Recent Mold Remediation Posts

Mold Assessor vs Mold Remediation in St Petersburg Properties

3/5/2024 (Permalink)

microscope showing the parts of a mold spore A microscopic view reveals the anatomy of a mold spore. While assessment identifies the issue, SERVPRO takes action through expert remediation.

SERVPRO® Performs Mold Cleanup Protocols 

Mold assessment is a crucial first step towards ensuring your property is almost mold-free. A proper inspection by a competent and Florida-licensed third-party firm can determine the extent of the mold problem, the mold variety, and the cause of mold growth. Identifying the mold growth source is essential as it's the only way to remediate the issue effectively. This process could include air sampling and tape grabs, confirming the presence of active microbial spores on surfaces that indicate a problem exists.  

Mold assessors:  

  • Sample the air and surfaces for the presence of mold 
  • Confirm microbial growth 
  • Document the damage  
  • Create a remediation plan for the cleaning and repair crew to follow 
  • Return to document the successful mold removal process 

SERVPRO Technicians Are Remediation Specialists 

Regarding mold assessment and remediation in St. Petersburg, Florida, it's crucial to choose one team that can identify the problem and another to resolve it effectively. That's where SERVPRO of NE St Petersburg shines. Our AMRT-certified technicians are experts in comprehensive remediation and build-back services. We don't just clean and repair the property. We help prevent further growth, ensuring an almost mold-free environment for you. After your mold assessment, please make us your first call for a thorough and professional solution. 

At SERVPRO, we believe in a collaborative approach to mold remediation. Our experts will work closely with the mold assessment firm to develop a remediation plan customized to your property's unique needs. We will utilize the latest equipment and methods to remove the spores and growth and repair any damage caused by the mold. Our aim is to address the current mold issue and prevent future growth by tackling the underlying causes. 

 Mold assessment is essential to ensure that your property is free from mold. However, hiring an experienced remediation team like SERVPRO of NE St Petersburg is equally vital to follow up on the mold assessment report to fully clean, repair the property, and prevent further growth. We assuredly offer comprehensive remediation and build-back services with our licensed remediators (MRSR1163) and general contractor license # CBC1250662. Call us today at (727) 522-0000.

Why You Should Not Procrastinate When You Discover Mold In Your St. Petersburg Home

2/14/2019 (Permalink)

Call us right away when you discover mold, our team is ready 24/7 to come to your aid and start restoration so you can live safely in your home.

Is All Mold Dangerous in Your St. Petersburg Home?

Every type of disaster that can affect your St. Petersburg home provides its own manner of risk and threats that you can prepare to face. With mold growth, there seems to be a divided camp of homeowners who believe that because mold spores occur naturally that there are no perceived risks to allowing its presence in the house. Unfortunately, this same bad information is causing problems for area residents when their homes and their families face the hazardous effects of mold colonization.

Mold damage in St. Petersburg is something every homeowner should strive to correct immediately. The reason for this is the effect that mold growth can have on structural elements of the house. As mold colonies form and spread, they require organic matter to feed and grow. This food source can get found through the erosion and degradation of affected materials throughout the damaged areas of your house the organism uses to host its colonies.

If caught early enough, our SERVPRO professionals can often protect and preserve structural elements like studs, framing and support beams that make up the skeleton of your home’s construction. Without a fast response, these materials can facilitate mold colonization and can become structurally unstable through prolonged degradation. Protecting the investment in your home means striving to act quickly at the first sign of mold growth.

Many ask if mold is even dangerous to those exposed, but this question requires specifics like the type of mold involved. With thousands of varieties of mold that could grow within your home, it should get known that the majority of these can cause potential health effects to humans and pets who become exposed to the active colonization. Our SERVPRO team can contain these thriving colonies and limit exposure while remediation work gets underway.

Mold growth is nothing that you should wait to determine its threat level. With many of the varieties toxic and harmful to respiratory systems, let our SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg technicians work safely and efficiently to remove this threat from your home. Give us a call anytime at (727) 522-0000.

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Why Residents Need to Locate the Moisture Source Causing Mold Damage in St. Petersburg Homes

12/19/2018 (Permalink)

Mold only needs moisture source and organic material to grow. That moisture can also be in the form of humidity.

Mold Remediation Experts In St. Petersburg Discuss The Importance Of Finding The Source

Fungi can develop inside your St. Petersburg home in places that you may not see on a regular basis. At times, locating all the contamination during the mold remediation process is not possible right away. Fungi often hide in dark, confined spaces due to their tendency to form in warm, humid, and wet environments. Finding the source of the initial water issue is important but can sometimes be difficult depending on the situation. During any mold remediation project, a professional company such as SERVPRO can help you find and repair the problem that is causing moisture to enter.  

All cases of fungal contamination involve some contact with water or vapor in the air. Our SERVPRO technicians have experience and are trained to figure out where the excessive moisture is coming from during your mold remediation project in St. Petersburg. We can use specialized moisture meters to find all of the wet materials inside your home. Once we track the moisture, we can then find out where it originated. Before we begin restoration work, we contact a certified contractor to fix any problem we cannot repair so that no more water can enter your house.  

Not locating the source of moisture causes the mold problems to return in the future. When removing contamination from affected surfaces, we often scrape or sand the materials so that there are not any more surface issues. In some cases, the hyphae grow too far into the materials forcing our SERVPRO technicians to remove them.  

After the contamination is scraped off or the affected building materials get removed, we then test the moisture levels of the items. If the levels are still higher than they are in the materials in unaffected areas of your home, then we can dry out your structural components. Once all of your building materials are dry, we then spray the affected components with a sealant paint that traps in any foul odors. If you ever notice wet areas or visible mold inside your home, call SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg at (727) 522-0000 any day of the week.

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Eliminating Mold Damage To St. Petersburg Homes

7/26/2018 (Permalink)

If a homeowner suspects or sees mold, our specialists begin with an inspection.

Eliminating Mold Damage

St. Petersburg, like much of Florida, saw more than enough water last year. Clean-up occurred fairly quickly, but many homeowners and residents are finding secondary damage from the storms and flooding in the form of mold.

Eliminating St. Petersburg mold damage is a process SERVPRO specialists learned not just from training, but also the experiences of the last year. Since mold can cause as much damage as a flood, we work quickly to clean and remove it from homes, and also work with every major insurance carrier in Florida to ensure our actions meet their requirements.

If a homeowner suspects or sees mold, our specialists begin with an inspection. They perform a visual check and use an air content meter to determine the highest concentration of mold spores and to find the origin of the mold growth.

SERVPRO technicians then find the water or moisture source of the growth. Spores require just a small amount of moisture, but they cannot expand and grow without it. Once they find it, team members dry and clean the area completely. If the source is a minor plumbing issue like a cracked connection or a leaking toilet, our specialists can repair or replace the problem. For major plumbing issues, the team leader always advises using a licensed contractor or plumber to make repairs.

With the water source removed and further mold growth stopped, technicians remove affected property and clean off mold spores. If the weather permits, team members remove items outside for cleaning. Often, this means wiping down surfaces with dry or wet sponges. When the mold layer is thicker, they may need to use an anti-fungal cleaning agent to break up the mold growth and then either wipe it away or use a brush to remove it from items like curtains or upholstered furniture.

As technicians remove property, others begin cleaning the interior of the home. They wipe down ceilings, floors, and walls using cloths or sponges attached to long-handles to reach overhead. If mold infested the carpets, team members use carpet shampooers with an anti-fungal cleaning agent to kill the spores and then dispose of them with the used water and cleaner.

Returning a home to its original condition after a mold infestation requires much more than bleach, sponges, and a ‘rent-a-vac’ from a local retailer. If you have active, growing mold in your home, call SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg today at (727) 522-0000. We are here for you.

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Removing Mold Damage In Your St. Petersburg Home

6/20/2018 (Permalink)

With mold damage present in your home, time is of the essence to get this problem resolved.

Removing Mold Damage

Of all of the detrimental things that can befall your St. Petersburg home, mold growth is one of the hardest to contend with on your own. While there are assuredly multiple websites offering DIY solutions to remove mold colonies as you find them in your house, you might get surprised to learn that these rarely actually remove the entire organism. In fact, you often only remove the very surface mold growth and leave the thriving organism intact below the material surface, just out of eyesight.

With mold damage present in your St. Petersburg home, time is of the essence to get this problem resolved. The more that gets understood about mold exposure, the more potential health effects that get attributed to it. This situation leaves you with a significant risk if you do not immediately seek to resolve the problem and do so professionally. Fortunately, our SERVPRO certified mold remediation team is available any time to help you overcome this intruder in your home and get things back to the way they should be.

Isolating the affected area is a critical first step of remediation. We use air scrubbers with filters to catch airborne mold spores and prevent them from leaving the area while the removal is in progress. Air circulation appliances like your heater or air conditioner must get shut off during removal to aid in preventing the spread of active spores throughout your home.

Removal of the mold colonies often gets accomplished through sanding and soda blasting. These penetrative approaches can reach deep below the surface to remove the entire hyphae. The structural integrity of the construction materials gets assessed after mold removal to ensure that these components are still stable and strong and do not require replacement.

Mold growth in your home is nothing any homeowner wants to have to deal with, but fortunately, it is not a problem that you face alone. With the right professional assistance from our SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg mold remediation specialists, you can remove this intruder and return your home to normal conditions. Give us a call today at (727) 522-0000.

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Removing Mold Damage In Pinellas County

4/19/2018 (Permalink)

Call the Professionals from SERVPRO for Mold Cleanup in Pinellas County

SERVPRO Remediates Mold Infestations and Offers Information Concerning these Fungi

Mold is in every Pinellas County home. Day in and day out, the spores are as harmless as the dust homeowners sweep up once a week. It takes three factors to activate mold spores and turn them into a possible threat: Moisture, temperature, and food source.
 
Mold damage in Pinellas County homes can feed on almost any type of building material. Drywall and insulation are among the most commonly consumed, and since the panels and batten are in every home, SERVPRO understands that makes it impossible to ‘starve’ the growing colony.
 
Temperature presents a similar problem. Most molds grow in a range from 68 to 86 degrees. That makes it extremely difficult to kill spores by either lowering or raising the interior temperature of a home.
 
That makes moisture the simplest factor SERVPRO technicians can effectively alter to halt mold growth. We use an extensive array of equipment to remove water such as dehumidifiers to draw moisture from building material and the surrounding air. For standing water and other large amounts, we use pumps and extraction wands to remove it.
 
Five principles established by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification or IICRC guide us in these efforts. First, we ensure the health and safety of our team members and the residents of each home we clean. Technicians do this by limiting exposure to active mold and preventing the mold from spreading to unaffected rooms and other areas.
 
Second, we record everything. One of our inspectors details every visual check and test result before we take action. We do this to ensure we clean and treat every known point of infestation.
 
Third, we control mold at its source. Technicians do this by sealing off the contaminated areas and set-up negative air pressure to reduce the amount of airborne mold and then force it out using air movers and fans to push the contaminated air out of the home.
 
Fourth, we remove the contamination. That includes not just the mold spores removed by cleaning, but any infested building material or personal property item as well. We clean any personal item that is cost-effective to do so rather than dispose of it with the affected material.
 
Finally, we begin to control the moisture. We do this as the last step since it is simpler and quicker to reduce moisture after removing everything that cannot be cleaned or dried in place. It is necessary not just to stop mold, but to prevent new growth as well.
 
If you have or suspect mold in your home, call SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg at (727) 522-0000 today. We are here for you.

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Mold Damage Technicians In St. Petersburg

3/19/2018 (Permalink)

When dealing with mold inside your St. Petersburg home, it is essential to know how it gets formed and how it behaves.

Mold Damage Professionals

When dealing with mold inside your St. Petersburg home, it is essential to know how it gets formed and how it behaves. Any time water gets inside your home and does not get dried promptly a fungus possibly gets created. Once any mold gets noticed, it is vital to treat the area so that the fungi do not spread to other locations inside the building.

The presence of mold inside a house possibly causes health effects for some people. St. Petersburg's mold damage experts employed by SERVPRO get educated about fungal behavior and the remediation process. Our primary goal when remediating a fungi problem is to stop growth at the source so that it doesn't spread to other areas of the home.

A fungus first gets created by a spore which is a microscopic, seed-like structure. The spores branch out little structures called hyphae that spread all directions and release more spores into the air. The little seeds then become airborne and float around the building until they land in other rooms.

The first thing SERVPRO does when we start to mitigate mold is to contain the affected area. Plastic gets put up around the region to prevent mold spores from spreading to other areas. Many times, negative air pressure is pulled from the containment chamber sucking the contaminated air into a HEPA filter.

Next, we remove all of the mold contamination found within the contained area. Porous materials often get discarded while non-porous materials possibly get sanded and cleaned with anti-microbial chemicals. Drywall sometimes gets removed, put in a sealed bag and taken to a dumpster.

After all of the items showing mold contamination get removed a final cleaning starts. During the cleaning process dust and settled spores get vacuumed up by a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Then the area gets cleaned one last time with anti-microbial cleaning products.

Lastly, drying equipment gets set up to drop moisture levels in the affected area so that mold doesn't have the moisture it needs to grow back. If you ever have a mold problem, call SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg at (727) 522-0000 for help 24/7.

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Choosing Mold Remediation Services For Your Shore Acres Home

1/22/2018 (Permalink)

Stay cool but be vigilant to any excessive moisture coming into your home from your air conditioning unit. Contact SERVPRO to remediate mold problems

Team SERVPRO Investigates Damage Extent Thoroughly to Prevent Recurrences

When the weather starts getting to sweltering temperatures around your Shore Acres home, most homeowners decide to crank up their air conditioners and bask in the cooler temperatures. One thing that you might not consider when you run this appliance at all hours of the day and night is that it allows for a great deal of water to build up inside the machine and also allows for condensation on nearby materials like drywall. While you might not think a little bit of water or moisture is all that big of a deal, it could have some dire implications.
 
One of the typical outcomes from this scenario going unchecked and unregulated is mold damage to your Shore Acres home. Usually, you can hardly even notice its presence until a mold colony has formed entirely, and by this point, has likely spread and started other fungal growths elsewhere in the nearby vicinity. Studies have shown that mold can cause health effects for you and your family, which gives a pretty convincing reason to want to resolve this issue quickly when you notice it.
 
It could be tempting to attempt removal of the mold colonies on your own, but even the most stringent of cleaners cannot usually entirely remove the organism growing throughout the area. An effective strategy is to call our mold remediation specialists here at SERVPRO. We have the tools and expertise to successfully handle whatever kind of fungal growth exists in your home, all while upholding our work to the highest of standards.
 
Our SERVPRO technicians get trained to IICRC standards for mold remediation. The training consists of solutions for eradicating all varieties of mold colonies, restoration, disinfection, and odor removal. Our process involves sophisticated equipment from scrubbers with HEPA filters to deodorizing foggers to nullify foul odor molecules and pungent spores in the air.
 
Let our professional team get to work quickly on remediating your mold situation and providing lasting solutions to prevent recurrences. Our SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg specialists respond quickly to resolve any emergency or restoration need you might have. You can reach our team 24/7 by calling (727) 522-0000.

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Do Not Worry About Toxic Black Mold Damage In St Petersburg

11/21/2017 (Permalink)

Mold can go grow on any surface but our SERVPRO technicians can remediate the mold "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Has The Necessary Tools and Expertise Remediate Your St. Petersburg Mold

If you are connected to the internet (and of course, you are, or you could not read this) you have most likely heard about toxic black mold damage. There are many articles and even whole blogs dedicated to the topic, and it is understandable that reading them worries you. Many of these sources cite damaging health effects and make mold sound terrifying. SERVPRO is glad to reassure St Petersburg homeowners that black mold is not the menace they were led to believe.

We understand that homeowners in St Petersburg are worried about toxic black mold damage because of the information that is available. However, there is no cause for concern. Let us examine the “toxic mold” story and why it is not accurate.

Mold is a naturally occurring fungus. Fungal spores are present throughout nature, and that includes inside buildings and homes. Tiny microscopic spores travel on the air or hitch a lift on clothes, boots, or even pet fur, to set up new colonies in suitable locations.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention state that the term “toxic mold” is not accurate. The CDC states that while some molds do produce so-called “mycotoxins,” there is not a significant risk associated with fungi. Evidence of fungus causing dangerous illness is insufficient indeed.

Does that mean that mold cannot affect your health? The CDC states that there is some link between mold and some health effects but indeed the risk is not as dire as the toxic mold blogs say! Talk of toxic mold is alarmist and unnecessary.

However, it is true that mold damages your home. The fungus needs moisture and an organic food source to grow, and once it finds food and water, it quickly forms new colonies. The visible mold you see is the vegetative stage of the fungus, ready to produce new spores.

SERVPRO recommends calling our experts at the first sign of mold. Our IICRC-certified technicians are ready to remediate the situation and reduce the risk of re-growth.

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For help with mold remediation in Meadowlawn, Old North East, Vinoy and surrounding areas, call SERVPRO of St. Petersburg at (727) 522-0000 today. 

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Mold Remediation Services Available to Homeowners in St. Petersburg

9/27/2017 (Permalink)

A musty, foul smell can be a sign of mold growth in your HVAC system.

SERVPRO’s Certified Technicians Remediate Mold Damage in Your Ventilation System

Having mold in your St. Petersburg home is one thing, it invading your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is something else entirely. Since you cannot see these microscopic airborne spores, every time you turn your system on hundreds of thousands of mold spores spread throughout your home.

The most obvious sign of mold damage in your St. Petersburg home is the accompanying odor. If you have growth in more than one room, the odor can be rather overwhelming. Therefore, never ignore foul, musty odors that develop anywhere in your home, there is a possibility that mold exists and things can get out of hand rather quickly.

A sure-fire way to determine whether mold exists in your home, or its HVAC system, involves hiring a qualified professional to test for the presence of mold. Companies, like SERVPRO, can help you locate mold growth in your home and perform mold remediation services that put control back in your hands. 

SERVPRO uses various techniques to remove mold from your ductwork, including manual and mechanical brushes that loosen mold growing on the walls of ducting. While blowguns, air skippers, and air whips drive mold and other debris into collection devices. Vacuums equipped with HEPA filters also help, along with chemical biocides that kill off any remaining mold spores.

The EPA highly recommends hiring a professional to perform these services. SERVPRO NADCA certified technicians use a variety of specialized equipment, and always take pride in providing you with quality services. We take care to avoid damaging ducting, clean the entire system, and work hard to ensure we remove mold spores quickly and efficiently. 

If we determine that mold exists in the ductwork of your ventilation system, we also inspect the rest of the house to locate the source of the problem. Our cleaning services help improve your indoor air quality, as well as the performance and costs associated with running the ventilation system itself. 

Obtain quality mold remediation services for your HVAC system, today. SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg has technicians available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, anytime, day or night providing services for several local communities, including Meadowlawn, ShoreAcres, and Vinoy. (727) 522-0000 

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St. Petersburg Mold Damage and Remedies

5/10/2017 (Permalink)

Rely on SERVPRO for Mold Remediation and Cleaning in St. Petersburg Homes and Condos

SERVPRO Offers Specific Mold Remediation Services for Your St. Petersburg Property


Fire and water damage are costly by themselves, but can also lead to further loss of property and structure damage from mold. An infestation often goes undetected until after the first disaster is dealt with and remediated.

When mold damage in a St. Petersburg home goes unnoticed or untreated, the damage can extend to much more than a stain on a wall or ceiling in the bathroom or basement. SERVPRO IICRC certified personnel have the skills and equipment needed to repair, restore, and remove the threat to your home. Once fungi are actively growing, they extend hyphae into and consumes portions of the structure itself. It most easily consumes drywall (cellulose backing), but carpets and wood are at risk as well.

If the mold has barely started growing on a section of drywall, then our technicians may be able to clean it from the surface. If the section is not wet from flooding or rainfall, it may also be possible to remove small pieces from it. This removal and patching of the area is labor-intensive, and can quickly add up to a higher cost than simply replacing the section. In most cases, we recommend replacing drywall if there is any growth at all below the surface.

Carpets are other items which are very tough to clean. If the mold growth is minor, our technicians may be able to use anti-fungal and anti-microbial cleaning agents to destroy the active spores. They apply these agents with sprayers and shampoo machines. The next step is to dry and vacuum the carpet as quickly as possible. If the first two steps are successful, no replacement is needed. If there was a pad underneath, we recommend replacing it if infestations remain post remediation and cleaning.

Wood framing is much more resistant to mold, but an untreated growth can still infest and even compromise the material over time. It is cheaper to purchase and replace new pieces compared to the hours it might take to scrape them clean. If there is only surface mold, our restoration team can quickly clean and dry it before hanging new drywall. The degree of the amount and depth of mold infestations set the parameters for treatment. Restore and clean is always preferred to replacement.

Although mold growth is harder to find compared to water or fire damage, it is still a threat to Florida homes. SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg has the experience and training to deal with an infestation and stands ready with a 24-hour response team to serve you. Call our office today at (727) 522-0000 to get started.

Get Professional Assistance For Dealing With Mold Damage In Your St. Petersburg Home

3/26/2017 (Permalink)

A quality mold remediation specialist understands how dangerous mold contamination can get.

Dealing With Mold Damage


A quality mold remediation specialist understands how dangerous mold contamination can get. Therefore, they use all of the safety and precautionary measures necessary to protect everyone on your property from exposure and even help you prevent issues like this from developing again in the future.

Even a small amount of mold damage found in your St. Petersburg area home can present you with a variety of possible health issues. While your restoration technician is far from a medical professional, they do understand the risks involved and take the proper steps to contain the contaminated areas of your home. SERVPRO technicians follow specific health and safety regulations and wear the proper personal protective equipment regardless of the extent of mold contamination found on the job. We work hard to ensure the proper safety of everyone throughout the entire process. Our technicians also use full-body suits, chemical resistant gloves, and eye protection if necessary.

For contaminated areas located in small, confined spaces, SERVPRO technicians often use an N95 or greater filter type installed in a respirator to avoid contamination, while half-mask respirators offer sufficient protection in larger contaminated areas. However, full-face respirators used with HEPA filters and powered by air purification machines offer greater protection for extensive contaminations.

SERVPRO technicians avoid mentioning mold until mold contamination becomes certain. We check for strong musty odors in areas where customers may have had previous water damage or have an ongoing water intrusion problem and help determine the length of exposure. If there is evidence of mold, we also check the HVAC system and surrounding areas to get a sense of the amount of contamination involved. We communicate all findings to you and your insurance company, make recommendations on how to proceed and begin our mold damage remediation process immediately, once approved. Our technicians use quality containment and control procedures to limit exposure to the smallest area possible.

Using hygrometers and moisture detectors to locate and repair the source of moisture causing the problem, we remove any remaining water using the proper water extraction equipment and dispose of any saturated materials found in your home. We also use dehumidifiers and air moving equipment to dry the affected areas as quickly as possible while applying cleaning, deodorization, and repair methods necessary to return your property to a quality pre-mold damage condition.

Contact SERVPRO of NE St. Petersburg to acquire the services you need, gain control over mold growth in your home today (727) 522-0000.