REO Mold Solutions

Is this the “Toxic Black Mold”?

Mold FAQs

Well yes, but no. There are over 400,000 types of mold, many of which are dark in color. Stachybotrys Chartarum is the scientific name for what is often referred to as “Toxic Black Mold”. While this type of mold is considered toxigenic, it is also commonly found naturally in soil and grain. You see, all concentrations of mold in a living space are a problem. Mold Remediation is about minimizing the concentration of fungus, not eliminating one type or another. If there’s over 10sqft of any color of mold in an indoor living space it should be treated by a professional remediation contractor to avoid health problems and further building decay. There are many colors of toxigenic or “toxic” molds, the term “Toxic Black Mold” just happens to be popular in the media and Internet chat rooms.

There is some “surface mold” on the drywall/cabinetry/ doors etc. Can’t I just wipe it down?

No! What you can visibly see on the surface is only the spore. The fungus has already grown a root system throughout the building material and will continue to grow whether the spore on the surface is there or not. Wiping down these areas actually increases the contamination because the spore become airborne landing on other surfaces in the area and spread throughout the house by the ventilation system. What you see on the surface is like looking at an apple tree and only seeing the apples.

Can’t we just spray it with bleach?

No! Using bleach to attempt to clean up a mold problem is a common misconception. If applied to contaminated drywall or framing lumber bleach instantly has several effects:

The fungal spore (seed) at the surface senses it’s under attack and is released into the air reproduce in other parts of the home. Much like a dandelion spreading seeds in the rest of the yard during a windstorm.
Household Bleach is commonly concentrated about 5% the other 95% is water. The active ingredient (sodium hypochlorite) in bleach cannot penetrate a porous surface (like drywall) or semi-porous surface (like wooden framing). What does penetrate the surface is the other 95% of the solution, which is water, further fueling the Mold problem.
When bleach is applied, because of it’s corrosive nature it changes the pigmentation or color of the surfaces making it more time consuming and difficult to properly remedy.

What about “Kilz” and the other “mold killing solutions” from the big box stores?

Kilz is a paint used to “encapsulate” or as a “sealant” what this does is create a vapor barrier around the surface it’s applied to, preventing the material from breathing naturally and expanding & contracting with temperature changes. This traps the 3 essentials mold needs to grow inside the wood, spore, moisture, and cellulose (food) inside the paint creating any incubator for the fungus. Typically lasting about 1-2years until the paint begins to peel away exposing the additional contamination.
Other types of mold killing solutions are often chemically very similar to bleach and react the same way. Many of these products “off-gas” for several months filling the air with pollutants that are worse than the mold they were meant to destroy.

What kinds of products does REO Mold Solutions use then?

We use a variety of low toxicity disinfectants, many of which are used in the medical world. One example is Hydrogen Peroxide. We also use naturally occurring gases and mineral salts. The products and solutions employed in our protocol are hand selected to be highly effective against contaminants but no toxicity toward people and animals.

How do we know the property is safe after the remediation?

Each project is supervised and conducted from start to finish highly trained and experienced technicians equipped with the best tools and latest Indoor Air Quality instruments. An inhibitor solution is applied to all framing members that prevents future fungal growth for the life of the home. Upon completion of every project a clearance inspection is performed and air sampling is often conducted to insure a normal fungal ecology. A warranty with a 7-year guaranty is provided with every remediation project.