Envirotex Blog – Page 12

Is Asbestos Exposure Still a Risk in Arlington, VA?

Asbestos was once widely used for building materials in homes and other buildings in Arlington, VA. Asbestos was used in the manufacturing of insulation and used in steam engines, piping, and locomotives. Later, asbestos was used in products such as gaskets, boilers, cement, roofing materials, and automotive brake pads. Asbestos exposure is extremely dangerous. People still die from asbestos exposure. Exposure can lead to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma commercials are shown on TV even today.

The use of asbestos was phased out during the 1980s. However, some products still carry traces of asbestos. Most asbestos exposure now comes from homeowners or business owners who renovate or demolish an old home or building. Many homeowners in Arlington, VA still have asbestos–containing materials in their home that they might not even be aware of, such as popcorn ceilings, floor and ceiling tiles, drywall, roofing sealant, duct tape, furnace cement, and glue for flooring.

Depending on your home’s age in Arlington, VA, it could still contain asbestos–related materials if built prior to 1980. Hence, it would help if you were extremely careful not to disturb any of these materials or never tear them out, hammer, cut, nail into any of these materials. If you know for sure which materials contain asbestos, that is half the battle, but so many people do not realize or know what to look for. It takes a professional to know what to look for and determine if it’s asbestos.

Before doing any repairs or renovations to an older home in Arlington, VA, be sure and call the experts at Envirotex Environmental Services for asbestos testing and remediation. These professionals have the personal protective equipment to be able to enter a home and safely remove any asbestos–containing materials you have in your Arlington, VA home.

Never attempt to remove asbestos products from your home on your own. Always leave it up to the professionals who know exactly how to contain the asbestos–related area to avoid the asbestos dust from spreading all through your Arlington, VA home. When you use professionals such as Envirotex, you protect family members from breathing in any of the dust from the asbestos fibers and taking a chance of them developing health issues from asbestos exposure.

The Mold Inspection Process for Homes in Gainesville, VA

As a homeowner in Gainesville, VA, you want your family safe. If you are noticing moldy smells or actually seeing mold in certain areas of your home, it is time for you to get a mold inspection. Mold growth is something you don’t want to ignore because it will continue to grow and spread throughout your Gainesville, VA home if not properly taken care of.

A mold inspection at your home in Gainesville, VA will involve taking air samples and surface samples. Air samples can be done in various ways, the most common being a method using “spore trap samples.” This method involves setting up a spore trap sampling device where a volume of air pass impacts a sticky surface as it passes through the device.

Particles in the air impact the sticky surface and adhere to it, and then the trap is sent to a third–party mold testing lab for analysis. The laboratory opens the spore traps and applies stains to the sticky surface the mold spores absorb and then identifies the types of mold spores captured from your home in Gainesville, VA, during the mold sampling process.

A mold inspection may also include surface sampling, including—

Bulk samples—This is when a portion of the sampled area is physically removed by the inspector handling the mold inspection at your home in Gainesville, VA and sent to a third–party testing laboratory for analysis.

Swab samples—During the mold inspection, similar to a cotton swab, a swab is rubbed across an area to be sampled and sent to a third–party mold testing laboratory.

Tape samples—A clear piece of tape is pressed against and removed from the area being sampled, which picks up and removes some of the mold present on the surface, and again this is sent off to a mold testing lab for analysis.

Your mold inspection should include recommendations on how to rid any future mold growth in your Gainesville, VA home. If the moisture source causing the mold growth is not repaired, removing the mold is just a temporary fix. Both need to be done by a professional mold company such as Envirotex Environmental Services.

What to Expect During Asbestos Removal in Arlington, VA

Even though most asbestos has been illegal for 40 years, it still lingers at homes in Arlington, VA. Homes built before the 1980s may contain building materials that still contain asbestos, commonly found in flooring, insulation, fireproofing, roofing materials, wall and ceiling materials, and adhesives.

Before any remodeling, asbestos removal of these materials is extremely important so that your family is not in danger. Breathing in asbestos fibers from damaged or the destruction of asbestos-containing materials can be extremely dangerous to your family in Arlington, VA.

Once a professional asbestos inspector has established asbestos, asbestos removal should be set up as soon as possible to rid your Arlington, VA home of all asbestos-related materials. Asbestos removal is not always necessary if the asbestos is not disturbed and still intact. It can often be kept in place with minimal risk of exposure.

During any asbestos removal, the area where the asbestos is located will need to be sealed off with thick sheets of plastic along with air pressure differential and filtration. Air ducts must also be sealed and your HVAC system disabled.

During the asbestos removal, the environmental contractors must wear protective clothing and respirators to protect themselves against handling the asbestos. Any materials removed will be placed into waste disposal bags and sealed and then removed from the Arlington, VA property and taken to be properly disposed of.

Special vacuums with HEPA filtration intended for asbestos removal will be used to minimize dispersing asbestos fibers during the removal and cleaning of surfaces.

Once all the asbestos-containing building materials have been removed or repaired depending on the circumstances, all work surfaces have been thoroughly cleaned with wet methods, and HEPA vacuuming, Arlington, VA homeowners should have an independent inspection to check to see if the work was done properly.

Homeowners should receive a report of work performed, permits, and all licensing, along with copies of the inspection and any laboratory analysis for their home in Arlington, VA.

For all your environmental needs, including asbestos removal, call the Envirotex team.

Why Mold Removal Is a Must for Homeowners in Manassas, VA

Mold can cause extreme structural damage to homes in Manassas, VA if not found early. Mold removal by a qualified environmental company such as Envirotex Environmental Services is essential when mold is first noticed, so damage is kept to a minimum.

Family members may be sensitive to mold exposure, including—

Individuals with existing allergies and asthma
Babies and young children
Elderly people
Immunocompromised patients

Mold can affect some and not others. Mold exposure may cause watery eyes, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, headaches, and fatigue.

When you detect mold growth inside your Manassas, VA home, mold removal is a must, along with fixing the source of the water problem that is causing the mold. If you don’t fix the moisture source, once the mold removal is complete, mold will only grow back in time.

During mold removal, trained professionals will first identify the source of moisture with equipment, such as a thermal imaging camera. Potential moisture sources for homes in Manassas, VA include—

Leaky roofs
Damp basements
Flooding
Crawl spaces
Plumbing leaks

This is done before the actual mold removal and needs to be corrected; otherwise, mold will only come back. Technicians will then isolate any mold contaiminated areas to eliminate spreading mold spores to other areas of the Manassas, VA home.

HEPA air filters and negative air machines are used throughout the mold removal. Contaminated materials are either removed or remediated according to the particular situation for homes in Manassas, VA. Most often, drywall and carpet have to be removed and replaced, so mold doesn’t return.

Mold contaminated materials will be bagged up and taken to the appropriate landfills.

Mold growth can sometimes be prevented by using the following tips—

Fix leaky pipes as soon as possible.
Keep heating, ventilation, and air conditioning drip pans clean to flow properly.
Properly vent clothes dryers and other moisture-generating appliances to the outside.
Provide proper drainage and slope ground away from the foundation.

At the first sign of moisture, dry the area thoroughly within 48 hours to avoid mold growth.

For mold removal or other environmental issues at your home in Manassas, VA, call the team at Envirotex.

Personal Protective Equipment for Mold Remediation in Haymarket, VA

Once mold starts to grow, it affects the smell, air quality, and in some cases the structure integrity of homes in Haymarket, VA. Moisture issues can result from leaky roofs, leaky pipes, unvented appliances and bathrooms, and outside gutters that aren’t properly installed, leading to water seeping down the side of your house. When these issues are not properly addressed, moisture can build up, and mold growth is likely to happen at homes in Haymarket, VA.

When mold is visible, or you have a musty smell inside your home in Haymarket, VA, you should call an environmental professional such as Envirotex. The professional team will come to your home, evaluate the situation, and plan for mold remediation.

Mold remediation disturbs mold, which causes mold spores to become airborne. This procedure increases respiratory exposure; therefore, professionals must use personal protective equipment when dealing with any type of mold. Be prepared to see environmental specialists suited up at your home. During any mold remediation at your Haymarket, VA home, the remediation professionals are required to wear—

Eye Protection—The use of properly fitted goggles or a full face respirator must be used during mold remediation. Goggles prevent dust and small particles from entering the eyes. Safety glasses or goggles that have open vent holes should never be used for mold remediation.

Skin Protection—To prevent contact with mold and cleaning solutions, gloves must be worn to protect the skin. Gloves should be selected according to the type of chemicals/substances that are being handled.

Protective Clothing—Disposable protective clothing is required to protect the remediation professionals from the biological and chemical hazards they encounter during the mold remediation. The protective clothing prevents the spread of mold contaminants to street clothing, eliminates skin contact with mold and chemical exposure, minimizes the cross–contamination between the mold contaminated areas and any clean areas within the home in Haymarket, VA.

If you are experiencing any mold growth or musty smells inside your home in Haymarket, VA, give the team at Envirotex a call so their professional mold specialists can set up a plan to rid your home of unwanted mold growth and advise you on what you need to do to prevent mold from coming back.

When It’s Time to Hire Mold Companies in Gainesville, VA

In Gainesville, VA, homeowners who experience mold growth inside their homes know firsthand what a nuisance it can be. You never know when it pops up until it is there, and by then, the mold can damage your drywall, your carpet, and personal items as well. Not to mention, it could be causing respiratory illness among family members. So when is it time to hire mold companies for Gainesville, VA homes?

How much mold growth do you have? Do you even know? Looking at particular areas of your Gainesville, VA home for mold growth doesn’t give you the full picture. Mold companies are experienced in knowing where to look and have special equipment such as thermal imaging to detect and identify moisture sources that are causing the mold growth at your home in Gainesville, VA. Not all mold growth will be visible.

When you hire professional mold companies such as Envirotex Environmental Services, they will be able to locate your source of moisture that is causing the mold growth, any structural damage, what needs to be done to fix moisture issues and plan out a path forward to rid your home of any mold damage. Without taking care of the initial problem that is causing the mold growth, once mold removal is done by mold companies, the problem will only come back.

The procedures of mold companies are different depending on your home’s affected areas in Gainesville, VA. Special equipment and safety clothing is needed to avoid mold from entering the nose, eyes, and mouth and preventing it from coming into contact with the skin. Mold companies have the necessary equipment such as goggles, respirators, gloves, and disposable clothing and shoe coverings for the job.

Most mold companies use negative air machines along with other equipment to ensure safety. The molded areas will be contained so that any mold spores released during the removal will not drift into other areas of the Gainesville, VA home. Once the mold removal has been completed, the site will be tested to ascertain all mold spores are gone and safe for family members.

Call Envirotex for any questions you have regarding mold growth or other environmental issses you might be having at your home in Gainesville, VA.

What Happens During Mold Inspections at Homes in Fairfax, VA?

For the most part, mold inspections at homes in Fairfax, VA start with a visual inspection of the house. A professional mold inspector will discuss with homeowners any moisture problems they are noticing or water damage from previous leaks or floods.

Professionals who do mold inspections in Fairfax, VA are familiar with where to look for the most common areas of a home which are prone to mold growth. Sometimes a mold inspection may require tearing out a piece of drywall or paneling and pulling up carpet to get a better look of where mold could be growing in an inaccessible place.

Once mold is detected, the home inspection will determine where the moisture source is coming from, which is causing mold growth. Unless this moisture source is fixed, any plan to remove the mold from the home in Fairfax, VA will only come back sometime in the future. A plan for mold remediation will be developed during the mold inspection process, along with how to rid your source of moisture.

Suppose mold is visually noticeable at your Fairfax, VA home, which calls for mold remediation. In that case, the mold remediation company will determine the extent of the mold problem, which essentially is a mold inspection. Once the mold remediation is complete, a mold inspection should be done to ensure the remediation was done correctly and your house is mold–free.

Preventing mold growth is the best solution, but unfortunately, sometimes, it can’t be avoided. When you notice any leaks inside your home in Fairfax, VA, fix the problem as soon as possible. The sooner you clean and dry things, the less chance you have for mold growth. Mold needs moisture to grow, and if materials within the home aren’t allowed to dry within 24 to 48 hours, normally mold will start to grow.

Some homeowners in Fairfax, VA may notice a musty smell yet do not see any mold. Mold inspections are crucial to these type of incidences so that it doesn’t get worse over time.

Professionals such as the team at Envirtoex have special equipment that can determine mold growth that is not out in plain sight. Call Envirotex for all your environmental needs at your home in Fairfax, VA.

Is All Black Mold Found in Leesburg, VA Homes Toxic?

The answer is no. Just because you find black mold in your Leesburg, VA home does not necessarily mean it is toxic. Black mold has a black pigment by nature and is often thought of as the toxic kind of mold, but that is not always true. Even though black mold may not be toxic, it can still be allergenic.

The most common black mold found in homes in Leesburg, VA is Cladosporium. This common black mold has no known side effects. It can be found both inside and outside of homes in Leesburg, VA. That being said, heavy exposure to black mold may trigger allergy or asthma symptoms.

Stachybotrys chartarum is toxic black mold and is usually dark black or sometimes even dark green. It is highly toxic and commonly found in attics. This particular mold releases mycotoxins, which are toxic chemicals present in mold spores that can be released into the air and then inhaled. For this kind of mold growth, the material would need to be wet for at least 72 hours with consistent moisture for mold to continue to grow.

Mold that is capable of releasing mycotoxins is definitely toxic. Typically, the reason for mold growth in an attic is from improper ventilation. For instance, a bathroom exhaust fan which vents towards the attic, instead of outside the house can produce moist, humid air that filters up to the attic and can trigger black toxic mold growth.

Attic vents that are blocked may also trigger black mold growth. If your attic vents at your Leesburg, VA home are blocked, be sure to turn off the power source before removing the blockage and make repairs. After the mold removal, the attic vent should work to remove the moisture from the attic.

Toxic black mold at your Leesburg, VA home can be hazardous and cause health issues for your family members. The damage to someone’s health depends on the length of exposure and the number of mold spores inhaled.

Toxic black mold should be removed by a professional team such as Envirotex Environmental Services.

Why Hire Professionals for Mold Removal at Homes in Northern, VA?

Mold spores can wreak havoc for homes in Northern, VA, and once it starts, it spreads quickly and easily. Unless you find the moisture source and eradicate it, the mold will flourish fast and ruin your living space. Mold removal should be done immediately once you notice any mold growth inside your Northern, VA home. Otherwise, the longer you let it go, the more damage and expense there will be in completely irradicating mold from your home.

Mold removal specialists, such as Envirotex Environmental Services, have years of experience and the specialized equipment to remove mold altogether. A professional mold removal company will—

Find all the mold at your Northern, VA home; whether, it is visible or hidden.
Before mold removal begins, the mold areas within the home in Northern, VA are contained. This is extremely important so that once the team starts tearing out materials, any mold spores released into the air won’t travel to the rest of the home. Once the mold spores have been eliminated, any affected materials are repaired, and the cleanup is complete, the house is ready to use again.
Find and eliminate the source of moisture, which is causing mold growth, such as leaks or moist materials.
Prevent mold growth in the future by replacing any affected materials or applying select products that restrain future mold growth.
Repair any damage or recommend someone, depending on the particular type of damage.
Clean and disinfect walls, furniture, carpet, or other personal items with special cleaners.
Remove unsalvageable materials from the home in Northern, VA, and discard them properly.
Air filtration machines with HEPA filters will purify the air, so your living space is once again safe for your family.
Final cleanup will entail the use of HEPA vacuums.

Call the team at Envirotex for your Northern, VA trustworthy, mold removal professionals. They will be happy to come to your home and give you a free no–obligation estimate for mold removal or any other environmental issues you might be having at your home in Northern, VA.

Guided Steps for Mold Remediation in Manassas, VA Homes

Whenever you have more than 10 square feet of mold growth inside your home in Manassas, VA, you should always call in a professional mold remediation company such as the team at Envirotex Environmental Services.

Mold remediation differs on affected surfaces. Porous materials, including drywall, carpet, and insulation must be removed entirely from the Manassas, VA home. These materials should be properly disposed of to ensure complete mold spore removal.

Non-porous materials and semi-porous materials, including wood and concrete, can remain in your Manassas, VA home, and be properly cleaned with special chemicals.

A mold remediation company will come to your home in Manassas, VA, assess the situation, and map out a plan for the process. Depending on your particular situation, different steps may be used.

Protective Clothing—You should see people walking around in disposable coveralls and shoe coverings wearing goggles and respirators; this is for their protection against mold spores that infiltrate into the air.

Containment—This step should never be ignored during mold remediation. The purpose of containing the moldy area is so that any mold spores released into the air will not filter into the rest of your home in Manassas, VA.

Wet Misted—The moldy areas will be lightly wet misted to prevent mold spores from flying into the air.

Special cleaners—Some surfaces will be washed down with special cleansers and dried so that further mold will not grow.

Final Cleanup—HEPA vacuums will be used during the final cleanup once all materials have finally dried, and the contaminated materials have been removed from the home.

Any porous materials will be torn out and placed into heavy-duty garbage bags and removed from the Manassas, VA home, and later loaded on the mold remediation company’s vehicle where they will subsequently be disposed of at a landfill.

For all your environmental needs, call the team at Envirotex Environment Services. They have been in business since 2000 and are highly recommended for mold remediation at homes in Manassas, VA. They also handle asbestos testing and remediation, lead paint testing and remediation, meth lab and clandestine drug lab cleanup, and selective demolition.