Envirotex Blog – Page 14

Removing Mold from Homes in Northern, VA with Mold Treatment

Mold treatment in Northern, VA can rid your home of any mold contamination, which is commonly found in areas where moisture is prevalent such as basements and bathrooms. Because mold can cause dangerous health issues, mold treatment by a professional should be done at the first signs of mold in your Northern, VA home.

If you see black or green areas, possibly even fuzzy looking, at your Northern, VA home in your basement or any other areas where you might have a leak or excess moisture, you will need mold treatment for your home. The area could smell musty and quite possible, you may not even see it. You should have a mold inspection if you notice a musty smell in your house.

A mold inspection will pinpoint where you have mold growth and where the moisture is coming from, causing the mold growth inside your home. A mold company such as Envirotex Environmental Services will come to your home in Northern, VA, do a visual examination, and take surface and air samples, which will then be analyzed by an independent lab.

Once the mold has been located, you will then need to set up a mold treatment plan to remove all mold from your home in Northern, VA, and the issues that are causing the moisture, which is triggering your mold growth, needs to be repaired. Otherwise, once the mold has been removed, it will come back in the future.

During your mold treatment, the crew will come in wearing protective gear such as disposable coveralls, respirators, goggles, and shoe coverings. The area where the mold is located will be contained so that the mold spores will not contaminate the rest of the home in Northern, VA.

Special equipment such as a HEPA (High–Efficiency Particular Air) air scrubber and air exchange that replaces mold air with clean air are used to clean the air. A HEPA vacuum to clean floors and other surfaces are used to remove spores still lingering.

Any moldy porous materials such as drywall or insulation will be placed in heavy–duty plastic bags and disposed of properly by the mold treatment company.

Once the mold treatment has been completed, another mold inspection should be done to ensure the mold treatment was done correctly.

When Is the Best Time to Have an Asbestos Inspection in Ashburn, VA?

Some of the common places where asbestos can be found are in floor tiles, joint compound, ductwork, and insulation. Asbestos was widely used in many construction materials before 1980. Chances are if your home was built prior to 1980, there are some asbestos-containing materials in your home. These materials only become hazardous when it is airborne and then breathed into the lungs. Most asbestos is locked firmly into these products, most likely causing no risk of exposure to you or your family members.

Sometimes these materials will disintegrate and become airborne inside your home in Ashburn, VA. If you suspect asbestos in your home, it is best to have a qualified environmental company to do an asbestos inspection. Your attic could be full of old insulation, or your pipes could be wrapped in a material that, when touched, crumbles. These are signs that it is time to have an asbestos inspection to find out precisely what you are dealing with.

If you are not tearing anything out of your home and nothing seems to be fraying or falling apart, you should be safe. However, whenever you decide to do any remodeling inside your home in Ashburn, VA, tearing out, breaking, crushing, nailing, or sawing any asbestos-containing materials will release asbestos particles into the air. They can be harmful to those in the home.

An asbestos inspection for older homes makes good sense so that you, as the homeowner, knows exactly the type of materials that were used during the construction of your Ashburn, VA home. If you aren’t planning on disturbing the contents and they are in good shape, there shouldn’t be a problem. The other thing is to have asbestos remediation so that you can permanently remove any asbestos-related materials in your home in Ashburn, VA. Many homeowners feel much safer living in a home where all asbestos has been removed.

Having an asbestos inspection will give you and your family in Ashburn, VA the satisfaction of knowing if your home has or doesn’t have any asbestos lurking anywhere. Peace of mind is an excellent reason for an asbestos inspection along with the knowledge that anytime you decide to remodel, you know the safety hazards and can take the necessary precautions of removing the asbestos first.

Call the experts at Envirotex, and they will be able to advise you if you should have an asbestos inspection for your home in Ashburn, VA.

How to Avoid House Mold at your Home in Great Falls, VA

House mold can grow on almost anything that is moist enough. Inside your home in Great Falls, VA, house mold can grow quickly on damp surfaces such as your bathroom walls and the trim around your windows. This house mold may look like black stains, furry growth, specks of black, white, orange, green, or brown.

When these mold growths appear, invisible bits of mold can float through the air causing infections, asthma, allergies and other breathing issues. To avoid these health issues, keep your Great Falls, VA home as mold-free as possible.

Moisture is released into the air when you take long hot showers, cook with uncovered pans, using an indoor clothesline to dry your clothes, and using humidifyers. Storing vegetables such as potatoes and sqash can increase chances of house mold growth.

The key to avoid house mold at your home in Great Falls, VA is to keep your home as dry as possible. Some things you can do to avoid house mold include—

The ground around the foundation of your Great Falls, VA home should be sloped away from the house to avoid your basement from flooding.
Anytime you have a leaking roof or other plumbing pipes, fix these issues as soon as possible to avoid house mold.
Use bath fans when showering and kitchen fans when cooking. If you do not have fans, open up a window when you shower or cook. Cover your pans when cooking and take a shorter, cooler shower. Use a clothes dryer that vents to the outdoors or a clothes line outside to avoid extra moisture in your Great Falls, VA home.
If your basement is prone to be damp, use a dehumidifier to remove the moisture from the air. In the summertime, you can use an air conditioner which will remove some of moisture as it cools the air. Don’t keep your windows open if it is damp outside.

If you have any questions, call the environmental experts at Envirotex and they can guide you with a plan to avoid house mold at your home in Great Falls, VA.

Improving Your Home Environment with Mold Remediation in Manassas, VA

We all want the best environment for our families. Unfortunately, homeowners sometimes have unforeseen leaks in their pipes, their foundation, or too much humidity in their homes in Manassas, VA, and so many times, it just gets overlooked. Creating the best environment for your family may mean that if you are noticing signs of mold growth, you should invest in mold remediation for your Manassas, VA home.

Mold can cause quite a few health issues that you might just be brushing off as the common cold or simple bug. No need to worry. But do you? If a member of your household is experiencing a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing, wheezing, itchy burning eyes, or a skin rash, you just might have a bad case of mold growth in your home. If mold is the culprit, mold remediation is necessary to put your home back to a healthy environment.

Too often, homes in Manassas, VA are overstuffed, and items get piled up in a corner, and then when you go to sort through things, you discover moldy clothes, a moldy wall, and other moldy items. Grant it, you can either wash the clothes, wipe off surfaces, or throw things out, but there is a reason this mold is growing. Dampness causes mold, and until you have mold remediation to eliminate all mold and cure the reason it keeps happening, it will continue to come back to create an unhealthy environment for your household in Manassas, VA.

Many basements tend to be damp and are a breeding place for mold growth. Bathrooms, where moisture is always present, is another great breeding place. Once you start to notice the damage of mold infestation within your Manassas, VA home, it is definitely time to call in a professional mold remediation company.

When you deal directly with a mold remediation company such as Envirotex, they not only rid your home in Manassas, VA of the mold, but they will also inform you of all the necessary steps you need to take to avoid its coming back.

The mold remediation team at Envirotex has all the latest equipment to come into your home and locate the mold and then set up a plan to completely turn your home into a happy and healthy environment for your family in Manassas, VA.

Avoiding Mistakes During Mold Treatment in Northern, VA

Have you noticed a musty odor inside your Northern, VA home? How about areas of your drywall? Has any of it turned black? Has the grout in your bathroom turned black? Have you had any plumbing leaks? Are any of your walls warped or bowed? Do any of your walls feel damp? Any of these signs could be mold growth inside your Northern, VA home and will require mold treatment to rid the mold colonies from your home.

Once you discover a mold problem inside your Northern, VA home, you may be impatient and try and clean it up yourself with some sort of home remedy mold treatment. Everyone wants to save money, but sometimes having a professional mold treatment to rid mold from your home is the best way to go about it.

Mold professionals such as the team at Envirotex are equipped to test your home for any mold growth, some of it you may not even be able to see, but they will find it with their specialized equipment. Once they do find the mold, they will layout a complete mold treatment plan so that your home will be mold-free once the removal has been completed.

Most homeowners make the mistake of using bleach for their mold treatment. Although it might change the color of the mold to either a clear or white shade, you have not stopped the continued growth of the mold. It will come back.

Some things that are out of your personal expertise should be left up to the professionals. A small amount of mold for the average homeowner may not impose a real problem for mold treatment. The question is . . . is there mold where you can’t see it?

Don’t make the mistake of taking on this dangerous task yourself. Envirotex will evaluate your particular situation and advise you on what all needs to be done to rid your Northern, VA home of its pesty mold growth so that it won’t come back in the future.

Call Envirotex today if you are suspicious of mold growth at your home in Northern, VA. Leave the rest up to them.

Finding Reputable Mold Companies in Northern, VA

If you have found mold in your home in Northern, VA, you might be wondering if you should attempt to get rid of it or look into finding a reputable mold company in your area to handle the mold removal. Mold companies are specialized in removing contaminated mold from homes in Northern, VA, and restoring your home so that it is safe to occupy once again.

Most mold companies will want to come to your home first to look at the situation. You may want to have a thorough mold inspection first, but it is not recommended that you use mold companies to do both the mold inspection and mold remediation.

During the mold inspection at your Northern, VA home, the inspector should be able to determine the cause of the mold and recommend how to fix the problem so that once the mold has been removed, it doesn’t come back.

You should talk with several different mold companies and ask for references before signing any kind of contract. They should be able to provide you with an estimate for their services along with a detailed plan of their removal procedure for your particular situation at your home in Northern, VA, as all situations are different. Ask them how long it will take them to complete the job, and if you and your family will need to vacate the premises while the work is being done. This way, you can make other accommodations for where your family will stay during the mold remediation.

The mold company you choose should be able to sit down with you and explain the process they use when they enter your home. If there is no mention of setting up some type of containment so that the mold spores do not spread throughout the rest of the house, look for another mold company in the Northern, VA area.

The team at Envirotex Environmental Services will be glad to come to your home and discuss plans for mold remediation with you and your family and the steps that are involved in the removal of mold from your Northern, VA home. They have been in business since 2000 in the Northern, VA area and are well recommended by their previous customers. They offer a free, no–obligation indoor environmental consultation. Call them today for all your environmental issues in Northern, VA.

How an Asbestos Contractor Protects your Safety in Washington, D.C.

There are numerous older homes in Washington, D.C., and if you live in one, an asbestos contractor should be your first go-to person whenever doing any renovations in your home. Asbestos was used in a wide variety of materials because of its resistance to chemicals, heat and fire, durability, strength, and flexibility. These asbestos-related materials were manufactured years ago before the dangers of asbestos were known; some are still in use today.

An asbestos contractor knows what products to be aware of when looking for asbestos in your older home in Washington, D.C. These products include:

• Adhesives, Bonding, and Sealers
• Asbestos Cement (Transite)
• Roofing materials
• Ceiling tiles
• Floor tiles
• Insulation
• Plaster
• Shingles
• Siding
• Stucco
• And then some

As you can see, most anything that you might want to renovate in your older home in Washington, D.C. may contain asbestos. Hiring an asbestos contractor will ensure that whatever home renovation project you take on is safe to tackle. If the asbestos materials will not be disturbed in any way, usually, it will be safe if left alone. Still, if it will need to be disturbed, the asbestos contractor will professionally remove all asbestos that presents a problem at your home in Washington, D.C.

Asbestos is a known cancer-causing agent and, therefore, should only be handled by an asbestos contractor such as Envirotex Environmental Services. They are equipped with the necessary equipment to come into your Washington, D.C. home and identify and test for asbestos-related materials. Once the results have been analyzed, they can draw up a plan to remove any and all asbestos materials in your home.

Asbestos should never be handled by Washington, D.C. homeowners. You put your family at risk if you disturb any asbestos-related materials inside your home. Asbestos fibers linger in the air and can easily be inhaled into the lungs by you and your family members. This can be extremely dangerous.
Your asbestos contractor knows the safety procedures put into place to protect you and your family.

How to Tell if you Need Asbestos Testing in Ashburn, VA

Asbestos has been used for years in the building industry. Because of its strength and heat-resistance, it was widely used in flooring, including vinyl tiles, insulation, popcorn ceilings, concrete, ductwork, and other products as well. Unless you have an older home in Ashburn, VA, built before the 1990s, you should be pretty safe. Asbestos only becomes a problem when you disturb it, so if you are getting ready to do any repairs or remodel your home, you should have asbestos testing done if you have an older home in Ashburn, VA and suspect asbestos-related materials.

If you tear out a popcorn ceiling or tear up vinyl flooring that contains asbestos at your home in Ashburn, VA, the dust stirred up is extremely dangerous. The microscopic fibers in asbestos are exceptionally abrasive. Once broken down, when you inhale, these fibers can cause lung-scarring illnesses and possibly lung cancer. Asbestos testing is always recommended for older Ashburn, VA homes before you go tearing out products that could contain asbestos.

Asbestos testing is necessary because asbestos cannot be seen with the naked eye. Material samples must be taken and sent to an independent laboratory to be analyzed.

Asbestos testing should be done by professionals. When they come into a home in Ashburn, VA, they know what to look for and what to test. Never do this on your own. A professional will shut all the windows, doors and turn off all fans and heating and air conditioning systems that circulate air. This will ensure still air in the work area at your home in Ashburn, VA.

Special protective gear such as face masks, gloves, coveralls, and shoe coverings will be worn by asbestos testing professionals. Once the process is over, these clothes will be discarded and disposed of properly.

Professionals know the safety procedures involved in dealing with any asbestos-related materials and take all the necessary safety precautions necessary to keep you and your family safe. Call the team at Envirotex Environmental Services for asbestos testing and other environmental issues you may be experiencing. Trust the experts at Envirotex for your family’s safety.

Home Renovations May First Require Asbestos Removal in Arlington, VA

If you are currently living in an older home in Arlington, VA, there is a vast chance that you have asbestos-related materials somewhere in your house and quite possibly need asbestos removal to be safe. Asbestos was used extensively in construction on residential homes during the 20th century; therefore, any older homes in Arlington, VA are sure to have some asbestos, which can possibly pose a health risk to family members. All situations are different.

Unless you built your home and were aware of the products being used, you may not realize all of the ways that asbestos was utilized in developing homes in Arlington, VA. Asbestos-containing materials were being used in the following ways—

• Thermal insulation
• Roofing (tiles, felt, and shingles)
• Cement in roof gutters
• Light fixture backing
• Sheeting under decks
• Soundproofing
• Insulation on electric wires
• Insulation on HVAC ducts and pipes
• Fireproof padding under a fireplace hearth
• Pipe insulation
• Exterior siding
• Coatings and sealants throughout the home
• Flooring tiles, linoleum sheets, and flooring adhesives

This is still not everything that asbestos is used for; you should question materials that could possibly contain asbestos anytime you are getting ready to make renovations or home improvements at your Arlington, VA home. When in doubt, call the team at Envirotex, and they can advise you on asbestos removal.

Before any home improvements or renovations on homes in Arlington, VA, homeowners should have their home inspected by a reputable environmental services company such as Envirotex for any asbestos. If asbestos is found, Envirotex Environmental Services in Arlington, VA will direct you on what needs to be done for asbestos removal.

Anytime asbestos is found in your home, asbestos removal should be done as soon as possible. It is best to hire a professional for asbestos removal to ensure the safety of your family members in Arlington, VA. Hiring a professional environment company minimizes household members from the risk of being exposed to asbestos. Once the asbestos removal is complete, you can go about your renovations and home improvements with confidence knowing you made your home a safer place for you and your family.

How Asbestos Can Affect your Health in Arlington, VA

Asbestos is a highly dangerous mineral that was commonly used in the United States up till the early 1990s. Because asbestos is extremely flame-resilient and durable, it was used in many building materials prior to 1990 and in automobile parts. Some of the building materials in homes and buildings in Arlington, VA that may contain asbestos are—

• Ceiling and flooring tiles
• Insulation
• Roofing shingles
• Drywall products

Because there are still a lot of older homes in Arlington, VA that contain asbestos-related materials, construction workers and other professionals are still at risk of being exposed to the harmful carcinogen including—

• Veterans
• Teachers
• Demolition workers
• Ironworkers
• Auto mechanics
• Firefighters

Asbestos exposure still occurs to people inside their Arlington, VA homes because of older homes where asbestos was used freely in building materials. Secondary exposure can still occur to loved ones of professionals who do repairs, renovations, and maintenance on these older Arlington, VA homes. Asbestos dust frequently is carried home with them on their clothes and person.

Disturbing asbestos-related materials at your home in Arlington, VA releases asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled or ingested. These fibers can lodge into the tissue lining of various organs in the body. The fibers can then become stuck and damage healthy tissues. Sometimes this tissue damage can cause cancerous tumors to form. It can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years of irritation from these asbestos fibers to show symptoms of mesothelioma. At this point, mesothelioma, a rare cancer, could be throughout the body.

Asbestosis, a non-cancerous lung disease, which causes lung scarring and breathing issues, forms when asbestos fibers get trapped into the lungs. This can cause persistent cough, shortness of breath, and fatigue because the lungs get progressively weaker and stiffer. There is no cure and can gradually get worse oftentimes leading to death.

Other related diseases caused by asbestos include—

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Kidney cancer
• Pleural effusions
• Pleural plaques
• Pleuritis

If you are have been exposed to asbestos and are having any related health issues, it is important to be checked out by your doctor as soon as possible.

Anytime you have questions about asbestos, need testing to see if you have asbestos-related materials in your home or need asbestos removal from your home in Arlington, VA, call the team at Envirotex.