What Is Black Mold?
"Black mold" usually means dark mold growing on wet materials, and sometimes one species, Stachybotrys chartarum. You cannot tell the species by color alone: many dark molds look alike, and only a lab test can identify it.
Whatever the type, a large dark patch is a sign that a material has been wet for a long time, and it should be treated seriously.
Where Black Mold Grows in Tampa Homes
- Bathrooms, around showers, tubs and exhaust fans
- Under kitchen and bathroom sinks
- Ceilings below roof leaks
- Walls and carpet after flooding
- Attics, crawl spaces and around AC ducts
- Behind furniture on outside walls with condensation
Why You Should Not Remove It Yourself
- Scrubbing or spraying can release spores into the air and spread them to other rooms.
- Bleach and household cleaners do not remove mold roots from drywall, wood or insulation.
- The area you can see is often smaller than the area that is damaged behind it.
- Without fixing the moisture, mold comes back.
Rule of thumb: small spots on hard surfaces like tile can sometimes be cleaned carefully. If the patch is larger than about 10 square feet, is on drywall, or keeps coming back, call a professional.
How Black Mold Is Removed
Inspection
Find the full extent of the mold and the moisture source.
Containment
Plastic sheeting and negative air keep spores in the work area.
Removal and cleaning
Materials that cannot be cleaned, such as soaked drywall, are removed. Surfaces are HEPA vacuumed and cleaned.
Dry, fix, check
The area is dried, the leak is fixed, and a clearance test can confirm it is clean.
Black Mold FAQ
Is black mold dangerous?
Mold can cause allergy-like symptoms, and people with asthma, young children, older adults and anyone with a weak immune system can be more sensitive. If you have health concerns, talk to your doctor.
How much does black mold removal cost in Tampa?
It depends on the size, location and materials involved. You get a quote after an inspection.
Can I stay in the house?
For small jobs usually yes. For larger areas the pro may advise you to keep out of the work zone or leave for a short time.
Will the mold come back?
It will if the moisture problem is not fixed. Good remediation includes finding and correcting the cause.
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