Dealing With Mold In Your Commercial Property
Mold is never something you want to deal with. When you fear there is mold in your property, it should be taken care of quickly. Studies show that mold exposure can lead to chronic symptoms such as coughs, watery eyes, rashes, and other respiratory conditions. The long-term presence of mold is not just bad for your tenants, residents, or visitors health, it also can damage your property. Addressing long term mold issues can result in property closures and expensive remediation costs.
As a property manager, you must be aware of the signs of mold. In addition to the health concerns, mold can cause irreversible damage to many areas of a commercial property. Once mold is discovered, property managers must assess if they can remediate the situation or if professional mold remediation services are necessary.
What Is Mold?
Mold is a fungus that thrives in moist and dark environments such as crawlspaces, attics, and basements. Unexposed areas with hidden leaks around pipes, windows, or roofs are all highly susceptible to mold. Mold can develop on a wide variety of surfaces commonly found in commercial buildings and facilities. Ceiling tiles, paint, carpet, drywall, insulation, and fabrics are all attractive food sources.
Though best identified by sight, mold can also give off a musty odor similar to mildew. According to the CDC, there are over ten thousands of types of molds. While most molds are harmless and play a vital role in our ecosystem, mold in an enclosed space can lead to health concerns and damage to your property. 5 common types of mold found in commercial properties include:
- Alternaria: Mostly found under leaky sinks and where there is water damage.
- Aureobasidium: Found behind wallpaper or on painted or wooden surfaces
- Black Mold (Stachybotrys): This “toxic mold” is found in organic materials and causes severe medical issues
- Ulocladium: Found in kitchens, bathrooms, and other high condensation areas
- Pink Mold: While referred to as mold, this is a bacterium commonly found in bathrooms, showers, and tiles
While these are common types of mold, it is important to remember there are over 10,000 different types of mold recognized by the CDC. As a result property managers should hire a professional mold remediation contractor if they are unsure about a mold outbreak or issue at their property.
Mold Remediation DIY or DI-Don’t?
While you may think that you can handle your mold issue yourself, it’s always a good idea to get it checked by a professional. Visible mold can be a sign that a larger, more extensive mold problem is lingering in hidden locations. Drywall, insulation, studs, subflooring, and other hidden areas are perfect places for mold development and need to be checked by a professional. Professional contractors or mold remediation specialists will be able to identify the problem and develop a proper mitigation strategy.
Even though mold can be removed from properties by cleaning thoroughly and taking out any rotting materials, it can never be removed completely. It is important to keep the air in your property clean by regularly replacing air filters. Consider using High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to keep mold from circulating. Additionally consider an air purifier that will remove mold spores. If your building is in a particularly damp area, using antimicrobial filters will ensure that the filter itself remains mold-free.
At the end of the day, every mold problem is unique. To ensure you are fully remediating your problem, it is best to consult a professional. Mitigating mold issues right away and maintaining air quality, will make your property.
Find A Contractor With BidSource
Property managers can use BidSource to have the Property Manager Insider team locate a qualified commercial contractor for their next project or service call. Just fill out the form with your project details and a member of our team will be in touch.
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