Preserving Homes in Golden, Colorado: A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Mold Issues

1/2/2024 (Permalink)

Welcome to SERVPRO©, your trusted ally in maintaining a healthy home environment! Nestled in the charming town of Golden, Colorado, discovering mold in your residence can be a cause for concern. Mold not only affects the aesthetics of your home but also poses health risks and potential structural damage. In this blog, we'll guide you through the essential steps to address mold and emphasize why relying on SERVPRO's© expertise is crucial for effective mold remediation in Golden.Section 1: Identifying MoldStart by familiarizing yourself with the signs of mold growth in your Golden home. Mold can present itself in various colors and textures, such as black spots, green patches, or fuzzy growth on surfaces. Musty odors and increased allergy symptoms among household members can also be indicators of a potential mold issue.Section 2: Immediate Actions to Take:Isolate the Area: Contain the spread of mold spores by closing doors and windows. If feasible, seal off the affected area with plastic sheeting.Turn Off HVAC Systems: Prevent the circulation of mold spores throughout your home by turning off heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.Handle with Care: Minimize disturbing the mold to reduce the release of spores into the air.Section 3: Why Professional Assistance is Essential:Health Risks: Mold exposure can lead to various health problems, especially for those with respiratory conditions or allergies. Professional remediation ensures the safe and thorough removal of mold, minimizing health risks.Comprehensive Inspection: SERVPRO's© skilled technicians conduct a detailed inspection to identify the extent of mold growth, hidden mold, and potential moisture sources contributing to mold development.Effective Remediation Techniques: Our team utilizes advanced equipment and industry-approved techniques for mold remediation, ensuring a comprehensive and lasting solution.Preventing Future Growth: SERVPRO© not only eliminates existing mold but also addresses the root cause, implementing measures to prevent future mold growth.Section 4: The SERVPRO© Advantage:Local Expertise: As a trusted SERVPRO© franchise in Golden, we understand the unique challenges posed by the local climate and environmental conditions.24/7 Emergency Response: Mold problems can arise at any time. Our team is available 24/7 to respond promptly to emergencies, preventing further damage to your home.IICRC-Certified Technicians: Our technicians are certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), ensuring industry-leading expertise in mold remediation.Conclusion: Discovering mold in your Golden home can be unsettling, but with timely and professional intervention, you can protect your property and the health of your loved ones. SERVPRO© is your local partner in effective mold remediation, offering unparalleled expertise and a commitment to restoring your home to a safe and healthy condition. Don't let mold compromise your living space – reach out to SERVPRO© for reliable and comprehensive mold remediation services tailored to the unique needs of Golden.

Happy Mold Remediation Customers in Evergreen?

6/13/2023 (Permalink)

We are leaders in mold damage restoration services in Jefferson County.

Our Golden, Wheat Ridge, and Evergreen team has been restoring mold damage in Jefferson County for over forty years. Often mold is a symptom of hidden water damage. We will locate and address the excess moisture issue as part of the remediation process to discourage the mold from returning once the remediation process is complete. Here are some recent Google reviews from some of our mold remediation customers:

“SERVPRO is the absolute best. I had a small concern about mold in my bathroom that was time sensitive. Steve went above and beyond and was able to squeeze me in on the same day. Steve was able to solve my issue in a quick professional manner. I will always use SERVPRO for any future needs.”

Services: Mold mitigation

Positive: Punctuality

“SERVPRO was on time and professional. They showed up when they said and did a great job fast helping us get back to normal as soon as possible after a flood. Would definitely recommend!” Jill Goodman

Services: Water Removal, Flood Cleanup, Mold cleaning, Flood restoration Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness, Value

Call Us Today!

When you discover any mold growing in your Evergreen home or commercial business, our local team in Golden, Wheat Ridge, and Evergreen is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 303-279-8055.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Mold Discovered Growing Around a Leaking Window in Wheat Ridge Home?

5/9/2023 (Permalink)

We are trained and certified to remediate mold outbreaks in Jefferson County.

A mold outbreak is often a symptom of a water or excess moisture issue. Our Golden, Wheat Ridge and Evergreen team has been helping people in Jefferson County mitigate and restore mold infestations for 40 years. Here are some of the signs of mold damage:

• Strong, musty odor
• Recent water damage
• Fluffy white or black spots on clothing
• Stinky, damp carpeting
• Water leak inside of a wall
• Water leak inside a cabinet
• Leaking water tank
• Leaking water heater
• Leaking water supply line
• Spotting on upholstered furniture
• Spotting on drapes or fabric blinds
• Spotting on wallpaper
• Bubbling paint on walls
• Dark spots on walls
• Musty smell from an air conditioner
• Visible mold growing on wall or floor tiles

Our technicians are trained and certified to restore mold damage in homes and commercial businesses. We have the training, experience, and equipment to mitigate, remove, and restore mold outbreaks efficiently. We will also identify and correct any water damage issues to minimize the potential for the mold to return once the remediation process is complete.

Mold Removal Process

1. Emergency Contact – 303-279-8055
2. Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment
3. Mold Containment
4. Air Filtration
5. Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials
6. Cleaning Contents and Belongings
7. Restoration

Call Us Today!

When your home or business in Wheat Ridge has a mold problem, our team in Golden, Wheat Ridge, and Evergreen is Here to Help. ® We’ll restore your mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 303-279-8055.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Mold in Your Home, Office, or Outbuilding

10/30/2019 (Permalink)

All mold needs in a little moisture and a little time. If you didn't catch it in time, we can help!

Mold in Your Home, Office, or Outbuilding

            Yum! Mold! Blue cheese, brie, gorgonzola, and Roquefort are a few cheeses with delicious inlays of edible mold. And when it comes to a fine charcuterie board, these molds are essential.  However, when it comes to your Evergreen, Wheat Ridge, Golden home, office, or she-shed, mold is the last thing you want to see.   

            Any home or business can quickly become infested with mold when water is introduced to the environment.  Things such as roof leaks, basement floods, plumbing leaks, and other things of this nature can spread mold in as little as 48-72 hours! It is so important to mitigate any water in your home or business at first sight so harmful molds cannot grow and thrive. 

            In this blog, we will discuss what mold is, how it can grow in your home, how to prevent mold from growing, what we can do to help in a mold situation, and more.

The Low Down on Mold

            Mold is a general term for fungi that comes in many forms.  There are countless forms of mold, possibly tens of thousands of differing strains, but no one knows for sure the exact count.  It can grow indoors or outdoors and be black, brown, yellow, pink, or green in color. Often it is fuzzy and can smell quite offal.  Moisture is required for mold to grow actively, and when it does, it damages whatever it may be growing on.  That could mean your carpets, floors, walls, furniture, shower, or other materials.  These items with actively growing mold are being structurally damaged by the growth. 

            Not only is mold detrimental to structures, but to your health as well.  For the sensitive group, mold can cause stuffiness, throat and eye irritation, difficulties breathing, coughing, and skin irritations.  People with mold allergies may have worse symptoms, and those with lung diseases or compromised lungs may be the most effected when exposed to mold. 

Where Does Mold Grow in Your Home?

            First off, a small amount of mold in your everyday life is inescapable.  Tiny microscopic mold spores are present everywhere indoor and outdoor.  You are probably breathing in those tiny itty-bitty spores right now.  Getting rid of all of these spores is impossible.  They are a part of our nature.  So, if a company ever claims to remove all mold from the home, that is a fallacy! A good restoration company knows they just need to remediate the big and harmful molds. 

            So, how do you know if you have mold in your home? You will be able to see it! Often, you can smell it as well as mentioned before. However, it may be hiding, so checking the common areas and the not so common areas for mold will help ensure you are spotting it all. 

• The Shower or Tub: continual use of these areas makes them damp majority of the time. The obvious places to look for mold would be the corners of the showers, ceilings, and walls.  The not so obvious places to look would be on shampoo bottles, washcloths, loofas, the shower curtain, and the shower head.
• Sink and Toilet: the wet nature of these areas makes them prone to mold. Surface areas are the obvious places to check for mold.  The not so obvious are the toothbrush caddies, tank of the toilet, all of the pipes, and behind or underneath the sink.
• The kitchen: water, food, grease, etc. all live in the kitchen which means mold can too. Check in, on, and under the kitchen sink, the refrigerator and pantry, microwave and stove. The not so obvious would be the bottom of your trashcans, wooden cutting boards, window sills, and anywhere food may fall through a crack.
• The Bedroom: ceilings, walls, and window sills, may be the more obvious areas for this room. The not so obvious would be heating and cooling systems and on your mattress!
• Other Places: chimneys and fireplaces, indoor plants, couches, curtains, upholstery, and anywhere where moisture may have been.

Preventing Mold Growth

• Keep humidity to a minimum. It is recommended to keep them no greater than 50% at all times. However, changes in moisture levels and temperatures change throughout the day, so the levels will need to be checked and managed throughout. 

• Ventilate!Makes sure your home and each room has enough ventilation so moisture doesn’t stay. Use exhaust fans and be sure that your dryer is vented outside of your home.

• Fix leaks. Look for leaking on your roof, walls, or plumbing systems.  Without water, mold cannot grow.

• Clean up and dry out homeusing your local SERVPRO franchise after water damage (within 24-48 hours).

• Add mold inhibitorsto paints before painting.

• Remove or replace any carpets or upholstery that have been soakedand cannot be dried in time. Also consider not using carpets in areas with a lot of moisture such as bathrooms. 

What to do When You Have Mold

• Stay out of the affected area.
• Turn off HVAC and fans.
• Call SERVPRO of Golden/ Wheat Ridge/ Evergreen

What Not to do When You Have Mold

• Do not touch or disturb the mold.
• Do not blow air on any surface that contains mold.
• Do not dry the area yourself.
• Do not bleach or disinfect the mold.

SERVPRO of Golden/ Wheat Ridge/ Evergreen Remediation Service

            Our team at SERVPRO of Golden/ Wheat Ridge/ Evergreen has the skills, training, experience, and specialized equipment needed for mold mitigation and remediation. Our techniques are approved by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification).              

                        Direct Spraying:

                                    We use hand pumps or power sprayers to apply specialized chemicals and disinfectants to the affected areas in your Golden/ Wheat Ridge/ Evergreen, or surrounding homes. This method will wet the area, so we are sure to only use this method on surfaces that cannot be discolored.

                        Wet Fogging:

                                    ULV (ultra low volume) foggers are used to disperse disinfectants and deodorizers to the area.  These foggers create tiny particles that can penetrate into just about anything.  However, this creates additional moisture, so the technicians at your home, office, or she-shed, will remove all furniture and other items that could be damaged by this method. If there are some items that cannot be removed, drapes will be placed over them for protection.

                        Dry Fogging:

                                    This technique, also called thermal fogging, is used when there is mold, but little to no water damage.  This uses solvent based cleaners and deodorants that are heated and pushed through a vaporizer. This process changes the particles into so they are small enough to penetrate almost any surface.  Since there is no moisture added, this is the preferred method we use whenever it is possible. 

                        Ventilation and Air Scrubbing:

                                    As the different methods of cleaning are underway, the rooms and other affected areas must be ventilated.  Our team has high velocity exhaust fans, called box fans, that blow out mold particles.  This is done so that the mold particles that release in the cleaning process are captured and removed. This reduces the amount of time the area needs to be vacant and allows occupants into their homes quicker.

                                    Not only do the walls, ceilings, personal items, or whatever was affected need to be cleaned, but the air does too!  HEPA (high-efficiency particle air) filters are used to aid in the removal of mold spores and its odor from the air.  They work extremely well in the removal of the dirty air and filtering back clean air to the room. 

7 easy steps

            Each mold situation is unique and will require its own specific steps in the remediation process. However, we 7 simple steps for a typical mold damage job.  Here it is below so you may better understand what will take place and when.

• Step 1: Emergency Contact (303) 973-4664
• Step 2: Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment
• Step 3: Mold Containment
• Step 4: Air Filtration
• Step 5: Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials
• Step 6: Cleaning Contents and Belongings
• Step 7: Restoration

Why Choose SERVPRO of Golden/ Wheat Ridge/ Evergreen

            SERVPRO is an industry leader in fire restoration. We use advanced equipment and techniques to remediate the damage quickly and efficiently. We are a locally owned and operated family business, so customer care is our number one goal.  We live where we serve!  Heck, we might even be your neighbor. 

            We provide extensive training to our employees and are highly specialized in fire damage restoration putting great emphasis on monitoring and documenting the entire process until completion.

            We are a preferred vendor to many national and local insurance companies making the claims process easy and painless for the homeowner.

            Please give us a call for any of your home restoration needs! (303) 279-8055

Or visit our website at  https://www.SERVPROgoldenwheatridgeevergreen.com  

Why is it important to call a professional for mold removal?

4/25/2018 (Permalink)

Mold grows in cool, dark, moist places. Mold spreads by releasing spores into the air. If the very act of removing mold disturbs the mold and releases those spores, how then does one get rid of it?

Spraying mold with bleach is ill advised, as the bleach contains more water than active ingredient, which can lead to sustaining the mold rather than killing it.

Painting over the mold doesn’t stop it from growing, it simply spreads the mold to a larger area.

The State of Colorado requires asbestos testing be done before the removal of building materials. Improperly tearing out mold infested materials not only runs the risk of disturbing mold spores but also the risk of asbestos contamination of the entire home. Is it worth the risk?

Call SERVPRO Golden/Wheat Ridge/Evergreen at 303-279-8055 for professional assistance in removing mold from your home.

Our trained technicians will assess the damage, set up a containment area, safely remove the mold damaged materials and treat the remaining surfaces to inhibit further growth. Once the mold is removed from the structure our technicians will set up drying equipment to ensure the site is no longer holding moisture and place an air scrubber with HEPA filtration to remove any remaining mold from the air. Why worry about mold spreading? Call SERVPRO and let us make it  “Like it never even happened”.

Mold, Moisture and You

4/25/2018 (Permalink)

Mold is naturally occurring in our environment. With over 100,000 identified varieties one can assume mold is everywhere. Not all 100,000 varieties are harmful, in fact many molds add value to our lives. However, excessive amounts of mold can pose a health concern for some people.

An intrusion of water into your home or commercial structure can result in mold growth. No matter the cause, when a water loss is not dealt with right away the resulting damage can present increased risk of harmful mold growth.  If the humidity and moisture levels in a water damaged environment are not promptly returned to acceptable levels of dry, mold spores may grow and multiply.

A properly mitigated water loss leaves no excess moisture behind to support mold growth. If mold growth has gotten a head of you, call                   SERVPRO Golden/Wheat Ridge/Evergreen  at 303-279-8055 for professional water loss mitigation and mold remediation.

Defense against the dark arts....of mold

4/24/2018 (Permalink)

Mold happens. It is unsightly and invasive. Some people are more sensitive to the presence of mold and the affects it can have on their health. Some molds produce toxic compounds (mycotoxins).     Unless you are making cheese, mold is an unwanted house guest.

Mold growth requires a source of moisture and a source of food. In homes the source of moisture is frequently a leak either from a pipe or moisture seeping in from outside. The food source can be anything from the paper on the drywall to the leather of shoes and furniture, carpeting, dust, wood…mold is not a fussy eater. While all mold may not pose a health risk all mold does degrade the material it is living on. Thus, leaving mold to grow free range just increases the costs of removing it and repairing the damage it caused.

How can a home owner prevent mold growth in the first place? Here are some useful tips:

• Keep the humidity between 30 and 60 percent
• Provide for proper drainage away from buildings foundations
• Regularly inspect plumbing and appliances for leaks
• Keep gutters and drains clear of debris
• Inspect the roof, windows and other areas where water might enter the building and perform necessary maintenance
• Respond to all water intrusions immediately
• Contact SERVPRO Golden/Wheat Ridge/Evergreen 303-279-8055 for assistance after water damage or if you discover mold.

Warning signs you may have a Moisture and Mold Problem

4/24/2018 (Permalink)

Backed up sewer pipes are an obvious moisture problem. As are leaky ceilings, burst pipes, and standing in a foot of water in your basement. How can you detect those hidden moisture problems though? And why would detection be important?

Excessive moisture in a structure can lead to mold growth and degraded building materials. Mold growth can lead to health issues for some and a delay of property sales for others. Mold growth that is not detected early can quickly progress past the point of easy repair.

A warning sign of a possible moisture problem is a musty odor. That strong musty odor is often caused by bacteria and mold growth that feeds on excess moisture in a dark cool space.

Dark patches in building materials is a second moisture signal. Undetected water seeps into building materials causing them to discolor and darken. Home owners can find these dark patches in ceilings after a heavy storm, in walls after a pipe had burst or in their hardwood floors when an appliance has a hidden leak.

The third sign of excess moisture could be a sudden increase in the number of pests. Water is a basic need of life, even for rodents, termites and wasps.  

If you suspect an excess moisture problem and subsequent mold growth call 303-279-8055 SERVPRO Golden/Wheat Ride/Evergreen for a free initial inspection. Our trained technicians can help find the problem and quickly mitigate it, helping to prevent a small problem from becoming a large problem.

Does my insurance cover mold?

6/6/2016 (Permalink)

Photo by Servpro of Golden, Wheat Ridge & Evergreen

I worked for an insurance company for a short time. I can remember so many calls where people waited until it was too late to file a water damage claim.

I would ask them “when did you discover the damage?” customer replies “last month it overflowed and I cleaned up the water, now my floor is molding” I reply “ok, let’s get this filed for you.” I was not allowed to give them advice.

I would guess that the claim would probably be denied. When home floods happen homeowners should always call in a professional to assess whether proper drying is needed.  In most cases 99 percent of mold PREVENTION is covered. Mold is often NOT covered because there are resources to help prevent it, such as keeping the space dry, or antimicrobial treatment.