Mildew / Mold Inspections and Testing by Certified Mold Inspectors. ABS Environmental Group can assist you in identifying and removing mold and mildew growth.

Serving Homeowners, Home Buyers, Insurance Companies, Real Estate Agents, Rental Unit Owner, Commercial Property Owners, Public and Private Schools, Hospitals, and Government Buildings.

CONTACT US FOR MOLD INSPECTION OR A FREE REMOVAL ESTIMATE:

Maryland-Washington D.C. (301) 494-4285

Before you hire a contractor, ask about their experience and education in indoor air quality. Fungi (molds) are numerous and at time complex. ABS Environmental staff an educated workforce with graduate degrees in occupational health and environmental management.

The mold inspection is different from a building inspection. The mold inspection is designed to find not only mold mildew, but also identify factors that could potentially cause mold such as, sources of water intrusions, excessive moisture, and humidity. The expertise of a mold inspector who is a Certified Industrial Hygienist is invaluable when evaluating a mold symptom, because the Inspection determines the scope of the mold remediation and mold cleanup process. Removal of contaminated materials using state-of-the-art work practices Water proofing of structure Duct cleaning Treatment with cleaning agents Preventing future growth through proper engineering controls. As a result ABS Environmental Group's clients will save tremendous amounts of money and time.

ABS Environmental is not your typical consulting firm. We can assist you from the diagnosis stage, through the complete removal of the mold problem. Please also ask about our restoration services, to rebuild, and restore a damaged site to it’s original state.

Why is mold growing in my building?

Mold is natural and is found all around us. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold requires nutrients, water, and favorable temperatures to grow. Nutrients for mold are present in organic material such as wood, paper or fabrics; mold can also derive nutrients from some synthetic products such as paints and adhesives. The other component for mold growth is moisture. Control of this factor is your best defense in preventing mold growth. While some mold species can obtain moisture from humid air (70% humidity) most growth indoors is attributed to water leaks. Many molds thrive at normal indoor temperatures; few if any molds are able to grow below 40 F or above 100 F. Outside this range molds may remain dormant or inactive; they may begin to grow again when the temperature is more favorable.

Is mold associated with health problems?

Molds have the potential to cause health problems. However, there are only a few molds that can cause infection in healthy humans. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. This population of people includes asthmatics and those with compromised immune systems. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people. Symptoms other than the allergic and irritant types are not commonly reported as a result of inhaling mold.

How do I get rid of mold?

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back. I've observed mold growth in my basement. Is it possible to completely eliminate mold from the building? The answer depends upon what is meant by "completely eliminate mold." To keep a building completely free of mold spores requires very efficient air filtration and is only accomplished in special situations such as hospital operating rooms and manufacturing "clean rooms." Remember, mold spores are in the outside air virtually all the time and some of them will get inside buildings. However, it is possible to keep mold from growing inside a building. Moisture control is the key to controlling mold in interior spaces. Air filtration can contribute to lowering mold spores in the air but is secondary to moisture control.

Mold Removal Services

The first step in addressing any mold growth problem in a building is identifying and correcting moisture source(s). If moisture problems are not corrected, then any mold cleanup or removal that takes place will most likely be only a short-term solution; at some point the mold growth will recur. It is critical to control moisture at the beginning, during, and at the end of a mold growth removal project.

One of the most common misconceptions about mold is that it can be removed by spraying the surfaces with products such as disinfectants, biocides or bleach. That will not take care of the problem because the allergenic and toxic properties of mold are not removed by using such products. Whether viable (living) or nonviable (dead), mold spores and other parts of the mold, when they get into the air, still present a health risk to exposed individuals.

While disinfectants and biocides may kill mold spores and take away their ability to reproduce, these products should not be used alone in addressing a mold growth problem. Either the mold must be completely removed from the affected material, or the mold-contaminated material must be completely removed from the building.

In determining which materials can be cleaned and what should be removed, the two important factors are how porous (absorbent) the material is and how extensive the mold growth is. Generally, non-porous materials (such as metals, glass and hard plastics) and semi-porous materials (wood, plaster and concrete) that are visibly moldy but structurally sound can usually be cleaned and reused. Moldy porous materials (carpeting, wallboard, ceiling tile, wallpaper, fabric, upholstered furniture, mattresses) should usually be discarded, since they absorb and hold moisture, may be internally moldy, and cannot be completely cleaned and thoroughly dried.