What to Do If You Find Black Mold in Your Bathroom
Every year a certain number of homeowners who have made the decision to have their bathrooms remodeled find themselves dismayed to find mold in their bathroom. Mold is more scientifically described as fungus, but most of us see it simply as ugly and potentially dangerous. While some types of mold can be relatively harmless, others are considered extremely toxic. Because there are typically large amounts of moisture in bathrooms, they can literally be breeding grounds for mold. Black, toxic mold is found in thousands of bathrooms in the United States and is certainly one of the most toxic forms of mold, causing respiratory problems, headaches, skin rashes, fever, and other flu-like symptoms. Although you may initially think of removing the mold yourself, when black mold is improperly removed mold spores can spread like wildfire throughout the rest of your home. You should definitely call a professional mold removal specialist or air quality control specialist.
Be Prepared For the Expense
It can be quite expensive to have your mold tested and removed, but there really is little choice in the matter. If you do not have a professional take care of the mold it can spread to the rest of your house, possibly causing serious health problems for your family. Check around to get the best price for the mold removal specialist, and talk to people who have had mold removed from their home.
After the Mold Has Been Removed
After you have had mold professionally removed from your bathroom, you need to incorporate a few projects into your remodeling plan to ensure the mold doesn't return. If you don't already have a bathroom fan, get one and have it installed. A working bathroom fan can help eliminate the moisture that mold-most especially black mold-thrives from. Look at your local home improvement store for the various types of bathroom fans available. If the caulk around your sink, tub or shower is peeling, old or cracked, remove it and replace with new caulking. Mold often grows behind cracking caulk. Replace any loose, old or outdated faucets and fixtures to avoid having the mold recur. If you can, invest in solid handles for your fixtures, thus eliminating one more place mold can grow. If you have the money, a solid-piece tub or shower insert can halt the growth of mold. Hire a plumber to ensure you have really good drainage in your sink, tub or shower. If the water does not drain just as quickly as you run water, you likely have a problem. When water doesn't drain quickly, it stands, creating another great opportunity for mold to move in. Properly working drains are essential to preventing a mold recurrence. Every time you clean your bathroom, follow up with a mild bleach solution spray, which can kill any mold spores that are thinking of replicating. Black mold is a serious problem, and as distressing as it may be to find mold in your bathroom, you must deal with the problem swiftly, then ensure it does not recur.