Mold Remediation

"We Won't Leave Until The Mold Does"

What Is Mold?

Hi, I’m Mike, owner and Council Certified Mold Hygienist. As a leader in mold industry, I wanted to give you a brief explanation of mold and what to expect during residential or commercial mold remediation.

Fungi and mold are a major cause of indoor air quality (IAQ) problems because of exposure to fungal and mold parts that can cause allergic reactions in many people. Mold sensitivity varies from person to person. Those more sensitive are children, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Some molds give off toxins called mycotoxins, some of them can actually cause cancer. Mycotoxins are poisonous substances produced by mold. They can be toxic for humans when they are eaten, absorbed into the skin, or inhaled. Poisoning by mycotoxins is called mycotoxicosis.

Health Effects of Mold

The health effects of mold are generally categorized into four groups.

1

Irritation

Moldy odors, these odors come from volatile organic compounds produced by mold. It can irritate mucous membranes and cause headaches and other symptoms.

2

Allergic Reations

Typically the most common health problems. Symptoms include respiratory problems with difficulty breathing, nasal and sinus congestion, burning / watery or reddened eyes, dry hacking cough, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, skin irritation, headaches, memory problems, mood changes, aches, pains, and possible fever.

3

Infection

There are an estimated 200 species of mold known to cause infections in humans, and immune-suppressed individuals who are especially at risk. Infections can be localized or systemic. Some fungi can affect hair, skin, and nails. Aspergillosis is a common fungal infection requiring hospitalization.

4

Toxicosis

Many species of mold produce toxic metabolites called mycotoxins, which are believed to be most prevalent in spores. Mycotoxins have caused nerve damage, organ damage, and cancer. Symptoms of toxicosis from mold include cold and flu-like symptoms, headaches, nosebleeds, memory problems, fatigue, dermatitis, and immune suppression.

Why Choose First Call?

First Call has helped thousands in times of need. From neighbors to businesses we have been there every step of the way.

During Hurricane Irene and Sandy we deployed all our staff to tirelessly work alongside the Red Cross to help get our community back together again.

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(845) 226 - 0868

Find out what makes First Call the Leading Mold Remediation company in the Hudson Valley

How Did I Get Mold?

You don’t have to have a flood to develop a mold issue. It can be caused by condensation or a high relative humidity (RH). So what’s condensation? It can be the frost or wet windows (on the INSIDE). It can be wet walls in the bathroom after taking a shower. That’s why you need to run the bathroom fan.
Mold can also develop from high humidity (RH), whether it be from a hot humid summer days or a damp basement. You don’t want an RH that is near 60%. An alarm should sound in your head if the RH is at 60% or above.

Signs of Mold

  • visible mold growth.
  • water-stained walls, ceiling, carpet and tack strip.
  • increased signs of humidity
  • musty/moldy or bad odor
  • history of mold problem or previous water intrusion

Mold is everywhere, outside and inside our homes and workspace. As building structures breath they circulate the mold spores. Air currents and HVAC systems also add to the movement of spores. Mold spores are always present, it just needs a few more ingredients to grow. The recipe is as follows: moisture, food source and a dark cozy place. Its food source is easy to find. Carpet backing, drywall, cardboard, and wood are just of the appetizing item to mold spores. Now to finish the recipe, add moisture or water. Once conditions are right, spores can germinate within 12 hours, colonies can begin to form within 24 hours. Spores can be produced within 48-72 hours.

It’s important to know that if the moisture / water issue isn’t corrected mold will continue to grow. Left untreated mold has a “stacking affect.” Meaning the spores build up and move upward. For example, if a basement has enough mold, it is very likely the spores will travel to the main level. Again, air currents and HVAC systems aid in the movement of spores. They may not be visible yet on the main level yet but if an air test was done it would show an increased number of spores compared to outside.

The First Steps

There are a couple of steps that need to be done prior to beginning mold remediation.

If you have more than 10SF of mold, NY State requires you have a licensed Mold Assessor inspect the area of concern to make sure it’s actually mold and write a remediation plan for the remediation company. The Department of Labor (DOL) now over sees mold remediation since NY State established NY State Article 32 in 2015. For more information, please visit https://dol.ny.gov/mold-program.

  • First Call Restoration will do a FREE estimate to determine a cost for the mold remediation.
  • We as the remediation company can NOT do both the assessment and the remediation, IT’S ILLEGAL!

What to expect

First Call Restoration is ready to begin the remediation process.

  • First, we will explain what we will be doing while in your home or business.
  • We’ll protect flooring in any unaffected area we may need to walk thru. We’ll move or protect any items too.
  • The actual process begins with containment and an air filtration devise, commonly known as a negative air machine. The propose of this machine is to filter any mold spore we disturb during remediation and then vent the cleansed air out. Containment is to contain the affected area and separate it from the unaffected area(s). Once we begin the remediation no one can enter the containment area.
  • If there are contents within the containment area, we will separate what is considered salvageable (non-porous items) and what is considered non-salvageable (porous items). Non-salvageable items will need to be discarded. Before discarding any items, we will document, take a photo and get your permission. Any item you want kept cannot be brought back into the home or office as it is considered contaminated.
  • You will hear HEPA vacuums and the negative air machine(s). If we need to remove any building material, you’ll hear additional equipment running. We will also be applying EPA registered products.
  • Once the remediation has been completed you will need to have the mold assessor return to do the final clearance as per NY State Article 32. The air filtration will continue to run with the containment up until we pass clearance. Clearance means the remediation was determined to be successful. Now we can set an appointment to remove containment and equipment.
5/5

“I was highly impressed with everyone at First Call from start to finish. All my questions were answered respectfully, they arranged an appointment right away, and the work was done neatly, completely, and quickly. The cost of remediation was VERY fair. I can see why they were highly recommended! Many thanks!!”

– Jane Lenard

5/5

Excellent service from this company. Very knowledgeable and thorough. Put my mind at ease with the mold removal. I can’t recommend them enough.

– Rhonda Kleman

"We Won't Leave Till The Mold Does"

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