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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Mold Remediation Blog Posts

Gardening to Prevent Flood Water in Your Home

3/11/2019 (Permalink)

Water Garden

It’s that time of year! Spring is teasing you with warmer temperatures and you are ready to get your hands in the soil and start your Summer garden.  What kind of plants can you use and how can you layout your flowerbeds to prevent water from getting into your home?  Gardening doesn’t have to be all about “curb appeal”, it can also be functional.  Here are a some quick tips to help prevent water from getting into your home.

Create a water garden. A natural-looking water garden should have sloped sides with planting terraces that step down toward the deepest area of the pond. This allows you to plant a diversity of plant material and create different habitats and keeps water drainage to one area.

Plant native.  Using native plants can help prevent soil erosion.  Here are a list of wild flowers you might consider: black-eyed Susan, Foxglove Beardtongue, Cardinal Flower, and Butterfly Weed.  

Use mulch. Covering the bare areas in your lawn or garden with mulch or straw is an effective method for preventing erosion from rain. Mulch spread over the surface of the soil reduces the impact of raindrops striking the soil.  Using mulch in landscaping and on bare spots near your home keeps water away from your foundation.

TIP: Always wear a mask when spreading mulch. It contains mold spores that can irritate your throat, nasal passages, and lungs.

Install rain barrels. Did you know that up to 40% of total water use during the summer can come from watering lawns and gardens? Rain barrels are an effective way to capture rain water to use in lawns and gardens.  Rain barrels can be attached to storm drains to catch runoff from your roof.  The water you collect can then be reused to water your lawn and garden. For more information on rain barrels, contact The Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Grade your yard. To avoid incoming water, the ground should always slope away from your home in all directions surrounding your perimeter. You’ll need to understand the high and low points of your home, and use extra dirt to slope accordingly. Have a plan in place or work with a professional to make sure vents, basement windows, pipes, drains, and other areas aren’t negatively impacted during the grading process. 

The first day of Spring is March 20, 2019. Be ready for April showers by landscaping your lawn to prevent water damage to your home.

Does Your Property Have Mold?

1/29/2019 (Permalink)

garage ceiling with black mold Mold in Garage Ceiling

Molds are found in every environment, and mold spores reproduce rapidly when moisture is present.  SERVPRO of Pasadena/Gibson Island/Lake Shore offers experienced and proven leadership in the restoration industry, specializing in all varieties of emergency cleanup including mold remediation.  Intrusion of water into your home or place of business can result in mold growth.

Fungi and mold naturally occur in our environment. In fact, over 100,000 kinds of fungi have been identified. Even though some forms of mold can add value to our lives, other forms can be harmful.  Excessive amounts of mold, different types of mold, and /or exposure to molds may present health effects for some people.

SERVPRO of Pasadena/Gibson Island/Lake Shore offers 24/7 emergency response, and we are capable and ready to manage large scale losses. The SERVPRO footprint is not only local and regional but nationwide allowing SERVPRO of Pasadena/Gibson Island/Lake Shore to rally fellow franchises, our SERVPRO Extreme Team and even SERVPRO Storm Teams in the case of natural and large disasters.

SERVPRO of Pasadena/Gibson Island/Lake Shore professionals handle water damages every day and know prompt action is required to prevent mold growth. If there is an ongoing moisture problem in the building, be alert for:

  • The presence of visible mold.
  • Strong musty odors, which may indicate mold is present.
  • Any evidence of past moisture problems that might have caused undetected mold growth.
  • Excessive humidity.

These conditions may require the expertise of a qualified Indoor Air Quality/Environmental Professional to inspect the building for mold growth and water damage problems. Contact us for more information (410) 255-1110.