The 3 Signs of Mold

5/15/2024 (Permalink)

Mold is a type of fungus that develops from tiny spores that float around in the air, both indoors and outdoors. Mold is often found in humid or moist places, and if allowed to grow unchecked, it can present issues for a building. With that in mind, we offer this quick list to help you identify mold is growing in your building:

1) Musty Odor

Even if you cannot see mold, it can be in your home or business. A very common indicator of the fungus is its smell. When mold grows in an area of your building, you will notice a pungent and musty smell. Take action immediately when you notice the odor. Mold overgrowth can cost you a great deal of money and even your health. You may not be aware of the full extent of the problem until professionals check in between walls and under floors.

2) The Appearance of Mold

Mold may look like cotton, granules, or leather. It can appear in various colors like white, green, gray, black, brown, or yellow. Unfortunately, many people ignore small mold and mistake it for soot or ordinary dirt. Take immediate action when you see tiny discolored and fuzzy growth on furnishings or the surface of building materials.

3) Water Leaks

If you notice water leaks from ceiling pipes, water stains, or standing water, mold might become an issue. Water leaks cause moisture, and that provides an excellent growing place for mold. Check for discoloration or watermarks on carpets, walls, and other materials for hidden mold.

Any business or home can face a fungus fiasco. If you suspect that you have a mold problem, SERVPRO® can inspect the property. Mold remediation is one of our specialties and we can eliminate the issue safely. We also invest in state-of-the-art equipment and continuous training that ensures your home or business is quickly and efficiently restored.

Give us a call today!

Creating an Inventory List for Your North Durham Home

3/23/2017 (Permalink)

You’ve worked hard to amass the possessions in your home. Some are necessary like a comfortable sofa to sit on, others are creature comforts, such as a Smart TV, and there are some possessions that are priceless family mementos.

Maintaining a home inventory list is a must have document for every residence.

It’s best to have this list in several places such as with a friend, in the cloud, or a home fireproof safety deposit box, in the event the original is destroyed by fire or water.

This list can be as simple or as detailed as you like, but ultimately the more information you have available the easier the process will be while in the midst of an emergency claims process.

At a minimum, your inventory list should include make and model, date purchased, and price paid.

A more comprehensive home inventory list will have the make, model, serial number, receipt, warranty info, purchase date, and photo of the item.

You can make an excel sheet to keep an inventory of your items or create a paper version and ink in the information. For those who would rather do anything other paperwork, a digital list is a viable option.  A visual record may even be preferable as it shows if the item is well taken care of, and in good repair.

When making the list, also include the items in your shed, attic, garage, and basement.

Once you’ve done the hard work of creating an inventory, keep it up to date whenever you purchase new items.

Below is a list of items most frequently included in a home inventory list.

• Area Rugs
• Appliances
• Wall Art
• Electronics – TV’s, laptops, digital cameras, tablets
• Chinaware
• Sterling Silverware
• Crystal
• Sporting Equipment
• Furs
• Jewelry

SERVPRO® is here to serve the North Durham community. Call us anytime at 919-790-1222.