San Diego Water Damage | Gold Coast Flood Restorations

In my minds eye I can still see the little spots of mold on the ceiling above the shower of my childhood home.

I can still smell the bleach that my father sprayed on the mold. And I can still see the mold reappear soon after.

We all dry our hair before going out in the cold so we dont get pneumonia. We all wear clean underwear in case we are in a car accident. We all attack mold growth with bleach to kill it.

Well, wet hair does not cause pneumonia. The police, paramedics and doctors wont really look at your underwear, and chlorine bleach is ineffective in killing mold.

Bleach may help with temporary mold removal, but it will win no awards for mold remediation. Due to its dilution, bleach is too weak to eradicate mold permanently, especially if the surface is anything other that a hard, non-porous one.

Surprisingly, bleach will become more and more dilute even in an unopened container. There is an approximate 50% dilution in only 3 months as it sits on the store shelf or in the cabinet beneath your kitchen sink.

Chlorine cannot penetrate porous materials due to its ionic structure. So, if bleach is sprayed on wood for instance, only the water in the solution soaks in, as the chlorine remains on the surface. This only accomplishes further mold growth.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) does not list bleach as a disinfectant of mold. Other agencies have referred to bleach as a poor cleaning agent.

So bleach is out. What is in? The fancy terms relating to getting rid of mold include mold removal, mold remediation, mold mitigation and mold abatement. They all sound wonderful, but how are they actually accomplished?

Current recommendations include containing the mold, killing it, removing it, and finally, protecting against future infestation.

First off, any sources of water (molds lifeline) must be located and discontinued. This may necessitate water extraction or possibly water damage restoration. Call Gold Coast Flood Restorations today at 888-373-9243 or visit our website at www.GoldCoastFlood.com for an appointment.

Fungicide should then be used to kill any mold and to prevent its recurrence. The next step is to clean and remove as much of the mold as possible. Even dead, mold can trigger an allergic response in some people.

Finally, protection against further infestation can be accomplished by cleaning, maintenance, and regular inspection of the common sources of mold growth.

Many people choose to remediate their mold problem on their own. It is important to remember the dangerous health risks associated with exposure to mold. It is not overkill to wear protective gear including gloves, mask and bodysuit.

Goggles have even been recommended. So as you suit up and get ready to get rid of that mold, leave your spray bottle of chlorine bleach behind. It has been acquitted on all counts in the murder of mold.

Any mold problem more than a few square feet should be left to professionals that know how to properly remediate it. Call the pros at Gold Coast Flood Restorations TODAY at 888-373-9243 or visit our website at www.GoldCoastFlood.com for more information

Many homeowners find out that the damage caused by their roof leak is not covered by their homeowner’s insurance. This is often the case unless the roof has been damaged by wind that caused it to leak. If you find yourself in this position, please call Gold Coast Flood Restorations today for help. We specialize in providing affordable solutions to those that have been denied by their insurance carrier. Please visit the Gold Coast Flood Restorations website at

All San Diego homeowners know that it has been raining like crazy. We have been working hard to help homeowners that have suffered roof leaks and water intrusions from the rain. Should this type of damage strike your home or business call Gold Coast Flood Restorations at 888-373-9243 for an evaluation of your property. Time is of the essence in dealing with this type of damage. A timely dryout will prevent a mold problem. Let our expert technicians help you solve the problem at your home or business today. Please feel free to check out our website at for more information.

So your house has had water damage caused by a burst pipe, a roof leak or by torrential rains. You are hoping that your homeowners’ insurance policy will cover the damage. Usually, the way you describe the damage to your insurance adjuster will determine the outcome of your claim. It is therefore important to know more about mold and water damage first and their implications to insurance policies.

Mold

Molds are microscopic organisms belonging to the fungi group. They are considered as natural decomposers and require moisture to grow and survive. Molds, if allowed to grow inside the home, can damage your possessions and can cause a number of health problems for you and your family.

Health problems that are associated with mold growth may include skin allergies, allergic reactions to the respiratory system such as asthma or allergic rhinitis.

Mold and Your Insurance Policy

If your home is affected by water damage, you must dry it out immediately to prevent the growth of mold. Gold Coast Flood Restorations is equiped to help you do just that. It is likely that the insurance adjuster will want to find out what caused the water crisis, and would assess if the water damage is covered by your homeowners’ insurance policy.

Insurance companies typically cover mold and water damage to homes if it is directly related to an insured loss. The direct cause of the water damage should be properly identified. Insurance companies will also send out an insurance adjuster to confirm your reports and to assess if the damaged areas or the mold growth is pre-existing.

If the insurance adjuster determines that the damage and mold growth in your home is pre-existing, then the insurance company will not cover the damage and your claim will be declined. Furthermore, the insurance adjuster may assess that the mold growth is caused by other factors besides the one that you reported. Other factors of mold growth may be caused by lack of maintenance or poor ventilation. If this is the case, the insurance company will not cover the cost of mold remediation.

Insurance policies are also designed to cover only the cost of cleaning up the water damage and restoring the wet items to their original, pre-loss condition. Homeowners’ insurance policy may or may not pay for the cost of repairing the cause of the water leak depending on different factors.

For example, if the attic was soaked by water because of a roof leak, the insurance company will cover the cost of drying the attic and the items inside it. It will not however cover the cost of repairing the roof leak since this is considered to be a maintenance cost that should be shouldered by the homeowner.

If the water damage is covered by your insurance policy, hire a contractor to clean up your home and make repairs as needed. Make sure that the contractor you choose is properly trained and equipped to handle water damage and mold remediation.

Call us today for an evaluation.

Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing. Molds have the potential to cause health problems. 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. 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. Research on mold and health effects is ongoing. This brochure provides a brief overview; it does not describe all potential health effects related to mold exposure. For more detailed information consult a health professional.