There are over one million species of mold. The most common of these is black mold – which is more commonly referred to as mildew. This is a greenish to black mold species that is in the Stachybotrys family. Others have referred to it as toxic black mold and sick building syndrome.
It is not uncommon for black mold to grow and thrive inside of basements that contain large amounts of moisture. The majority of homes affected by it will have some type of water damage, like a broken pipe, a basement leak, or large amounts of condensation. Moisture is how it will form and organic matter is what it will feed off of. Leather, wallpaper, wood insulation, carpeting, and sheetrock are the most common materials in basements that will help it to thrive and reproduce.
You will recognize the black mold as a thin film on certain surfaces. This is the main body of the mold known as mycelium. This develops when the filamentous cells of the fungus produce enzymes that will decompose the organic material it comes into contact with. Over time these cells will develop spores which will be carried through the air and cause the mold to spread. These spores can germinate and lie dormant for many years.
When there are large amounts of mold the quality of the air in the basement will deteriorate and it will travel throughout the home through the ventilation system. The black basement mold will produce volatile organic compounds that create a horrible smell. The spores are able to be breathed in by people and may cause serious infections.
Removing Black Basement Mold
Trying to remove black mold is a long and physical process – but it can be done. To know how far the damage has extended you can have a professional inspect the basement. If it is at a high risk negative health risk for people then you need to bring in professionals who can thoroughly scour the basement.
If it has not yet gotten to this point you can purchase the necessary products that will remove the mold. Make sure to wear protective clothing that will screen your screen and a face mask to keep you from breathing it in. When you are finished make sure to do what you can to keep it from coming back.