Hey everyone,
Remember this old rhyme? "April Showers bring May's flowers." I wish I could assure you that flowers will be the only result of spring's frequent rain showers. In truth, damp weather also encourages the growth of mildew, mold, and various other unpleasant problems on and around buildings and walkways.
We don't think anything about spring should be unpleasant. So in this issue of the PowerWashNow.com NEWSLETTER we'll be passing along information to help you control the mold and mildew. We'll also give you some tips we've picked up over the years for handling other routine spring cleaning chores.
I hope you'll be able us use this month's information to good advantage. If you have any questions or comments please contact us at newsletter@powerwashnow.com. We always enjoy hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Mike
MILDEW:
CAN IT BE CONTROLLED?
Mildew is not caused by stain or paint. According to the The Paint Handbook, "next to water [moisture], mildew is probably the greatest enemy of good paint service.
Mildew spores are in the air continuously, and they need only food and moisture to start growing." Mildew is a lower form of plant life, an airborne fungus that can settle on any surface, then grow or colonize on that surface. Among the food sources are wood, wood resins, grass and tree pollens, bacteria, and dirt. The latter three are often found on wood or painted surfaces. According to the National Paint and Coatings Association's Scientific Circular 802, mildew will grow on superficial films of dirt and grease, including industrial pollutants.
The National Decorating Products Association warns, "Often mildew that is thought to be growing on paint [stain] is actually growing on a surface film which has accumulated on the paint." It is not uncommon to find mildew on factory-finished aluminum siding or on vinyl siding. Even new lumber when delivered to the jobsite can have mildew spores and developing colonies.
HOW IT GROWS
Mildew spores, which are similar to seeds, are microscopic, and therefore difficult to detect until the spores colonize. Air currents, insects and animals transport the spores easily. Due to mildew's adaptability and large number of species, it is very hard to control and impossible to totally eliminate. Mildew fungi appear in various colors, but the most common variety is black. For the purpose of differentiation, the algae growth, which is often found on wood, is green. Algae is a form of plant life that survives on wood that is in a continuous damp state. Mildew and algae are examples of paint and stain disfigurement problems, and they are part of the environment in which we live.
In order for mildew spores to form colonies that are more visible, they need food, moisture, air (oxygen) and ideal temperatures (usually between 40 and 90F). It is next to impossible to control these four elements -- therefore, paint and stain companies incorporate mildewcides in their products to impede the growth of mildew. Mildewcides are poisonous to these organisms. However, the mildewcides added to paints and stains are not effective in destroying pre-existing mildew.
Mold - in the House?
Many people are concerned after seeing recent news articles about interior toxic mold and ask us if having mold on the outside surface of their home will spread to the inside and cause health problems.
The most infamous toxic mold, stachybotrys atra, is actually quite rare, so it is unlikely that you have it, but there are plenty of other more common molds that can make people ill. And any mold can certainly be fatal to your shoes, clothing, etc!
Molds are always present in our environment, but they can become a problem in any structure if excessive water or moisture problems are not appropriately and quickly addressed. Left unattended, mold can rot lumber, drywall and other building materials so it behooves a property owner to remedy the situation to avoid increasingly more costly property damage or possible health issues.
Also, if you believe you are experiencing mold-related health problems, you should consult your doctor to rule out other possible causes for your symptoms. If he/she determines that your health problems do stem from mold, take steps to hire the appropriate professionals to properly rectify the problem.
Molds
can grow from moisture trapped inside a structure due to inadequate ventilation
(a common occurrence in modern air-tight, energy-conserving construction);
from a leak from a broken pipe, roof, window or wall; or water seepage from
alongside or under the dwelling, which is a landscaping/drainage problem.
Perhaps the original leak was already repaired months ago but undetected
water flowed to a sealed cavity in another part of the house and it taken
this long to grow in a closed, dark, damp environment.
The
public has become increasingly aware of the health risks associated with
molds. Certain sensitive people, including the elderly, young children and
those with respiratory ailments, often suffer adverse affects from prolonged
exposure to or increased levels of molds. Common symptoms include eye, nose
and throat irritation, excessive colds, nausea, compromised immune systems
and respiratory complications such as lung infections or asthma. However,
completely healthy individuals with no history of allergies can also react
to amplified levels of molds.
There
are so very many types of molds in our environment and they are so small
that visual detection may not be possible until damage has progressed to
an advanced stage. Thus the first step to remedy a mold problem is to hire
a certified Industrial Hygienists (IH) from an environmental testing service
to take samples and analyze the results in a lab to identify all the specific
molds present.
If
testing reveals elevated levels of molds, the IH will write a remediation
protocol for restoration contractors to follow. Remediation could be as simple
as HEPA vacuuming, washing/cleaning of the area with a biocide or diluted
(10%) bleach solution, thorough drying, and encapsulation or painting. More
involved remediation can require vacating the premises while the work is
performed. In these cases, full containment combined with negative air pressure
techniques would be used in conjunction with many other steps.
Finally,
the IH will perform clearance testing to ensure that levels of molds inside
the structure are lower than those outside. It is important to note that
all the remediation work will be for nothing if the original source of the
water or moisture intrusion is not permanently rectified.
Testing for molds can cost hundreds of dollars and there are no governmental agencies to oversee or require testing, abatement or remediation of molds in structures. So do you homework before hiring a company to perform testing and/or remediation. And remember, many molds can lie dormant indefinitely, only to be reactivated by contact with moisture. Often it is not even the mold that causes problems, but rather their spores, which can become air-borne and inhaled, ingested, or transferred to other areas or objects through the heating and air system or improper handling/cleaning. Therefore, be sure to have all your belongings professionally cleaned before using them again or moving them to a new location.
Gutters
As part of our standard exterior house washing service we clean the exterior surface of gutters to remove mold, mildew and those terrible looking black runs. It is also vitally important for homeowners to clean out the interior of the gutters on a regular basis to ensure they are functioning correctly.
Important reasons to keep the interior of your gutters clean.
- Leaking Basements: Clogged gutters are the number one cause of basement water
problems. Roof water overflows and accumulates around the foundation. If this
happens, basement leaks may be moments away.
- Cracked Foundations: Excess water against the foundation wall can weaken the footing and lead to cracks. This is especially true in colder climates during the winter.
- Rotten Wood: Water backing up from clogged gutters will cause moisture damage to the wood fascia and soffits around the house. An area that becomes rotted will quickly get worse if the leak is not taken care of by cleaning your gutters.
- Ice Damming: In winter, ice-dams can form on top of a clogged gutter. Snow and ice build up across the top of the gutter and freeze. During the next thaw, water running off the roof is blocked from going into and down the downspout and can back up into the house. This can lead to major wall and ceiling damage.
- Slippery Sidewalks: Clogged gutters can overflow and can deposit water on walks and driveways where it can freeze and cause a very dangerous hazard.
- Sagging Driveways: Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause driveways and walks to sag and crack.
- Damage to Flowerbeds: Any newly installed plants, landscape, grass seed or mulch can be washed away due to water overflowing.
- Wood Destroying Insects: Bugs love moisture. Keeping the soil dry around the foundations can force bugs to go elsewhere. Many termite protection companies will not provide their warranty unless there are seamless rain gutters in good working condition.
- Rotted Wood: When gutters have debris piled up above the flashing or shingle line, the debris can hold moisture on the fascia boards. The moisture can also affect the roof sheathing and framing beyond the fascia. The debris will act like a wick and bring water in the bottom of the gutter up to the fascia.
- Animals: Lack of cleaning will also cause water to pond in areas dammed by debris. This condition is ideal for breeding mosquitoes. Plants, birds, insects and even mice will make a home in gutter
