to do is buy a scraper from your local hardware store. Size doesn't really matter, but it should be at least eight inches wide and a few inches high. Pull along the grain of the wood and adjust the pressure just so the edge is scraping the finish. Don't dig in too deep, as you can mar the wood.

Next, purchase a sanding sponge specifically for finish removal (180 grit will work fine too) at your hardware store or shop. Sand, again, along the grain until the mold, or most of it, is gone. If there is still some residue left after all this use a very small amount of diluted Clorox bleach on the area. You have to be careful, though, as too concentrated of a solution can ruin the floor.

After you're done sanding or bleaching, run two hundred grit sand paper lightly over the wood. Re-finish the wood with the same finish, if possible. If not, find the nearest match, but do be careful as matching finishes can be tough. Always test a tiny, hidden, and out of the way spot before you do anything, and that includes using the bleach solution.

Hopefully this clears up your mold problem, but prevention is the best protection. Make sure any flower or plant pots you have in the house are properly potted without the possibility of leaking, and ensure that any pet urine or other water spill is cleaned up as soon as possible. Do this, and your floor will remain beautiful and elegant well into old age.

www.fastfloors.com

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Friday, January 18, 2008

Mold QandA: Understanding Mold In Your Home

* How does mold enter a home?

Molds usually enter a home through spores that pass through open doorways, ventilation, windows, heating and air conditioning systems that have outdoor air intakes. The mold spores also attach themselves to humans, animals, shoes, clothing, bags and other objects that are capable of carrying spores.

When spores reach a place of moisture, especially those places where there is excessive moisture, they will attach and grow themselves. This will serve as their breeding ground. Molds usually grow in moisture rich places and those that are quite cold. The most common places where molds grow are in roofs, pipes, walls and plant pipes.


* How does mold grow?

Molds grow in different ways. Molds have tiny spores and these tiny spores have the capabilities of reproducing themselves through sexual and asexual reproduction. In sexual reproduction of mold, spores need another spore for them to reproduce. In asexual reproduction of mold, a single spore can reproduce by itself without requiring another spore.

Mold spores can reproduce themselves anywhere. They can grow and reproduce in soil, roof, and pots and even in air. Molds grow rapidly in places that have excessive moisture and have quite dim lightings.


* What kinds of health problems could there be if there is mold in my house?

Mold exposure may cause cold-like symptoms like watery eyes, sore throat, wheezing and dizziness. Allergic reaction to mold is common. It triggers asthma attacks. In addition, exposure to mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs.

Molds produce allergens, irritants and in some cases, potentially toxic substances that are dangerous to the human body.


* On what kinds of surfaces can mold grow?

Molds never choose the surface where to grow and breed; rather, they survive as long as a surface has excessive moisture. Moisture seeps through concrete walls and floors, wood and plastics and other materials that will cause dampness resulting in molds on walls, floors, carpeting and others.

The bathroom is the most susceptible place for mold growth because it is always damp. Soap scum, shower walls, ceramic tile and fiberglass are all possible surfaces for mold growth.

Basement and laundry rooms are also common for mold growth. The kitchen is also a possible site for mold.

There is no required surface for mold. Any surfaces are susceptible to mold growth if moisture is present.


* How can I reduce the humidity in my home?

Reducing the humidity at home can be done in many ways. There are simple ways that are effective in reducing the dampness at home which is the main reason of mold growth.

The following are three effective simple ways of reducing humidity at home.

? Remove standing water.
? Dry out your home.
? Remove wet materials.

And also insulate your home properly.
Maye Teasdale is a regular contributor to mold education sites such as Mold Question and Answer. Website: http://www.MoldQA.com

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Monday, January 7, 2008

Mold in the Kitchen can be the Result of Plumbing Problems

Some people believe that mold is a basement problem or possibly it will appear on an outer wall. The facts are mold is not that choosey, it will happily develop anywhere the conditions are right. Leaky plumbing will make the inner part of the lower cupboards moist. The wet wood is exactly the kind of base for fungus to grow on. There are molds that will grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. Mold spore are everywhere just waiting to grow. There is no real way to get rid of all mold and mold spores from your home. The only way to control mold growth is to control the moisture level in your home.

There are many pieces of plumbing in the kitchen that can spring a leak. Either the supply lines or the drain lines can erode and begin to weep then drip and finally run. Often these growing problems go unnoticed until the last stage. Longstanding moisture from the weeping and dripping is all the water necessary to provide the growth conditions. Now do not get in a panic if you have a pipe spring a leak and you catch it in a week or so. It is very unlikely that this would be long enough to establish a mold culture.

When you find a leak there are a few basic steps to follow. First close the water supply valve to the area. There is probably a zone shut-off valve or for that area of your home. If the valve does not stop the water close the main water valve for the house Now mop up the water and dry out the area, maybe use a fan if there is a lot of moisture. Now address the leaky item. If the faulty part is a faucet or a supply riser line, you will be able to replace it yourself. However if it is one of the soldered in pipes, you may be well advised to hire a plumber to replace it. Often amateurs will create more problems when trying to solder new pieces into old pipe systems.

Some repairs are easier to do than others are. Many just take time and some are a major hassle. Particularly difficult are those that involve working on pipes that are hidden behind walls or under floors. If in doubt wire a professional. If a small section of a line springs a leak, it is likely that the whole pipe needs replacement. Fix all plumbing problems immediately it is best for the home.

If you keep on top of moisture problems and run your kitchen fan whenever cooking causes steam, you should never have a mold problem in your kitchen. This not only saves you money but more important, it is healthier for you and your family.

Jim Stewart has been involved with home construction and improvement for over 40 years as a tradesman, contractor and site supervisor and has seen the entire spectrum of home improvement. Jim is a student of the industry and gladly passes on what he has learned. Jim is now the also the publisher of http://www.best-kitchens.com/ and http://www.Basement-Central.com/

Jim can be contacted at Homes42005@yahoo.com

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