Category Archives: Mold Identification

What to Know About NYC Mold Removal – the Common Sense Approach

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Mold spores can cause health concerns.

Mold spores can cause health concerns.

Don’t let mold get you down. It looks awful, smells bad, and is worrisome when it comes to potential health issues, but it can be dealt with quickly and efficiently by a NYC mold removal specialist.

Moldy Things to Consider

The extent of the mold problem will determine the extent of the mold removal process needed for your property. The first thing to keep in mind is if you see signs of mold (damaged drywall and insulation, for example) you don’t need to pay for a test to determine if there’s mold in the home.

You also won’t need to call a construction contractor to tear down your home because of a little mold. What you do want is to have the mold removed from its source and anything that may be creating moisture to be replaced or repaired.

A qualified mold remediation specialist will take the necessary steps to get your property back to mold-free status. The technician will seal off the area and remove the moldy material. If applicable, also clean the area of mold and stains, sanitize the air, and vacuum to remove airborne spores.

A mold professional will often seal treated areas to help make the surface resistant to mold and water. A sealer also helps with odor control.

While you may have a minor mold issue and want to take care of it yourself, it’s best to let the professionals handle it in a safe manner.

For NYC mold removal, Stern Environmental can take care of the problem in a New York minute. Call us at your earliest convenience to schedule an inspection and discuss a plan of action.

Posted in Mold Identification, Mold Information, Mold Treatment, News

Signs that Mold Has Simply Been Painted Over

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You Can Trust Our NORMI Certified Mold Services

You Can Trust Our NORMI Certified Mold Services for Inspection and Treatment

Paint can cover over children’s drawings, scuff marks, and years of dirt buildup, but painting alone does not eliminate mold. If you’re planning to buy a new home or rent some commercial space for your business, be sure to look for signs that the new coat of paint may be covering up a mold problem. If you have an existing mold issue, contact the NYC mold removal experts at Stern for a quick, affordable, and effective solution.

Spots with a yellow hue

People typically paint walls a light, neutral color when they are looking for buyers or new tenants. You already know that a light brown stain on the ceiling indicates a moisture problem above. If the walls have a yellow tinge in one or more areas, that is a significant sign of water damage and possible mold growth.

Cracked, peeling, bubbling, or chipped paint

Fresh paint doesn’t bubble or start peeling off the wall unless there was something on the surface preventing it from adhering properly. The most likely cause is moisture beneath the paint. Where there is a moisture problem inside a building, mold will almost certainly follow.

An uneven wall surface

When people live or work in a building for a long time, they become accustomed to defects and just chalk them up to the building being old. An overlooked section of drywall that is bulging out could have been caused by significant water damage and a mold colony on the other side.

Contact the NYC mold removal experts at Stern Environmental Group for a free inspection. Our MoldExterm method costs less than traditional mitigation methods and comes with our mold-free guarantee.

Posted in Mold Identification, Mold Information, News

Buying a Foreclosed Property? Be Careful with Possible Mold Cover-ups!

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A Fixer-Upper May Need Some Fixing Up Concerning Bed Bug Control.

Fixer Uppers May Harbor Hidden Mold

When buying foreclosed property, it would be wonderful if buyers could trust that the home they are buying has been inspected for mold. It would be equally wonderful that if mold were found, it would be taken care of by NYC mold removal specialists.

The Moldy Cover-Up

Unfortunately, according to real estate agents and contractors, this isn’t always the case. The reality is that many homes affected with mold are being doctored up, so to speak, to hide the telltale signs of mold damage. This is deceitful on many levels.

In some instances, it can be purely a lack of knowledge and understanding about the health hazards associated with mold. In these cases, the moldy area may be painted over, or baseboards replaced, and everyone thinks that it’s OK.

Mold Symptoms

Mold can trigger different reactions such as irritated eyes, runny nose, seasonal allergies, and fatigue. Often, people misdiagnose the symptoms believing they may be coming down with a cold or the flu. Also, coming into contact with mold can cause the skin to become irritated. This is known as sporotrichosis.

What people can’t see are the tiny spores that travel through the air undetected. When inhaled, these spores can cause respiratory issues.

When you enter a room and smell a musty odor, that is the result of the mold producing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be dangerous to your health.

At Stern, our NYC mold removal experts are equipped with the latest method called MoldExterm. It’s a less expensive method and we back the service with a comprehensive guarantee. Contact us at your earliest convenience if you suspect mold has infiltrated your property.

Posted in Mold Identification, Mold Treatment, News

A Snapshot of History – Mold Over Time

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You Can Trust Our NORMI Certified Services

You Can Trust Our NORMI Certified Services

Ancient humans had no idea that microorganisms exist, but that doesn’t mean they were clueless about the risks and dangers of mold. Long ago, people remediated mold problems much like the mold removal techniques we use in NYC buildings today. Thankfully, the technology and science have come a long way!

As detailed by mycologist Richard Progovitz in his book, there is a long history of mold around the world.

– Tomb raiders in ancient Egypt often became ill or died of respiratory problems. Hieroglyphics indicate the tombs had pungent air that likely contained toxic mold spores.

– The Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament describes a belief that mold-infected clothing and linens could cause illness. Priests were responsible for mold remediation, including cleaning the items and burning them if mold returned.

In short, people were concerned by mold long before they knew that fungi grew from microscopic mold spores. They knew that mold smells, damages property, and caused health problems.

The Modern Method of Mold Removal that NYC Trusts

We now understand that mold spores can be found everywhere, in the air and on surfaces. We also know that the most likely conditions for mold growth include moisture (from plumbing leaks or simply high humidity) and stagnant air (ventilation helps).

Proper mold clean-up is essential. Mold spores can regrow quickly if you don’t take care of the entire problem.

Stern Mold offers a guaranteed method of mold removal that NYC businesses, hotels, apartments, and other building owners trust for affordable, safe remediation. Our two-step sanitizing and sealing process kills mold spores and prevents reoccurrence.

Contact us for a FREE inspection by our mold removal NYC specialists.

Posted in Mold Identification, Mold Information, Mold Remediation, News

What Types of Mold are Commonly Found in Commercial Buildings?

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What Types of Mold are Commonly Found in Commercial Buildings?

What Types of Mold are Commonly Found in Commercial Buildings?

Is that just a bit of dirt and grime? Or is your commercial property in need of NJ mold removal services?

Be on the Lookout for These Five Dangerous Mold Species:

Alternia
Powdery and olive-green to black, 70% of those with mold allergies react to Alternia. This mold is at its highest concentration during the summer, when wind carries spores indoors.

Aspergillus
The second most common mold to infect humans, many commercial buildings are found to contain Aspergillus, whose spores are found in higher concentrations indoors than out. Yellow-green with a reddish-brown underside, it’s a toxic mold, capable of producing mycotoxins, and is known to cause serious health issues in humans and animals. This mold – and the diseases it induces – is so common that its diseases have their own name: Aspergillosis.

Cladosporium
NJ mold removal experts see a lot of Cladosporium, which comes in many colors (olive-green, brown, grey, black) and grows at nearly any temperature – even cold storage. It’s known as a major trigger for asthma attacks.

Penicillium
Penicillium was named after the Latin word for ‘paintbrush,’ namely due to its ability to produce enormous quantities of greenish, bluish or yellowish spores. Though toxic, carefully cultured, it can be put to beneficial use in antibiotics.

Stachybotrys
Dark brown or black in color, Stachybotrys, or ‘black mold’ is slow to develop, but can overtake other types of mold that colonize before it. It is commonly found on cellulose (plant-based) materials like paper, wood, and cotton.

Don’t let your commercial space earn a reputation as a ‘sick building.’ Clear mold fast with the help of the NJ mold removal experts at Stern Mold today.

Posted in Mold Identification, News, NJ Mold Removal, NYC Mold Removal
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