If you’re Canadian and have any interest in home renovation or inspection, you probably know the name Mike Holmes. He’s the man behind the hit HGTV show Holmes on Holmes and Holmes Magazine, known across the country as a trusted authority on everything handyman-related.
When Mike Holmes enlists another company for help in a given home-related area, it’s a major compliment to that company. That’s why MoldInspections.ca is so honored to be featured in the latest issue of Holmes Magazine as the authority on mold detection and prevention.
In a feature article, “Let’s Clean House,” Holmes Magazine turns to MoldInspections.ca owner Tara Valley for help on solving common problems that foster mold growth.
Valley provides expertise in numerous areas, quoted on three key mold tips:
1. Grout/caulking. Valley explains that any grout or caulking that becomes cracked is no longer watertight and no longer doing its job. It needs to be replaced before it allows moisture in and creates a comfy environment for mold.
2. Mold in large surface areas. Valley explains that, while certain growths are small enough for the average homeowner to clean, mold covering large surface areas should be handled by a certified mold inspection company. The proper experts know how to dispose of mold-ridden objects and clean up wet zones without spreading spores. She adds coughing and feeling unexplained respiratory problems even after cleaning up mold yourself may suggest the mold growth is bigger and deeper than you thought.
3. Flashing. Valley explains that “if exterior flashing doesn’t lie flush against a seam, water seeps in. This can breed mold and cause structural damage.”
This isn’t the first time MoldInspections has been listed as a trusted Canadian mold expert, as the company has been featured on HGTV, and it won’t be the last. Kudos to Mike Holmes for knowing a good mold inspection company when he sees one!
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV, Global TV and Holmes on Homes Magazine, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.
We’ve studied on this blog how mold can harm our breathing and exacerbate both allergy and asthma symptoms. But the effects of toxic mold reach further than that. As a recent study at the University of Cincinnati suggests, mold doesn’t just enhance asthma; it may also cause it to develop in the first place.
The study tracked more than 700 children using seven years of data. It measured the presence of 36 different types of mold in analysis tool developed by the Environmental Protection Agency known as the ERMI – the environmental relative moldiness index. The index factored in the many different mold types, some toxic and some not, to measure the relative environmental threat.
In the study, 18 per cent of children exposed to mold had developed asthma by seven years old. That rate is triple the number for children not exposed to mold under the ERMI (six per cent).
It doesn’t get much more ironclad than that, does it? Mold needs to be taken seriously. If you don’t undergo a proper mold inspection and removal, you literally increase your children’s chances of developing asthma three-fold.
It’s also worth noting that children from lower-income families are more likely to have asthma. That’s because lower-income housing is more likely to have mold. As a result, the onus falls on both local governments and landlords to eliminate mold from their buildings. You can get it done for a good price with a mold inspection company.
We know mold causes asthma. So it’s time to fight this lung disease. Get rid of mold!
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.
If you’re educated yourself on the dangers of toxic mold and subjected some of your home to mold testing, you probably feel confident that your household or workplace is safe, right?
Well, what about the truly secret places where mold can hide? Places most of us would never expect to look? Try these on for size:
The dishwasher
Most people never think to clean their dishwasher. After all, it’s a cleaning device in and of itself, so in theory it should never be dirty. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Remember, a dishwasher is a constantly moist environment, making it very desirable for mold spores. One trick to conquer mold in your dishwasher is to peel back any seals or stickers and scrub away.
The deck
We typically think of dank basements, carpets tiles and various indoor locations when we search for mold. But it can form outside, too. A common place is in moist, rotten wood. Even though mold occurs outside in this case, don’t underestimate it. It can still harm pets who ingest it and its spores can travel through the air.
Cardboard
We typically associate mold with fixed structures like the floors, ceilings or closets, but to ignore something like cardboard is to underestimate the awesome power of human laziness. Think about how many clutter-filled basements you’ve encountered in your lifetime. A common ingredient: an old, trampled cardboard box.
As you already know, cardboard isn’t the sturdiest material. When it gets wet and soggy, it stays that way. When it stays that way and isn’t thrown away or recycled, it becomes a breeding ground for mold. Don’t let cardboard accumulate in a damp place!
Some mold inspection and removal companies won’t go the extra mile and think of the outside-the-box examples of mold-fostering environments. That’s all the more reason for you to hire a certified expert for your mold inspection. That way, no stone will go unturned in the search for mold – not even these overlooked places!
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.