What Determines Mold Removal Speed for Queens Property

11/24/2024 (Permalink)

Finding mold damage is never pleasant. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for certified technicians and equipment to get the job done.

Mold Damage Extent and Resources That Facilitate Removal

Queens, NY, is legendary for its diversity. Neighborhoods such as Astoria, Forest Hills, Flushing, and Rego Park feature unique architecture, such as classic pre-war brick buildings, Mediterranean Revival houses, traditional single-family homes, and pre-war apartment buildings from the 1920s and 1930s. Whichever architectural style fascinates you, mold can be your mortal enemy, turning your home into a derelict house. However, if you execute mold removal fast, you can save your property and reduce the costs that unfettered contamination causes.

Various factors come into play when you attempt mold removal from your Queens property, thus lengthening the time it takes to finalize the process. An experienced team from SERVPRO® can inspect your property and correctly estimate the time it might take to restore preloss conditions.

Factors affecting mold removal timelines

• The size of the affected area
• The severity of the infestation
• Technical skills

Mold contamination is considered minor, moderate, or severe depending on the total area it covers. Minor infestation affects less than 10 square feet, while moderate covers up to 100 square feet. Anything beyond 100 square feet is severe. Mold often starts in hidden areas, so you should not assume you have a minor problem without doing thorough evaluations. SERVPRO is Faster to any size disaster™ so we can help with such inspections. Deploying advanced resources like thermal cameras and penetrative moisture meters helps us locate hidden moisture faster. 

Mold severity means the level of deterioration in the affected materials since contamination does trigger soiled materials causing rot-like deterioration. For minor contamination, simple cleaning procedures such as damp wiping and vacuuming are sufficient, so it is possible to finish restoration in a couple of hours. It takes elaborate procedures like tearing down materials, elaborate cleaning, drying, and replacing materials to address severe mold contamination, which can take days or weeks. 

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood offers convenient mold removal.

Migrating Mold Damage in Queens Basements

1/19/2024 (Permalink)

Water and moisture invite mold damage into your Queens home and basement. SERVPRO can remove these unwanted guests. "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO® Remediates Mold Infestations

Mold can rapidly spread to other parts of your home if the conditions are right. It grows in damp places and can be hard to detect. A wet basement can affect the rest of your home. So, it's important to address mold issues immediately to prevent it from spreading.

Overcoming mold damage in a Queens basement is about understanding how to contain the organisms. Spores, microscopic seeds, are carried by air and circulated to other house areas via the HVAC ducts. This movement also happens when warmer air rises (pushed up by cooler air), so they are carried to the higher floors of the house. Spores attach themselves to clothing, fabrics, and skin. Therefore, traffic in and out of this lower level likely carries the spores to other rooms.

Removing Mold from Queens Basements

SERVPRO is the ultimate solution for mold remediation, removal, and repair needs. Our experienced professionals will immediately identify the mold's source and take corrective measures. We will evaluate the scope of the damage entirely by inspecting all the rooms in your house. If the problem is still limited to the basement, we will seal all the cracks in the foundation and fix any holes to prevent mold from spreading.

Our SERVPRO technicians take mold growth seriously. We replace and insulate the HVAC air filters and ducts if necessary to ensure your home or business is safe and mold-free. We work against future issues by treating:

• Walls
• Flooring
• Rafters
• Joists
• OSB Board

Experts to Help When You Need It

If you suspect mold growth in your crawlspaces or basement, don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood, your trusted mold specialists for Queens and beyond. We offer 24/7 availability and can arrange a prompt inspection. Take action now and call us at (718) 381-3702 to keep your property safe and healthy.

The Steps to Recover Mold Damaged Belongings

3/4/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO responded immediately to this home in Forest Hills, NY and began clean up.

Mold Cleaning Methods

When mold takes hold, it moves rapidly through the home, especially when it begins in an out-of-the-way place where you can't see it. For many homeowners, the damage goes beyond the walls and flooring; personal belongings, such as family pictures, baby blankets, and cherished mementos, can't be replaced. Fortunately, there are many mold cleaning methods that could save many of your possessions.

Step One: Identify What You Can Save

The first step is identifying what can be saved. How can you tell if you have to throw something away?

• Is it porous? You'll probably have to throw it out. This includes books, carpets, stuffed animals, and pictures.
  
• Did the item get waterlogged? Damages increase as more water affects belongings and the longer the water is allowed to remain on (and in) the items, the worse that damage becomes.
  
• Can you afford specialized treatments? Freeze-drying is an effective mold remediation tool, but this preservation technique requires a financial investment.

The Next Step: Separate Belongings From Water

Whether photographs and memory books are stored in damp basements and attics or were affected by high humidity because of flooding, they can be preserved. As soon as you notice the mold damage, move photographs to a cool, dry space. Oil paintings and expensive rugs may also have a chance for complete repair. Move your belongings into the bright sunlight if it's available. Keep them dry and protected from other natural elements. Your favorite novels should be thrown out and replaced, but a cherished family Bible should be handled as little as possible. Remove as much water as possible from the area and use only minimal handling to move the Bible to a dry spot while it waits for mold cleaning.

The Final Result: Professional Help

Once you've taken the first steps for protecting your belongings, contact mold cleaning and repair technicians in Forest Hills, NY, as soon as possible. The services of these pros are more likely to prove successful the sooner they get started.

Mold Assessments: What You Should Know

1/22/2019 (Permalink)

Have a mold remediation specialist perform your test.

If you think you have mold in your Forest Hills, NY, home then it may be time to have a mold assessment done. An assessment can let you know not only if mold is present, but where and in some cases what type. Here are some things you may want to know.

There Are Various Types of Mold Tests

There are three types of mold tests available depending on the type of mold and location you wish to test. They include

• Air tests for when you believe there may be a mold problem but spores are not visible
  
• Surface testing for places where mold growth is possible but unconfirmed
•  Bulk testing where a piece of a surface is taken to determine mold type and growth depth

These test samples can then be grown into a culture so that a mold type can be determined if necessary.

Mold Tests Can Provide Important Information

A mold assessment can be used to provide useful information to a homeowner. It can tell them if there’s a mold problem, or if it’s mildew or something else. If there is mold present the sample can be used to grow a culture to identify the mold type. Knowing what type of mold is being dealt with can help when it comes to determining the best remediation technique, and future mold prevention.

Professional Testing May Be Needed

In some cases, you may want to have a mold remediation specialist perform your tests. These professionals should have the tools and knowledge necessary to look for specific types of mold, including black mold, and be able to tell if there’s a chance the fungus has spread to any other area in your home.

Depending on your needs, a mold assessment can provide you with answers as to if you have mold, what types it is, and where it may be located. If you’re not sure how to conduct a test or how to read the results, a professional may be able to help. If you do find mold, then it’s best to begin mold removal as quickly as possible.