Your Guide to Mold Growth and More! | Mold Masters

Mold is a fact of life. We see it, touch it and inhale it every day. Some molds grow exclusively on spoiled food and some only grow within the home. Some mold can even convert into medicine, such as penicillin.

In this blog, we’ll be focusing primarily on the type of mold that grows in your home. That includes going over what it is, how it grows and what contributes to the mold growth process.

What is mold?

Mold is a fungal microorganism, usually termed fungus or fungi. There are thousands of different species of mold, with most being beneficial to our ecosystem.

Fungi cannot photosynthesize or make its food via solar energy, like other plants and vegetative growth can. As such, it must therefore sustain itself by absorbing and decomposing organic or surface material.

Mildew is an interchangeable term that encompasses multiple types of microorganisms that sustain themselves on organic or surface matter. Mildew generally is used to describe yeast, algae, bacteria, mold and even rust.

How does it grow?

The mold will overtake and decompose the material where the spore settles. It accomplishes this by repeatedly growing cell chains, commonly known as hyphae. Hyphae are very small hairlike structures that grow together and outward to create a growth that is technically termed the mycelium.

This process is ongoing and often the hyphae extend into walls, floors and generally areas that we do not see on a day-to-day basis. Indeed, if you see a small patch of mold, it is likely that the growth is much deeper.

What promotes mold growth?

Mold thrives and can grow rapidly on surface area or organic matter that is either in the early stages of decomposition or has gotten wet and not been able to properly dry.

Mold is all around us, as it reproduces by releasing tiny, microscopic spores into the atmosphere. It’s important to remember that if the conditions are favorable and continue to be so, mold will soon grow.

Some factors affecting mold growth include, but aren’t limited to:

Humidity. Mold requires sustained humidity to grow and to reproduce
A surface that has become wet and has not been able to dry
Significant and sustained rainfall or leaks within the home
Warm temperatures

You might wonder, how does temperature affect mold growth? Typically, mold cannot survive in temperatures lower than 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures higher than that will typically cause condensation, which creates a prime environment for the mold to continue to grow.

As any Floridian knows, heat and humidity are regular issues. Having a properly working HVAC system that maintains a consistent temperature and humidity level is crucial to avoiding mold issues.

What is black mold?

Many species of mold you will never notice and are not generally harmful to healthy individuals. As we know, mold is necessary for our ecosystem.

However, a common household mold is referred to as ‘black mold’, which encompasses several species. Specifically, the species Stachybotrys chartarum has been known to cause respiratory symptoms. It can usually be found in washrooms, and walls.

Some common black mold growth conditions are:

The presence of porous materials like gypsum, paper, concrete, and fiberboard
A dark, often unattended environment
Consistent moisture
The presence of mold spores. This is not difficult, as some spores can lay dormant for many years until the environment is right for them to grow

Get in touch with our mold remediation experts at Mold Masters today!

There is a known correlation between black mold and respiratory issues. Some symptoms include asthma onset, coughing, wheezing, nausea, dizziness, and headaches! If you suspect that you might have black mold — don’t wait.

Our Dunedin-based team at Mold Masters are well versed in dealing with mold issues caused by Florida’s notorious humidity. We offer a wide variety of mold inspection and remediation solutions throughout Florida and look forward to working with you!

Call us at one of our offices (Central Florida: 813-606-6668, South Florida: 239-961-9995, North Florida: 904-397-4030. Alternatively, you can fill out our convenient online contact form and one of our experts will be in touch with you shortly.

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Florida insurance allows up to two years to file a Hurricane claim for Hurricane Ian

Home Owners Insurance: Deadline to File a Claim for Hurricane Ian is Approaching

By Chase Cornia • 08 May, 2024

It’s hard to believe that it was almost two years ago that Hurricane Ian devastated Florida on September 28, 2022. Our South office saw the horrifying effects that the storm surge had first hand in St James City, Cape Coral, and Fort Myers Beach. Our hearts constantly broke as we were visiting customers in what was left of their homes. Our Central office in Dunedin had to evacuate due to the concerns of the storm surge from the Tampa Bay emptying out. Many of us lost power, had roof damage, and leaky window sills from the driving rain. Our teams made sure to jump in to action to support our South customer with whatever they needed. Even when it meant they had to stay in a hotel with no roof or an AirBnB with no power. Finally, in our North office we saw our friends in Volusia County flooded for months. A home in Ponte Vedra that we remediated just one year before got complete wrecked again. To add insult to injury, Hurricane Ian and Nicole took out a lot of the sand dunes that St Johns and Flagler County have been trying to rebuild. Everyone knows where they were and what trama they endured during and after Hurricane Ian. It really does not feel like it has been almost two years since. With that being said, we wanted to make sure that homeowners know that their deadline to file a homeowners insurance claim is on the horizon. Florida insurance laws allow policyholders up to two years from the date of loss to file a Hurricane Ian claim. The date of loss is the horrible day when the hurricane made landfall in South West Florida on September 28 . Which makes your last date to file a claim be Saturday, September 28, 2024 . Granted most insurance companies are not open on Saturday, so it would probably be best to have your claim ready to go the Friday before Remember to reach out to your insurance provider promptly to ensure you meet the necessary deadlines. If you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to ask. We have our own in-house insurance specialists that would love to answer your questions. We can easily be reach at (904) 397-4030 for North Florida , (813) 606-6668 for Central Florida , and (239) 961-9995 for South Florida .

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