It doesn’t matter if a building has suffered damage from a broken pipe that caused flooding in only part of the structure, or if a home or commercial building experienced major flood damage in NYC from hurricane Sandy, the end results can be the same. There can be hidden problems in the flooring, walls, or other areas where mold may be growing unseen.
The toxic effects from mold have become much better known in recent years. There is a type of mold that can cause severe health issues that is known as black mold. Other molds can cause respiratory issues including chronic bronchitis, allergies, sinus problems and others.
Any porous surface can have mold spores growing in them if they have ever become wet for a period of time. Since mold, or mildew, is a type of fungus, once it forms, it continues to grow if left untreated. The mold can cause damage to wood, gypsum board and other porous materials used in buildings. The spores of mold are too small to be seen with the naked eye, so they can be causing problems even though no mold is seen.
With all the flood damage in NYC after hurricane Sandy, there are many buildings where this problem exists. While mold can be somewhat cleaned off of hard surfaces with some effort, it takes professionals to find and eliminate the source of mold on other surfaces. These people need to be trained to be able to identify the type of mold and to know the proper methods for completely eliminating it in a safe manner. Companies such as Maspeth Environmental Corp have been in the business of mold remediation for many years. They understand very well how mold can return if the source of the problem isn’t taken care of.
The health of the people who live and work in buildings that have mold issues is in danger if the problem isn’t taken care of professionally. Some people are more susceptible to the effects of mold than others, but the effects can build up over time and become serious for anyone. To protect them and the building itself from problems, it is a good idea to have professionals check the building for mold problems to be sure everyone is safe.
