Attic ventilation is critical to maintaining even attic temperatures throughout the year. In the summer, proper ventilation vents excess heat. In the winter, it prevents the buildup of excess moisture and accumulation of water condensation.

If you live in the Northeast, you know that the summer of 2009 has been wet and rainy. Between May and June, Pennsylvania had over 10 inches of rain. In New York City, rain fell for 23 out of 30 days in the month of June.

Black Mold, also known as Stachybotrys Chartarum, is a greenish-black fungus that grows well in materials with a high cellulose content. In homes, that includes drywall, carpet, wallpaper, ceiling tiles, flooring and more. Water damage, flooding and a dark, moist environment can create the conditions that allow mold and fungus to grow.

Both mildew and black mold have similar properties. For example, both black mold and mildew thrive in wet environments and can grow on most surfaces. Both are a type of fungus and thrive in cool and damp areas.

As the number of REO (Real Estate Owned) properties rises, the link between foreclosure and mold keeps growing.

Is black mold removal a do-it-yourself job?

Mold spores are everywhere, including your home. To grown and thrive, spores need water, air, the right temperature, and food.

Mold remediation (or mold removal) involves an expert assessment of a mold problem and its severity, removal of the mold, and repairing any structural damage that was caused by the mold infestation. Throughout the process, the source of the problem is eliminated so the mold does not return again.