Found Mold In the Basement

So you went down to your basement to grab a box of old photographs, only to find that the box that is holding years of captured memories is covered in damp spots. Upon further investigation, you realize that it is mold that has taken over this and other boxes that have been in your basement storage. You also notice that the box has suffered some water damage, but there is no standing water in your basement, and no visible basement leak. How did your stuff become damp and covered in mold?

Why There’s Mold

Mold spores are everywhere in the air, but are invisible and serve no threat until they land on organic material, meet moisture and begin to colonize.  Your box and moisture are the only two things that mold need to grow.  Basements, by nature, are hotbeds for mold growth because they are humid and damp. Your basement was the perfect condition for mold to grow.

Your basement walls are surrounded by moisture, and the moisture moves in through the porous concrete that makes up your basement walls and foundation. This environment is difficult to control, and it is often ignored if the lower level is not used as living space. However, mold and moisture in the basement must not be ignored. The air quality in the basement dictates the air quality for the rest of the house. As moisture and air flows through the basement floor and walls, it flows upward through the upper levels of your home, and even to the attic. Mold poses a health risk to you and to your family, and of course, destroys your belongings.

Mold Remedies

It is imperative that you get rid of the mold and moisture right away. The remedy to your problem might include waterproofing your basement, repairing foundation and wall cracks, installing a sump pump or other draining system and installing a dehumidifier. These are all solutions that your Perma-Seal estimator will consider when administering your free, thorough inspection.

For more information about mold and permanent solutions that will help to eliminate mold in your basement, go to our Mold Information Website, or go ahead an fill out the form on our Contact page.