When you walk into your home, you may notice a musty smell. You may not think much of it, but that smell could be the result of mold. There are a variety of common types of mold found in homes.
If you discover mold, you may need to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance to cover the cost of repairs. Our attorneys at Klotzman Property Damage have extensive experience helping clients with mold damage claims.
What Is Mold?
Mold is a fungus that grows in the form of fuzzy spots on various kinds of damp or decaying organic matter. The dust-like appearance of molds is due to the formation of spores containing fungal secondary metabolites that are produced by their growth on organic matter such as dead plants or animals. The spores are the dispersal units of the fungi.
Common Types of Mold
The three categories of molds in ascending order of potential danger are allergenic, pathogenic, and toxic.
The three most common types of indoor molds are Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. None of these are threatening to healthy people in small quantities.
There are 11 molds commonly found in homes that you need to know about.
Hardly Dangerous
- Alternaria—Dark gray spots on wood, iron, tiles, brick, plaster, wallpaper, paper, and canvas.
- Aspergillus—Found on dead leaves; think houseplants and crawl spaces.
- Cladosporium—Mostly occurs on damp building materials such as gypsum board, acrylic-painted walls, wood, wallpaper, carpet, insulation, and cooling units.
- Penicillium—The appearance is blue-green with fluffy outcroppings. It is mostly found in food.
Dangerous in Moderate Amounts
- Aspergillus species—It lives on damp building materials like wood and drywall as well as in soil. Even in healthy people, this mold can cause lung infections but it’s more dangerous for those with weakened immune systems.
- Cryptococcus neoformans—mold that lives on damp building materials. It might further weaken the immune system of immunocompromised people or, in rare cases, cause cryptococcal meningitis.
- Histoplasma capsulatum—Found on soil, especially mixed with bird and bat droppings. Dangerous levels of spores can be released during construction projects and may cause pulmonary histoplasmosis.
- Fusarium species—Found on damp drywall, carpets, wood, and flooring, as well as soil. Even in healthy people, specific Fusarium molds can cause skin, nail, and eye infections.
High Danger
- Penicillium species—Found in foods, these can cause acute symptoms when inhaled. It’s strongly suspected toxic Penicillium can cause convulsions, paralysis, cardiovascular damage, and respiratory arrest.
- Aspergillus species— Found on damp areas and building materials. These types can cause diarrhea, upset stomach, and respiratory distress, including aspergillosis, where the mold can form a hyphal ball (fungus ball) in the lungs and extrude allergens and toxins into the bloodstream.
- Black mold— They appear as circular-shaped spots that are black, dark green, or dark brown and furry; might have flecks of white or orange. They’re found in damp areas with lots of cellulose, like cardboard or paper items, and can cause respiratory distress, mycotoxins are harmful if consumed.
What to Do if You Find Mold
The first step is to remove moldy items from living areas. Once mold starts to grow in carpet, insulation, ceiling tiles, drywall, or wallboard, the only way to deal with the problem is through removal and replacement.
If you have an extensive amount of mold and you do not think you can manage the cleanup on your own, you may want to contact a professional. Hiring an expert will ensure that all areas affected by mold are treated properly so that no further damage is done to your home or health.
Moreover, when dealing with a mold infestation, following the right steps can help avert the problem and increase your chances of receiving compensation through a mold damage claim. Other steps you need to take apart from calling a mold remediation company include:
- Take photos of the damage and record every detail
- Get in touch with your insurance agent
- Prevent additional damage
- Consult a claims examiner
- Mold Remediation
- Speak with an attorney
Speak to the Experts
If you discovered mold in your home or have suffered health complications due to toxic mold exposure, make sure to contact a medical professional. You may also want to claim from your homeowner’s insurance to cover the cost of any repairs you may need to do.
If you’re experiencing difficulty with your claim, contact Klotzman Property Damage law today. We advocate for fair compensation so you can properly restore and repair any damage.
Schedule your free case review today with our Hollywood property damage attorneys. When insurance companies fail, Klotzman Property Damage Law succeeds.
