Sometimes the Problem is More Than Mold
Posted by George Salter on Fri, Oct 23, 2009 @ 09:36
We all know that mold contamination negatively affects indoor air quality. In other words, when a building has a really bad odor, mold is often to blame, at least in part. But there can be a whole host of other reasons for bad odors, and they can be pretty nasty.
Imagine a house where the garbage has piled up for months, cats or other pets run wild, and the house is infested with rodents and insects. Get the picture?
This is what we call "distressed property". The house is full of e-coli and other bacteria and pathogens. Sure, there's plenty of mold throughout the house, but that may be the least of the problems. Sadly, sometimes we find elderly people living in these squalid conditions.
Take a look at these photos. From the second we stepped into the house, the odors just knocked us over.
In cases like these everything has to go, and it's a dirty, difficult job. The garbage and trash has to be removed and disposed of, along with animal waste and contaminated materials. Then the cleaning begins.
The process of cleaning a distressed property is not unlike our standard protocols for mold remediation. Usually there is a lot more damage to the structure, though. Hardwood floors that have been saturated with cat urine, for example, is hard to save.
As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words. Take a look...
