Black mold is not a species, and color says little about risk. What "black mold" usually means, why it grows behind drywall in Gettysburg-area homes, and when to call a professional.
Chapters
Transcript
0:00 Black mold is not a species. Color tells you nothing reliable about which mold is growing or how risky it is.
0:10 That usually means Stachybotrys, a slow-growing greenish-black mold that feeds on very wet paper facing on drywall and ceiling tiles.
0:20 It appears after a leak goes unnoticed for weeks, not after a damp weekend, often behind finished drywall against an old stone foundation.
0:30 Despite its mycotoxins, the CDC and EPA treat it like any indoor mold: remove it, since common types cause allergies.
0:40 What matters is size: under about ten square feet on a hard surface, with the leak fixed, is usually a DIY job.
0:50 Whatever the color, drywall needs a professional. Find local companies at Mold Remediation Near Gettysburg dot com.
Key points
- "Black mold" is not a species, and color is not a reliable guide to which mold is growing or how risky it is.
- The name usually refers to Stachybotrys, a slow-growing greenish-black mold that needs very wet cellulose, such as the paper facing on drywall and ceiling tiles.
- It shows up after a leak has gone unnoticed for weeks. In older Gettysburg-area houses that is often behind finished drywall against a stone foundation.
- The CDC and EPA treat it like any other indoor mold: remove it and fix the moisture, because common molds of any color can cause allergy symptoms.
- Size decides who should handle it. Under about 10 square feet on a hard surface, with the leak fixed, is usually a DIY job. Mold in drywall, whatever the color, is a job for a professional.
Find a company near Gettysburg
Compare mold remediation companies serving Gettysburg, or read the full black mold guide for the reasoning behind the 10 square foot threshold.
Read the full guide: Black mold: what it is and when to call someone
