Water Damage Restoration
One of the reasons for drying water soaked carpets, structural materials and contents is to prevent permanent damage caused by fungi and bacteria. Saprobic fungi (which includes mildew andmolds) and bacteria are responsible for decomposition of all organic material. Under the right conditions fungal spores germinate and form hypha. During this process, the spore absorbs water through its walls, the cytoplasm becomes activated and division takes place. The growing tip of the hypha eventually branches out. This is the beginning of the mycelium. Growing tips that come in contact with other hypha often fuse with them to become a hyphal net. Mildew is the mass of threadlike hypha and fruiting structures produced by various fungi in the division Mycota. The mildew we encounter is caused by one of 50,000 species of saprophytic fungus that lack chlorophyll and feedoff dead organic materials. Since fungi possess no chlorophyll, they cannot photosynthesize and they obtain their carbohydrates bysecreting enzymes into the surface on which they are growing. The enzymes digest the food, which is then absorbed directly into the hyphal walls of the fungi. Generally acid growth substances arc needed as a food source. Saprobic fungi utilize most types of organic materials such as lignin, cellulose and other polysaccharides. Fungus spores are everywhere and arc just waiting for the right conditions for growth in every structure. Most mildew is mesophilic and grows best between 68 and 86 degrees. Most mildew will not grow where it is colder than 55 degrees or warmer than 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Mildew also prefers an environment that is damp and dark. It is interesting to note that is does not grow well where there is good air ventilation- good reason for using Turbo Dryers. Another characteristic of mildew is that it won't grow when totally submersed in water. Mildew and other fungus spores arc present in every structure, yet they usually remain dormant when materials are dry and the humidity is below 60% Rh. Mildew and fungus spores quickly become active when organic materials become damp and/or the humidity increases above 60% RH (Relative Humidity). Most likely you've seen the effect of fungus growth many times. A walk through a forest attests to the power and rapid growth of fungi on wood materials. A fallen tree soon decays. A mailbox post must be treated with wood preservative to retard decay. Fungus feeds and grows on the grout between the tiles. Even cedar, the most resistant of woods, becomes a home for fungus on roofing shakes.
At Group One Restoration, our professional staff utilizes state of the art techniques to address all possible problems to ensure best results!
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At Group One Restoration, our professional staff utilizes state of the art techniques to address all possible problems to ensure best results!
Request A Quote