HOME MILDEW AND MOLD SOLUTIONS

 

ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR HOMEOWNERS AND BUSINESSES ALIKE IS MOLD/MILDEW. WITHOUT PROPER CLEANUP AND CONTAINMENT, MOLD CAN LEAD TO COMPROMISED HEALTH CONDITIONS AND RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES ALONG WITH PROPERTY DAMAGE TO YOUR HOME AND BELONGINGS.

The most common type of mold found in homes is mildew. Mildew is a mold that grows in warm, damp places like your bathroom, kitchens, and any damp areas. Mildew begins as a gray or white powdery colony. It will turn black or brown if not removed promptly.

Hello, I’m Chris Town Owner of Town Construction in the Seattle area, the Mold, and Mildew hotspot in the US! You’re here to get some insights on the best solutions for getting rid of Mildew and Mold. Being a Home Builder /Home Remodeling Expert and a Home Water Damage Restoration Specialist, I have seen my share of Mildew and Mold for sure. If you are lucky enough to afford a person to come out and fix the problem every time you spot mold good for you. But for customers like myself, I prefer saving a little money. For severe Mold/Mildew damage call a specialist.

Know Your Enemy!
Mold is a form of fungi that sprouts from microscopic spores that are everywhere in our environment. These spores are inactive, however, they will propagate once the humidity surpasses 70 percent. Temperature that is more than 65 degrees increases the chance of mold growth. Once the cluster of mold spores spread on surfaces, they begin to reproduce and become noticeable to the human eye. You may not be aware that there is mold in your home until you see it or smell a damp, musty, moldy odor. And when you notice your allergies and asthma tend to flare.
There are key ingredients needed for mold growth in homes which are the presence of mold spores, a surface for it to grow on, oxygen, warmth, and darkness. When the moisture is present in these ingredients whether from stagnant water, high level of humidity, or a water leak, the mold problems begin.
If you have mold in the basement or crawl space, its spores will rise throughout the house. This is called the “Stack Effect”. Because of the stack effect, the warm air rises in the home and exits through the upper levels and attic. When this occurs, a vacuum is created on the lower level which draws air upward from the crawl space and basement. Mold spores, dust mites, odors, and anything in the air will be drawn into the main area of the home that is where you breathe. A mold infestation can colonize within 1-14 days.
(Courtesy of Green Home Solutions)

What helps kills mold permanently?
Hydrogen Peroxide 3% – Saturate the moldy surface and leave it for 10 minutes. Next, scrub the area with just enough force to remove black mold and mold stains.
Bleach – Use at your own discretion!
White Vinegar – You can use it safely on most surfaces, and its offensive odor goes away quickly.
Baking Soda – It’s safe for your family and pets, and it not only kills black mold, it absorbs moisture that attracts mold.
Tea tree oil – Tea tree oil is a natural fungicide that cleans up mold quickly and it helps prevent mold spores from coming back.

The best approach is preventing mold before it becomes a problem.
1: Fix Problem Areas in Your Home and Correct Them
2: Dry Wet Areas Immediately (Mold can’t grow without moisture)
3: Prevent Moisture With Proper Ventilation (Let fresh air in to reduce moisture and keep mold at bay.)
4: Equip Your Home With Mold-Resistant Products (mold-resistant Sheetrock, and mold inhibitors for paints.)
5: Improve Air Flow in Your Home (open a window when cooking or washing dishes or showering, or run an exhaust fan.)

“Town Tips” by Chris Town
As a Custom Home Builder and Remodeling Expert I’m asked this question repeatedly…what can I use that’s environmentally friendly to me and my family for getting rid of Mildew/Mold?
I use Hydrogen Peroxide 3%,  White Vinegar, and Baking Soda mixed together in a plant type spray bottle.
Hydrogen Peroxide – 20%
White Vinegar – 60%
Baking Soda – 20%
For a paste-like texture, add more Baking Soda (for cleaning kitchen and bathroom tiles grout areas). After application wait 5-10 min. then clean try. Then I spray the infected area with Tea tree oil (helps prevent mold spores from coming back).

All solutions for home living have some advantages and disadvantages…
“There are no perfect solutions out there, only the ones that are perfect for you.”
Chris Town/

Custom Kitchen Remodel Edmonds, WA.

Major kitchen renovation of a 60’s Mid Century home in Edmonds. Beautiful new dark stained custom Birch cabinets with sleek quartz waterfall edge counter tops. New high end stainless steel appliances and hardware for a totally updated look and functionality. Original oak hardwood floors were restored and re-stained for a more contemporary look. The home now has an open concept that fits the homeowners lifestyle and looks amazing! 

Town Construction & Development

"Better home Ideas for better Living"

"At Town Construction & Development We Understand That Your Home Is The Single Biggest Asset/ Purchase Most People Ever Make. We Take This Process Seriously From The Start To Handing You The Keys To Your Finished Home. We Understand That Your Home Is A Reflection Of You And Your Lifestyle. It’s Where You Entertain Friends And Family, Raise Your Children Or Just Relax . In Other Words, Your Home Is Your Sanctuary!"
Chris Town

Chris would be happy to sit down with you and talk about your home project ideas and find out how he can help you.
Call Chris: 1-206-947-8818
www.townconstructionanddevelopment.com/

CUSTOM HOME CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR ALL SEATTLE DESIGN BUILD HOME PROJECTS

"At Town Construction & Development We Understand That Your Home Is The Single Biggest Asset/ Purchase Most People Ever Make. We Take This Process Seriously From The Start To Handing You The Keys To Your Finished Home. We Understand That Your Home Is A Reflection Of You And Your Lifestyle. It’s Where You Entertain Friends And Family, Raise Your Children Or Just Relax . In Other Words, Your Home Is Your Sanctuary!"
Chris Town


Chris would be happy to sit down with you and talk about
your home project ideas and find out how he can help you.
Call Chris: 1-206-947-8818
https://www.townconstructionanddevelopment.com/

WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR ALL SEATTLE DESIGN/BUILD HOME PROJECTS, AS WELL AS CUSTOM HOME ROOM ADDITIONS & REMODELING IN SEATTLE, KIRKLAND, BELLEVUE AND THE GREATER LAKE WASHINGTON AREAS.

SKY IS THE LIMIT WHEN CHOOSING KITCHEN COUNTER TOPS

SKY IS THE LIMIT WHEN CHOOSING KITCHEN COUNTER TOPS

There many counter top materials to choose from for sure. For High-end homeowners the sky is the limit, but for mid-range homeowners LIKE ME, you have more choices to choose from and can have a Lavish and smart looking kitchen for half the price.

Being a Seattle Custom Home Builder I’m asked by clients, “Now Chris, what are your suggestions for our
Kitchen counter tops?” The answer is easy…do you want something that is luxurious, lavish; High priced and does add real estate value to your home. Let us go with Marble (Natural Stone) or better yet, Imported Marble.
Or do you want something less expensive, easy to maintain and is available in a larger range of colors other than Granite or Marble…Also it does adds to real estate value of a home. Then Quartz (Engineered Stone) is the way to go.

The manufacturing (Quartz) process allows a much wider range of colors than you’ll find in natural stones such as marble or granite. Like other hard surface counter top materials, quartz is non-porous so it resists staining much better than granite, marble and concrete.

KITCHEN COUNTER TOPS COST CHART
Granite $50 – $200
Quartz $60 – $150
Marble $125 – $350
Plastic Laminate $20 – $50
Concrete $70 – $150
Solid Surface $75 – $120
Formica $20 – $30
Stainless Steel $75 – $150
Travertine $50 – $100
Soapstone $70 – $120

Finally. questions you must ask yourself before purchasing your new counter tops.
What is your budget?
What material is best for care or maintenance?
What is the aesthetic look I want?
What will you use the counter top for?
What will work with your current cabinets?

“Town Tips” by Chris Town
Tip 1: Use Quartz for your kitchen tops and for your kitchen Island counter top you can go with a Marble (Natural Stone) or Granite.
Tip 2: A great Idea I give to clients is to diversify a bit. Your Island Kitchen counter top can have a small butcher-block counter top for cutting food on it. Of course, you can put the butcher-block counter top anywhere you want, but it will add a practical, warm and inviting look to your kitchen.
Tip 3: For your Island Kitchen counter tops stay with a solid not tile counter top. It looks more luxurious, cleaner and the upkeep and maintenance is way less difficult. 
Tip 4: Picking popular edges for your counters are practical for any use in the kitchen or bathroom. Therefore, the primary factor to consider when you make your edge profile choice is aesthetic. An Eased edge style is a slightly ‘softened’ square that alleviates that hard, sharp edge typically seen on laminate counter tops.

Chris Town
Town Construction and Development
https://www.townconstructionanddevelopment.com

The Best HARDWOOD FLOORS for homeowners

HARDWOOD FLOORS CAN BE A HOMEOWNERS BEST FRIEND

 Hardwood floors will always be popular as they are timeless and will never go out of style. There are many reasons to go with Hardwood floors. You can you restore them to look brand new again, they are durable, low maintenance and they definitely add significant value to your home. Hardwood floors have disadvantages, but so do other flooring products like carpeting, Vinyl, porcelain and Linoleum.

What are the most popular choices for hardwood flooring and costs?
Maple: Very hard and dent-resistant ($3.50–$6/sq. ft.)
Hickory: Hard density that works well in high-traffic areas ($3–$6/sq. ft.)
Oak: Durable and Hard density – (Red & White Oak) ($2–$6/sq. ft.)
Bamboo: Bamboo floors are the hardest, most durable options ($2–$4/sq. ft.
Brazilian Walnut: Extremely hard and durable ($5–$9/sq. ft.)

Always Hire A Wood Floor Professional To Install Your Hardwood Floors:
Don’t get cheap on me now! It’s true, you get what you pay for and if you don’t have your flooring installed correctly, this could be costly for you now and down the road.
I am a Custom Home Builder and before I hire a new hardwood flooring sub-contractor, I take the time
to check out a few of his previous jobs first hand. It’s time consuming for me, but if the flooring sub-contractor screws up I pay for it $ not the home owner. Do your homework and you will save money, frustration and time.
National Average cost for installation $4,500

 Chris Town’s Hardwood Flooring recommendations – Bamboo Hardwood Floors:
Bamboo Hardwood Floors are ecologically friendly, easy maintenance, more water resistant than other wood flooring materials and has great durability. Bamboo flooring can have a host of versatile colors, stains or textures.

The different color options and finishes of bamboo flooring:Two choices natural or carbonized: Natural bamboo – has been left in its original state, which has blonde and golden tones. Carbonized bamboo (smoked) which turns the bamboo into a coffee brown color. More options are now available including stone grey and chestnut brown.

Where to use it?
Anywhere you’d use wood — including baths and kitchens… Keep in mind that it has the same risk of damage from excess moisture or dryness as any hardwood flooring.
All in all, Bamboo Hardwood Flooring has the best bang for the your $ and is worth considering for sure.

"Town Tip" 
Buy the flooring yourself...save a bunch of $$$ just by doing a little searching around the big stores/lumber yards. Why should your flooring sub-contractor buy the flooring at a discount, pocket the discount and not pass it on to you.
It's easy to do, just bring a blueprint of your home with you when you buy, decide what areas you want flooring for and you are good to go. The blueprint will have all the data you need for S.F. info needed for determining how much flooring to purchase.
Always buy a bit extra flooring for future updates and any repairs.

 Chris Town
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