What Types of Mold Do Franchise Owners Handle?

Plus, mold can be a combination of colors or even change colors, making it challenging to identify the type you’ve found based on hue alone. At STOP Restoration FranDev, when franchisees join our network, we provide in-depth training and the advanced technology required to label and treat mold.

Regardless of the type of mold clients call for, it’s critical to address growth. The sooner, the better because damage only worsens and becomes more complicated with time.

Common Types of Mold in Homes & Businesses

Though it’s common to refer to mold generically, there are several types. Some are useful, like when they help to decompose organic material outdoors – fallen leaves, twigs, etc. In properties, though, mold is not often a welcome guest. Not only does mold eat away and eventually ruin materials and possessions, but it also takes a heavy toll on health. From chronic fatigue to breathing problems, allergic reactions, and potentially fatal illnesses, the presence of mold should be taken seriously.

Here are some of the molds that a restoration franchise may offer services for:

Alternaria

Location: Typically grows in air conditioning systems and on spoiling food, although it will colonize on plants, wood, tiles, and drywall if given the right conditions.

Common Colors: Black, green, or grey.

Number of Species: 300

Toxic: Yes.

Impacts: Those with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms:

• Allergic reactions
• Asthma

Aspergillus

Location: Typically grows in air conditioning systems and on food.

Common Colors: White or yellow underneath a black surface.

Number of Species: 180

Toxic: Yes.

Impacts: People with compromised immune systems or underlying lung disease as well as animals.

Cladosporium

Location: Basements, bathrooms, and anywhere with heavier amounts of moisture. It’s typically found on carpeting, wallpaper, and acrylic-painted walls.

Common Colors: Green, gray, black, or brown.

Number of Species: 500+

Toxic: Yes, although most species are not.

Impacts: Though it has less impact on people’s health, Cladosporium can be a large trigger for asthma sufferers.

Symptoms:

• Red, watery eyes
• Rashes
• Sore Throat
• Asthma

Stachybotrys

Location: Paper, cotton, wood, and other high-cellulose materials.

Common Colors: Dark greenish-black.

Number of Species: 50

Toxic: Yes. Stachybotrys has the highest toxicity level.

Impacts: Children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems.

Symptoms:

• Congestion
• Sore Throat
• Aches
• Respiratory Problems
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Eye Irritation

Penicillium

Location: Fruits, vegetables, and cellulose materials like ceiling tiles or wood.

Common Colors: White, yellow, green, or blue.

Number of Species: 300+

Toxic: Some species of Penicillium produce mycotoxins which would place them in the toxic category, while other species do not.

Impacts: Those with compromised immune systems. Certain Penicillium species cause significant organ damage if ingested as well.

Fusarium

Location: Often found on plants such as tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.

Common Colors: White, tan, pink, or yellow.

Number of Species: 20+

Toxic: Yes.

Impacts: Can cause mycotoxicosis in humans who ingest it.

How to Identify & Protect from Toxic Mold

A common misconception is that all black mold is toxic, and all toxic mold is black mold. But this is not the case. To clarify, toxic mold is not the mold itself, rather, the chemicals that the mold produces and releases, called mycotoxins. Regardless of whether the mold might be hazardous to health, it’s crucial to have trained professionals available to act quickly and eliminate any growth. While mold is growing, it’s releasing spores that can float through the air and travel on surfaces until they find a place to start growing as well.

Restoration businesses such as ours identify the source of mold and any locations it may have spread, before carefully treating surfaces.

Along with helping our clients rid themselves of the stressors and harm of mold growth, we’re passionate about educating people about prevention and safety. Once we’ve taken the problem away, we’ll help you fix the source of the problem so you’re not dealing with it in the future.

You can protect your home or office space from mold in a few ways:

• Not letting organic materials such as foods or plants begin to spoil indoors
• Treating for any water damage immediately, regardless of the amount of water
• Scheduling routine duct cleaning to improve air circulation
• Ensuring that no one is overwatering plants
• Keeping sprinklers far enough away from the exterior of the property
• Waterproof your basement or crawl space
• Combatting humidity with a heat recovery ventilator (HRV) or running the AC depending on the climate

Are you interested in helping homeowners with water damage, or joining the battle against the types of mold growing in homes?

We’d love to hear from you – please reach out online or dial (844) 980-1518 to connect with us directly.