How Quickly Does Mold Start Setting In?

Mold is a naturally occurring substance found easily anywhere, but its presence in a natural environment doesn’t mean it won’t harm your property or you. Mold can become a big problem if it gets the proper environment to grow, as it can quickly start growing and spreading on building materials all over your property. 

The mold growth will cause health problems for people exposed to it and damage the surfaces it is growing on. However, the good news is that mold growth is preventable, and if you take appropriate steps to stop its development, you won’t have any concerns. The problem is that mold is extremely fast to appear, grow, and set in. 

Therefore, it’s essential to know about the causes of mold growth so that you can take the necessary steps to prevent it from becoming a major problem. It’s also better to contact mold remediation experts at the first sign of mold in your property, such as the 911 Restoration of Fayetteville. 

What Causes Mold Growth?

You will experience mold growth on your walls and ceilings after your property has suffered water damage. Mold spores need two things to grow: an organic food source and a moisture source. However, moisture is the most vital thing for mold growth, which is why mold is commonly noticed after your property has developed a water leak or flooded. 

Excessive water allows mold spores to thrive because they have all the moisture they need to grow and set in quickly. Moisture is also abundant in many building materials. Insulation, drywall, wood, and other building materials commonly used contain cellulose, a substance used as food by mold. 

As these materials are commonly found within businesses and homes, all it needs for mold to set in is a little bit of moisture. Once there is excess moisture in the property, it won’t take long before mold starts growing and setting in. 

How Fast Does Mold Grow and Spread?

How fast mold grows and spreads in your property will depend on several factors, such as the building material it’s set in, the mold species, and the amount of moisture present. If mold is given the proper conditions, it won’t take much time to germinate and grow. In general, it can take as little as 24 hours before mold grows after a surface has been exposed to moisture. 

In four to ten days, the colonization of mold spores will begin, and in 17 to 20 days, you will see visible signs of mold on your property. Typically, moisture present in a property for an extended period creates the ideal conditions for mold to grow and spread. 

When a moisture surface comes into contact with mold spores, it only takes a couple of hours before they have enough food to spread and set into the material. The air will also be filled with mold spores numbering in the thousands, making it hazardous to breathe inside. The mold spores will also travel inside your property and stick to other moisture surfaces, causing a severe mold problem. 

How Does Mold Cause Damage?

Whenever mold starts setting on a surface, it begins using the materials found on the surface as its food source. The organic materials will become the fuel mold needs to grow stronger, damaging the structure completely. The mold will destroy the structure from the inside if it is left for an extended period. In such cases, the mold will eat the structure while growing inside it. 

Eventually, the structural integrity of that surface will be ruined beyond repair, which will leave it unsalvageable and ineffective. Apart from the structural damage mold causes, it can wreak havoc in terms of your health as well. Anyone exposed to mold for prolonged periods can suffer from allergies, including wheezing, skin and eye irritation, and coughing. People who have breathing problems or are elderly may suffer severe problems with prolonged exposure to mold. 

How to Stop Mold from Growing?

The best way to prevent mold growth is to control the amount of moisture present in your property at any time. However, that’s next to impossible when your property has suffered extensive water damage from a flood or water leak. In that case, you must take action fast and try to limit the moisture in your property. It’s essential because water spreads all over the property quickly. 

Any furnishings or building materials that absorb moisture will keep absorbing further moisture until there is none left, which means that moisture will spread deeper and further. We mentioned above that mold can start growing and setting in at least 24 hours after you have suffered water damage, which is why you must act fast. 

Try to extract all excess water with a wet vacuum, and try drying out the property thoroughly. You must ensure that there is no moisture left inside because, as we know, mold will grow and thrive when there is moisture present inside. However, extracting and drying your property thoroughly is tough, particularly if there is significant water damage and a lot of water inside. 

It is best to contact the mold remediation experts at 911 Restoration of Fayetteville in such cases. Our expert teams will offer a free on-site visual inspection and answer all your water damage and mold growth questions.