2
Jun

Mold spores exist all throughout our environment. However, they will only grow in areas which have a lot of water and organic matter. The interior of our homes is filled with organic matter such as flooring, furniture, walls, rugs, and carpets. Once any of these materials become wet, that is when mold will start to grow on these materials and spread throughout your home. Thus, water damage will cause mold to form in your home.

If any of your organic materials already have mold growing on them, it is unlikely that they will be salvageable. The best thing that you can do is get rid of those affected materials right away because they are ruining the air quality of your home. Do not forget that mold spores can travel through the air and cause respiratory issues. You need to remove all the mold-infested materials from your home and open all the windows to circulate fresh air inside. 

The following is a general guideline of the amount of time it takes for mold to grow from water damage on different surfaces.

1. Hidden Surfaces: Examples of these areas are behind drywall, corners below the bathroom and kitchen sinks, underfloor, below toilet seats that rests on bathroom floor. Since these areas are hard to reach and there is warmth all over, mold growth will start almost immediately.
2. Softer Surfaces: Mold growth will take place at a higher rate on softer surfaces like drywall, wood and fabrics. This will start rotting if the water is not dried early enough and can cause massive structural damage. Spores should be visible within 24 hours.
3. Rough Surfaces: Mold takes longer to grow on hard surfaces like concrete and tile grout. Mold spores will start manifesting on hard surfaces after 2-3 weeks.
4. Attic: When water damage isn’t dried completely, it will be heated by the warmth in the house and because hot air rises, it will find its way into the attic. It may be present within 24 hours after the damage. 
5. Wet & Warm Areas: These areas are the most likely to be affected by mold growth after water damage because warm and humid conditions are ideal for mold to thrive. These areas would include the bathroom and inside kitchen lower cabinetry. 
6. Open Areas: Even open areas such as the living room are susceptible to mold growth. It may take a month to manifest because of better ventilation in those areas, but they are still at risk.

You will certainly recognize when mold is present because it will leave a musty smell in the room. Even if the mold is not visible, you can use your sense of smell to detect it too. In this case, it is best to use a dehumidifier in that room to remove the moisture in the air and prevent the spores from growing any further. Acquiring the assistance of a professional to properly investigate the entire room to pinpoint the location of the mold and then remove it is essential.

Water damage restoration and water damage cleaning is not something that you want to attempt yourself. A Wet Vac isn’t going to get the job done. Water damage, if not treated properly, can cause long term structural damage and many health hazards due to mold and bacteria. When water enters your premises, time is your worst enemy. Given the right circumstances, mold will start to grow in a short time. Water removal and drying the premises quickly is critical to prevent the growth of mold.

Drying improperly can lead to secondary water damage. You see this when someone tries to dry out their property on their own and just use fans. The water evaporates into the air, but then just travels to another part of the room and gets that area wet. Excess moisture will turn into black mold, at which point you’ve got a massive problem on your hands because it can be toxigenic.

Lastly, when you are repairing water damaged-rooms, consider making improvements to help prevent or at least minimize future damage and mold growth. For instance, put down tile or linoleum flooring instead of carpets in rooms with high humidity or where spills are common. 

The examples and perspective in this article are the opinion of Claim Ally. Claim Ally Does Not practice law nor does it provide legal advice.