Black Mold Removal in Mulberry, FL

Does dark mold mean something worse is growing?

Not on its own. Many common household molds look black or dark green, and EPA says color doesn't tell you how risky a mold is. What matters in a Mulberry house is how big the patch is, what it's growing on and why that spot stays wet. A dark film on bathroom grout is a ventilation and cleaning issue. A dark stain that keeps widening on a ceiling or creeping up from a baseboard means water is getting into the building and the mold is probably on the back of the drywall too. EPA notes that indoor mold can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs, which is reason enough to deal with it whatever the species.

Why does it keep coming back after I clean it?

Because the moisture is still there. Mulberry is a small inland city in Polk County's Bone Valley, about 30 miles from Tampa, known for phosphate mining. Being inland keeps storm surge away, but Polk summers are hot and humid and air conditioners run most of the year. A condensate line clogged with algae, a drain pan that overflows into a closet, a shower without a working exhaust fan or a flashing leak around a roof vent will keep feeding the same patch. Florida DOH advises drying wet building materials and carpet within 24 hours after water gets in. Bleach on porous drywall only lightens the surface; the growth underneath stays.

What does a proper removal involve?

First the leak or humidity source gets fixed. The room is sealed with plastic and kept under negative air so spores aren't pushed into the rest of the house. Colonized drywall, insulation and carpet are cut out and bagged, solid framing is cleaned, HEPA-vacuumed and dried, and the area is checked before walls are closed. In Florida the remediator can't also assess the same structure within 12 months, so a clearance check, if you want one, comes from a separate assessor. Ask whether the job supervisor holds a Florida mold remediator license and look it up on DBPR's site.

One more local note

For health questions, the Florida Department of Health in Polk County lists indoor air quality among its environmental health services at its Bartow office, and anyone with symptoms should talk with a health professional. If walls or ceilings have to be rebuilt after removal, ask the City of Mulberry which permits apply to your address before work starts.