Category Archives: Mold & Your Health

Mold Testing – What You Need to Know

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Mold doesn’t make a grand entrance. It’s a stealth invader, finding its way into hidden spaces in your home. Even if you have no reason to suspect a problem, mold testing provides peace of mind by ensuring your home’s safety or detecting a problem before it gets out of hand.

The techniques are more sophisticated than relying on visual cues. Here is a primer on mold testing to give you a better understanding of the process.

  • Air tests are helpful if there are not any visible signs of mold. A sample of the air in your home is examined under a microscope to check for the amount of mold spores present.
  • In surface testing, swabbing or other methods are used to lift samples from household surfaces for examination. This technique identifies the presence of mold but cannot determine its airborne presence.
  • Bulk testing collects actual pieces of material from your home for examination to determine if mold is present and how concentrated the particles are.
  • While testing gives you a picture of mold presence for a particular time and place, mold spores travel, causing the concentrations to fluctuate. Conducting a series of tests at different times and locations provides more accurate results.
  • DIY test kits are available on the market, but hiring an experienced professional mold tester is the most effective way to obtain a thorough and accurate report.

If a mold problem is discovered, our friendly, trained technicians will use our eco-friendly MoldExterm system to remove all traces from your home and install measures to prevent future infestations. Contact us today to schedule a free mold inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, MoldExterm, News

Tenants in Mold Infested Housing Fear for Their Lives

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Tenants in the Bronx have filed suit against NYCHA, New York City’s public housing authority, after mold and fungus issues have been left to linger. The agency had settled previous complaints in 2013 with a new system for handling mold problems in a timely manner — but tenants say no real solution has ever come.

The lawsuit says housing conditions at Castle Hill Houses put tenants’ “life, health, or safety,” at risk. That’s no exaggeration. Mold and fungus pose significant health risks for tenants with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Anyone can develop breathing problems, infections, or even cancer after prolonged exposure to mold.

Building management blames budget cuts and old infrastructure for the problem, but that serves as little excuse to the tenants who have been reporting mold problems for months or years without an answer. Modern mold removal treatments exist that could have wiped out the building’s mold and fungus problem completely while preventing reoccurrence.

A Lasting Answer to Household Mold

When NYCHA has made mold repairs, the problem has returned. About 80% of tenants with mold issues say that previous efforts to curb the problem have been unsuccessful in the long run.

One solution for recurring mold and fungus problems: Stern’s MoldExterm system. Instead of simply killing the mold, MoldExterm applies a special polymer seal after cleaning. The seal prevents mold from regrowing, effectively blocking the underlying problem from developing more mold in the future.

The sickening health effects of mold make this problem one that landlords should never ignore. If anyone discovers mold in your building, management can take action by calling Stern Mold for advanced mold treatment and prevention.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Identification, Mold Treatment, News

The Dilemma of Mold in Public Housing in NYC

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Mold In Public Housing

Mold In Public Housing

Mold can cause mild to severe health issues, especially for children and adults with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Prompt removal is important, but it doesn’t always happen. In some cases, tenants have had to turn to the law for help.

Tenants in Manhattan have been waiting to have black mold in public housing removed for more than a year. This mold problem has caused ongoing health issues for some of the tenants, including several children.

Recently, these tenants have asked for help from a judge, claiming that New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In Dec. 2013, NYCHA vowed to get rid of the mold in these buildings, but the organization has not taken any steps toward that.

Tenants who have had to continue dealing with health problems due to mold are hoping that the judge will be able to force NYCHA to comply. They’re also asking to have someone officially oversee NYCHA’s day-to-day progress on having the mold removed.

This case is an important reminder of how important it is to have mold treatment done sooner rather than later. The mold in these Manhattan buildings has been able to spread and cause ongoing health problems because it wasn’t dealt with early enough. Whether you’re concerned about mold in public housing, a commercial building or a residential property, finding a dependable mold treatment company to get rid of it as soon as possible is crucial to avoid putting tenants or occupants at risk.

If you have a mold problem in your building, contact Stern Mold for safe, reliable treatment.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Treatment, News

Reoccuring Mold Problems Are Very Hard for Homeowners to Treat

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If you find mold in your house, don’t be fooled by its seemingly uncomplicated appearance. Without proper mold treatment from the start, chances are good that the problem will reoccur, becoming more stubborn each time.

Experts say that the weather of this past winter may have created optimum conditions for mold growth. With inadequate ventilation resulting from your home being closed up for an extended period, the build-up of moisture from rain, snow and ice results in the perfect breeding ground.

A mold infestation is much more than simply a cosmetic problem. Mold can cause serious health issues ranging from coughing and sneezing to dizziness, headaches and rashes. Consequences can be even more severe for individuals who are already suffering from asthma or other upper respiratory illnesses.

The deceptively simple visual appearance of mold may make it tempting to treat the problem yourself. However, DIY methods are likely to be counterproductive by causing cross-contamination that ends up spreading the infestation rather than resolving it.

A good rule of thumb is to call in professional help if the mold patch is larger than the size of a dinner plate. Mold often develops in hidden or less visible areas, so even if you don’t actually see it, you should have your home inspected if you suspect its presence.

Don’t take chances with your health and that of your family. Our safe and eco-friendly mold treatment removes all traces of infestation while leaving behind a sealant that repels future appearances. Get peace of mind by contacting us today to schedule a free mold inspection.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Remediation, News

Renters Find Black Mold in Buffalo, NY Apartments

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A Buffalo apartment complex has found itself in housing court following tenant claims of black mold plaguing many of the apartments. The tenants just want their homes cleaned up, while the management of Towne Apartments seems to be ignoring the problem.

While the claims in court cover a variety of apartment maintenance issues, the black mold presents the most immediate danger. At least one tenant says she and her children have become chronically ill with symptoms related to black mold exposure.

Black mold treatment methods can now resolve household mold problems within a single day, but many property managers do not realize the options available. Traditional mold remediation creates an ongoing project that lasts weeks — driving up the expense of housing tenants in the interim — but this situation can be avoided with MoldExterm bio remediation treatments that repair and seal the problem quickly.

Attorneys for the apartment complex in Buffalo have indicated that management will work with the city and housing department to address the problem. Meanwhile, the mold problem has escalated into a situation covered by local investigative reporters.

How apartment complexes can quickly treat black mold

When tenants report black mold, landlords can swiftly correct the problem with modern, scientifically advanced treatment.

MoldExterm treats the root causes of black mold instead of simply cleaning the mold. After an EPA-approved anti-microbial kills the mold, the process seals the surfaces with a special polymer. This last step is crucial because black mold can easily return if the underlying conditions are not corrected.

Don’t let yourself end up in housing court. Call Stern Mold for safe, effective black mold treatment in as little as one day.

Posted in Mold & Your Health, Mold Remediation, News
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