This is great for the property owner until an incorrectly winterized home feels the effects of a frozen pipe burst and a house full of water. Is it worth it to save a few dollars now if later on, you need to clean up a big mess? Ask yourself “If this goes wrong, how much is this going to cost me to extract the water and restore my home back to normal?”

On top of that we remember that no one is checking in on these properties and that water may have sat in there for weeks or maybe even months and now mold is growing all over the walls?

Is it really worth it to get a $50 savings on a winterization that could cost you $20,000 down the road?

Every year we receive calls for a pipe burst, water extraction, and restoration of the property! Purofirst of Milwaukee takes pride in our work and we’ll work to fix your issues right away. We know time is of the essence and it is important that is done the right way the first time, so we never cut corners, eliminating nearly all of the large, unforeseen issues.

If you are unfortunate enough to experience a pipe burst in your property or a property of someone you know contact us today! When times are tough we want to step in and help you out, fix the problem, and take the stress out of the job for you!

Contact us:

Tom Gaeth, 262-786-9400 or 262-385-1271, email TomG@purofirstofmilwaukee.com or enter your information below.

1. Mold is known to cause health risks
The longer the mold sits, the more it grows and the more potent it can become. Each mold strand can have different effects on different individuals ranging from severe headaches to causing a fever. It also is known that children who grow up in a house with mold are two time more likely to develop asthma. Mold has different effects on all people, but is more prone to attach the respiratory system of the young, the old, and those who currently have a weaker respiratory system.

2. The longer mold sits the faster it multiples, costing you more

This means that when you do decide to have it remediated your cost may be much more than it would’ve been if the problem would have been addressed right away. Once a water source has found its way into your home, mold will multiple and the affected area will continue to spread. Address the mold issue on the front end and save yourself time, money, and the headaches it carries with it.

3. Cutting corners when it comes to mold will cost you

There are no guidelines as to who can remediate mold and who can’t. When you get multiple estimates do not always go for the cheapest. If the source of the water is not fixed first, the mold will come back. There are no cheap ways to remove mold, so always make sure you can trust the contractor you hired. Ask for references, check out their website, and be willing to spend what is necessary. In the end you may do it cheaper, but if it comes back again the cost and headaches will make you wish you paid more the first time around for a professional!

Once the mold is remediated correctly and the source of the water is fixed, the chance of mold returning again is the same in your house as it is on any other home. Fixing the water source should prevent any future mold from growing unless another source of water finds its way in to your home. Mold is nothing to be scared of. There are mold spores in every house; it’s a matter of not letting it get to the level where it can become a risk, which in most cases is caused when water sits.

It is important to hire someone you trust who has done this in the past with results. There is no cheap way to remove mold. If proper precautions are not set up, such as containment and negative air scrubbers, the mold spores will spread throughout the house and will cause extreme headaches for you down the road.

Check your home, especially your basement and attic weekly or monthly for water and mold, as these are the two most frequent places you will find mold. If you see any sign of mold during your next inspection, call us today because the longer it sits, the more dangerous it becomes, both financially and physically! Don’t let your next disaster be hiring the wrong contractor!

For more information or for a free estimate, please contact Tom Gaeth and he or someone else on our Purofirst team will contact you within 48 hours.

Contact us:

Tom Gaeth, 262-786-9400 or 262-385-1271, email TomG@purofirstofmilwaukee.com or enter your information below.

Wisconsin, specifically Milwaukee, has been hit hard with properties that contain mold and water damage. Emergency water damage cleanup is required in these situations. In most cases the bank or credit union will give the realtor the authority to get estimates on testing for mold, mold removal and remediation, and mold restoration.

It is important for you to get an estimate from certified mold inspectors and restoration companies. Mold is a serious matter that can not only cost you financially, but can become a health risk to those who have weaker immune systems.

When it comes to mold in homes that are bank owned or still have a homeowner, mold easily becomes one of atop few problems that will instantly make an interested buyer walk away. We recommend you remediate the mold before putting your home on the market, whether you are a homeowner or a realtor with a REO property.

Purofirst of Milwaukee has taken over the southeast part of Wisconsin, to work directly with realtors and home owners to remediate their mold problems. We will find the source of the mold, properly and safely remove the affected area, remediate the area with the appropriate chemicals, and restore the area to look brand new!

Studies have been done where home prices dropped as much as 40%. This is a very serious case, but in the end this is why you need to fix the problem early on before it becomes this large. Mold is one of those issues that most homeowners don’t want to deal with and ending sale price will verify this.

People are very reluctant to dive into a house that had issues that they themselves are uneducated on. We all know what mold is, but not everyone is willing to take a risk on the unknown. Mold could have been removed recently and still be very prevalent in the house, but be in areas not visible to the human eye, like behind drywall.

This is why it is recommended that you have a professional come out who can test spore counts in all areas of your home to make sure the full problem is handled in one shot. Cutting corners when it comes to mold is going to cost you, one way or another.

Here is what you need to remove mold from your home:

1. Protective Gear: Filtered Mask, Gloves, Protective Eye Wear, Old Clothing
2. Materials: Sponge or Rag, Non-Amonia Soap or Detergent, Bleach

If the surface is hard, such as countertops, glass, or brick, take your Non-Amonia Soap or Detergent and scrub it on the surface with your rag. Depending on the severity of the mold, this may take a few minutes. Do this until all mold in removed. Severe cases may require professional removal.

Once mold is removed, mix ¼ cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Open windows to allow for ventilation. Wash down with a different rag than you used to remove the mold. Let the surface remain moist for 10 to 15 minutes. Wash area with clean water, and then quickly dry.

If the surface is porous, this includes carpet, drywall, and wall coverings, manual cleaning will not work. In this case it is best to remove surface, clean affected area, and replace with new material. We recommend you always seek professional opinion. Free estimates can be requested and you can then make the final decision.

We recommend that if you fall into one of the above categories that you seek professional mold remediation help right away. Also, it is very important to take care of the mold right away whether you are young or old, healthy or unhealthy. You can do this yourself or contact a professional. Waiting to fix the mold problem can not only increase the risk of health problems, but it can also lead to a very expensive project. The sooner you fix the problem at hand, the less money out of your pocket and the less risk of health issues.
Some health issues that can be caused by mold include severe headaches, rashes, fever, and fatigue. These in turn could turn into much serious issues for those who have weaker immune and respiratory systems, as well as the young and old.

To save the headaches down the road, we recommend you take care of the problem right away, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional.

Since properties are sometimes left months or years without maintenance, these houses take on some huge issues, and values plummet. Mold and flooding are two issues that if caught early on can be fixed reasonably.
However, once the water level rises and months pass, the water soaks into materials such as wood floors, tile, and drywall. Mold starts to spread throughout a room and grows at a much faster pace. This is when days of demolition are needed to purify a very large area. Costs can sky rocket.

This is why it is imperative for REO managers, banks, and credit unions who run into foreclosed properties look for restoration companies to look after these properties to minimize the cost until the home market rebounds. Because when it does, the houses that are well maintained will sell well before the homes that have water, mold, or any other damage. Not many people want to take that risk on.

If moisture is detected early on, mold growth can be prevented or minimized by fixing the intrusion spot of the moisture. Remediation includes fixing intrusion spot, water cleanup, and removal of mold that has grown to date. Rebuild the area back to normal condition, whether that may be replacing drywall or paneling, or any other surface that was affected. If you prefer to have a professional do this, contact a mold remediation company in your area.

1. Leak in a plumbing pipe

a. Immediately call a professional to fix the pipe before it turns into a financial issue.

2. Foundation runs towards your house

a. During heavy rain or a hot day in winter, large amounts of water can get into our home. Look for discolored or damaged walls or moist areas.

3. Roof Leak

a. Look for areas where shingles are missing or broke. Patch immediately. Chimney Cracks can also lead to water intrusion. Caulk immediately.

4. Ice Damming

a. Over time the ice will push up under your shingles and when it melts it can find its way into your attic or garage ceiling. We recommend buying a snow rake and clear the first four feet of your roof. This will prevent ice damming.

5. Gutters

a. Overfilled gutters with leaves, shingle rocks, and sticks can lead to a backup in your gutters which in turn forces the water to back up. We recommend cleaning your gutters once in Fall, Spring, and Summer.

We recommend you buy a moisture meter and mold testing kit at your local home improvement store or ask a professional to come in for a free evaluation and estimate. Cutting corners when it comes to mold is going to cost you. So make sure you do it right!