How to Deal with Mold in a Luxury Property

Mold is not as uncommon as you’d think. There are many kinds of it, but only a few types are damaging to human health. It is the same with bacteria in the body, where most of it is non-harmful too.

When owning or buying a luxury property, a mold issue is dependent on the condition of the building and its age. When a house has been left unoccupied for a decent period, dampness can build up when the heating is not left on to save on electricity. When the rooms are not aired out sufficiently, this is another likely cause. Given enough time, this can lead to building problems like mold and other bacterial issues developing.

Are There Health Risks with Mold?

The presence of mold can cause problems with breathing in spores that affect the lungs. Children and the elderly have the most difficulty dealing with the consequences of mold in a home, but people with asthma and other respiratory diseases suffer too. Any visitors to the home could have a negative health outcome, even with limited exposure, if they spend time in the worst affected area of the home.

How to Spot Mold in the Property

Mold tends to hide in the cold, damp parts of the property. Some homes never develop a single mold issue whereas other homes are just unlucky in that regard. The most likely places to get mold are corners of the property or rooms that tend to be the coldest over time because they go unheated. Again, that doesn’t mean that those parts of a home will develop a mold problem, but it is statistically more likely than other rooms that are regularly heated and maintain a comfortable temperature year-round along with good ventilation.

Some of the places to look first include up in the attic, in the basement, the boiler area, corners where the heating doesn’t reach, and empty unheated rooms. The walls are where the mold shows up first in many cases. Black spots can appear and show up through the paint or existing wallpaper at locations where the mold is particularly prevalent. You can tackle the problem yourself or hire a professional team like ServiceMaster Restoration to use industrial-strength remedies to eradicate the mold on your behalf.

Dealing with Mold by Yourself

Advice from the EPA suggests that when mold only covers an area of 10-square feet or less, then it’s possible to manage it by yourself. That’s true, however, but the issue with mold is that the affected areas are not always visible to the naked eye.

If you’re determined to deal with it yourself, then you’ll need to take the following steps:

• Ensure the areas have been allowed to completely dry out and stop any water leaks

• Equip yourself with protective goggles, gloves, and an N95 respirator that prevents you from breathing in the spores when you’re close to the affected areas

• Rub the mold away from the surfaces using water and a strong detergent mix

• Allow treated areas to dry completely

Do bear in mind that ceiling tiles and carpets affected by mold are close to impossible to resolve. In most instances, they must be replaced.

Don’t Only Look at the Interior for Tell-Tale Signs

An exterior wall, an old window frame that should have been replaced, and any number of other areas can cause water to enter the property through unusual avenues. Once instead, the water often runs down the wall and spreads or seeps into the floorboards. Water pipes from the outside may pull in condensation that when not properly insulated can increase dampness levels and lead to issues too.

Should the home have been flooded at any time, then this could be a leading cause too. Be aware of the elevation level of the property to see whether it is susceptible to future flooding problems. Preventative measures can be put in place to avoid new mold issues being created from flood water, which brings with it a variety of water-borne diseases. Think about the future, not just the present.

Protecting Luxury Homes from Future Issues

While the cost of the luxury house or apartment may be in the seven or eight figures, it’s not necessarily true that every area of the development and subsequent maintenance has been top notch. Sometimes builders cut corners on the quality of materials used for insulation or failed to apply a waterproof protective coating and sealer to the exterior walls to ward off moisture penetrating the building.

Internally, check for an odd smell that could indicate mildew or air that has a mustiness to it. Both smells may also suggest that there’s mold nearby, even if it’s not yet visible to the naked eye. Certainly, if anyone in the property repeatedly has respiratory issues when in the home, this suggests a problem lurks somewhere. Getting the home professionally checked to confirm your suspicions is never a bad idea under those circumstances.

Can Mold Be Hidden from View by a Previous Owner?

Uneducated people may choose to paint over a wall that has a mold problem in the mistaken belief that with enough coats of paint, the mold won’t resurface. However, it doesn’t take very long for marks to appear on the paintwork to confirm the wall - and home - has a mold issue. Certainly, not declaring as such to a buyer could be cause for seeking legal remedies, as it will either cost money to resolve or possibly lower the value of the home until remedied.

For homeowners looking to prepare the home for resale, resolving mold issues and getting the home inspected afterward to confirm that the problem has been eradicated should be a priority and taken very seriously. A state-licensed property inspector can look at a property to verify its true condition and point out areas, including mold, that should be resolved before putting the home on the market.

Mold can be a danger to human health. It is treatable when dealt with properly, but it certainly should never be ignored. When ignored, the issue will only grow into a larger one and eventually could become unmanageable. However, the good news is that it’s affordable to deal with and doesn’t take much time to put right when approached properly.