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As many of you know, the contractor and home improvement industry is not what it once was. In fact, new so-called home improvement companies are formed every single day.

Many of these are simply contractor employees who try to find their own clients and become independent of their employers.

While there is nothing wrong with pursuing the dream of self-employment, there are a lot of learning curves along the way – and your home should not be a subject of someone’s experiment.

The dangers of hiring an unskilled contractor can translate into a faulty siding installation, a legal mix-up, lack of building permits, or even endangering your family.

So the question stands… how can you, as the homeowner, avoid suspicious contractors who are simply chasing the next project, and protect your investment?

1. You should seek out siding contractors, not the other way around.

If a white van randomly pulls up to your home and you find yourself talking to someone about speculated storm damage or some type of promotion on a new siding installation, you should immediately become suspicious. Reputable contractors do not go door-to-door trying to scare a homeowner into buying a service their home doesn’t require or something that they themselves cannot clearly explain. To avoid this, make sure that it is you who is seeking out siding contractors when necessary, and not the other way around.

2. Always ask the siding contractor for references

The fastest way to identify a suspicious siding contractor is when they are unable to provide references of past clients in the form of phone numbers, e-mail addresses, or other. Naturally, a reputable contractor has worked in your area for quite some time, and would amount plenty of satisfied homeowners who wouldn’t mind putting in a good word if requested. Suspicious contractors wouldn’t be able to provide a reference or try to avoid that topic. Remember, always ask the reference for the home address or if they could e-mail you pictures of what was actually done!

3. Ask to see a contractor portfolio, and ensure it is actually theirs.

While the internet is a wonderful thing that enables us to do so much more and better our lives, it also provides the ability to do bad things. We’ve heard countless stories of home improvement contractors who would pull up a portfolio of another company off of a website or Google Images. Get specific with your requests and ask to see vinyl siding, fiber-cement siding, and even get specific by brands such as James Hardie. Regardless of what a contractor claims to be able to do, the best representation of their capabilities can be observed in a portfolio of their projects. That is, as long as it is actually their projects which you are looking at.

4. Conduct a Google Search Yourself!

As mentioned, the internet and mobile devices put the world at our fingertips. This makes it extremely easy to throw the name of the proposed contractor into Google and see what comes up. Perhaps a series of positive reviews on Yelp, Google+, and other platforms shows up – great! On the contrary, you could come across a lawsuit against that home improvement company from a year ago and this would raise an obvious red flag. Of course, this red flag could be raised by any number of other things such as bad reviews, bad comments on social media, and more.

Stay safe and remember these 4 tips to avoid suspicious siding contractors! After all, your home is your most valuable investment and you cherish the safety of your family. Preventative action always costs you less than trying to repair damages after the fact!

Your home is often your most prized investment, so you wouldn’t trust just anyone to work on it. In fact, unskilled contractors jump onto any opportunity to make a quick buck and will try to sell themselves as something they are not.

This is why understanding the credentials of a siding contractor prior to hiring them is vital. As far as siding is concerned, you should only work with James Hardie Certified Siding Contractors. For example, our company, KLM Contractors, are James Hardie Siding Contractors in Bucks County, PA.

Why James Hardie?

James Hardie has a wide variety of top quality fiber cement siding products. These products are not only weather-proof and fire-resistant, they also come in a great selection of colors. HardiePlank Lap Siding is becoming the new standard in siding all across America. Some of the features of James Hardie Siding include:

• ColorPlus Technology which ensures that the color of your siding will stay vibrant and vivid for a very long time!
• Weather-proof so that even during the toughest weather conditions, your home is protected!
• Fire-resistant to give you that extra piece of mind that in dry climates with lots of sun, your siding will not be affected by fire.
• Tons of styles and textures such as cedarmill, smooth, and more!
• Comes in forms such as shingle siding, lap siding, vertical siding, and more!

How To Check If My Contractor Is James Hardie Certified?

Any certified contractor will have their certification from James Hardie readily available for your viewing. This certification required a course at a James Hardie specified location followed by testing and more!

In fact, KLM Contractors not only got certified but won a prize as well at the last certification conference we’ve attended.

Remember, check out this article about the 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Siding Contractor to find out more criterias to look out for!

As a homeowner, you understand that there are always unforeseen expenses associated with owning a home. Whether it is because of a hurricane or simply because of time, all homes will eventually need some type of repair.

Still, while all repairs are important, some have a priority over others.

Whereas repairing a piece of decorative window trim may not contribute to bigger, more expensive, problems, there are elements of your home which can turn into a costly horror.

As you already infer from the title, one aspect of your home that you should never ignore is your siding. Read on to find out why ignoring your siding may cost you a fortune!

Before we continue, one thing is certain – being careful with your siding starts as early as when you hire your first siding contractor. You should only work with certified professionals who know the latest home improvement trends in products and installation processes. Read this article to learn more about hiring your first siding contractor.

Unqualified or unskilled contractors may perform faulty installations that expose your home to water intrusion, leaks, and mold. This is especially true when these contractors do not use the best quality siding. One example of a bad practice by an unskilled contractor is installing vinyl siding with a foam backing which traps moisture behind the siding, leading to rotting and mold beneath.

So, what to look out for?

You should be on the lookout for visible signs on the exterior of your home. These signs range from but are not limited to:

• Cracked or peeling siding
• Fungus growing from beneath the siding
• Warping, melting, or discoloration
• Not insulated properly, abnormally high energy bills

What happens if I ignore these signs?

Ignoring these signs and not taking action to re-side your home gives time for minor repairs to become serious problems, namely –

Mold

Early detection is the key when dealing with siding mold problems. If you notice any cracks, breaks, or abnormalities in your siding, you should contact a siding contractor immediately. In fact, you should get routine check-ups of the status of your siding to ensure that a professional who knows what to look for can check your home. If the problem is not found early, moisture can build up and create fungus and mold beneath the siding. Remember, some siding products are mold-proof and impenetrable by moisture, like this siding.

Noise

While siding is quite the best option for your home, ignoring maintenance and repairs of broken siding can result in the tight seal underneath the siding to become loose and creates a clatter during windy weather. No homeowner wants a loud clatter to keep them up at night. Avoid the stress and get your siding checked by a siding contractor ahead of time.

Appearance

Everyone wants their home to be beautiful and appealing to the eye. After all, your home is your most valuable investment and should reflect all the hard work you put into it. Unfortunately, if you do not involve a siding contractor when noticing problems with siding early on, your home’s exterior quality may significantly decrease. Cracks may turn into broken off pieces of siding and expose your home to mold damage. The color of your siding may also fade with time, unless your expert siding contractor installed the best quality siding. An example of this is the HardiePlank Lap Siding with ColorPlus Technology.

The lesson learned is …

Do not ignore your siding and act fast to prevent bigger, more expensive problems from developing. A common myth with hiring a siding contractor is that it is too expensive or that you are undertaking a risk. This is absolutely false, and if you work with the right company, you are guaranteed a fair price, warranties, and flawless workmanship. If your home is located in the Bucks County, Pennsylvania area, then we highly recommend reaching out to us for a FREE CONSULTATION to check the status of your siding.

1. Do you install James Hardie siding?

Before asking anything else, it is essential to establish that the Siding Contractor you are working with is a professional who uses the best siding in the industry. James Hardie fiber-cement siding is definitely worth your consideration for its many benefits, namely:

• Water Damage Resistant
• Durable from Cracks
• ColorPlus Technology, much better long-lasting colors.
• Beautiful Appearance, tons of options
• Fire Resistant
• Weather Resistant from wind, hail, and so forth.
• Increase Home Value

By getting James Hardie Siding for your home, you are guaranteed that the installation will be handled by trained professionals who’ve been certified in the installation process. This is a requirement by James Hardie to install their products.

2. How long will the siding project take to be finished?

To make adjustments to your schedule and help adapt for the duration of the siding project, you need to understand how long it will take. Moreover, you need to know when the siding contractor will start the work, which days they will work, and when the new siding will be done. Naturally, harsh weather conditions and other setbacks can sometimes delay the process, but any professional contractor, like KLM Contractors, will be able to make quick adaptations to the schedule and get back on track fast. The goal is to not only have realistic expectations but also communicate well with the supervisor. Feel free to ask the contractor for a timeline overview of the project to get an idea of how long each phase will take.

3. Will my property or landscaping be damaged?

Inexperienced siding contractors can do some serious damage to your property and your landscaping. Whether it is breaking a vase, scratching some trims, or even cracking a window, you must keep your home protected. To avoid hazardous situations, ask your siding contractor whether they have a plan on keeping your property safe. For example, our company that operates in Bucks County takes various measures to protecting the homeowner’s investment. These measures range from an RB4000 buggy to catch debris and other trash, protective covers on bushes and other landscaping, as well as safety construction scaffold and much more!

4. Who is the supervisor of the worksite?

Knowing and maintaining a good contact with the supervisor of the worksite is vital to successfully hiring a siding contractor. Asking who is the supervisor ensures that there is a person you can meet with, ask questions, and generally address all your concerns to. A supervisor will look over your home during the siding project and report the status and progress back to you. In fact, the way of knowing whether your experience of hiring a siding contractor will be flawless usually depends on a good supervisor.

5. Does your company provide any warranties?

It is quite common for companies like James Hardie to provide their own warranty with any of their products. In fact, James Hardie offers a 30-year limited warranty for their siding products. Moreover, you can inquire with your contractor to learn more about their workmanship warranties dealing with deadlines and project milestones. If working with a true professional siding contractor, like KLM Contractors for example, you will be informed every step of the way and understand all options which are available to you.

6. How will you clean up and dispose of trash?

A siding project can get really messy, which is something difficult to contain for most siding contractors. When working with a professional, like KLM Contractors who operate in Bucks County, you are guaranteed that trash and debris will be contained using systems like the RB4000 buggy and dumpsters. No siding contractor should leave your property looking bad or with trash. Ask your siding contractor on how they will dispose of trash and keep your property clean.

7. Do you have reviews or previous work I can see?

Any professional siding contractor should be able to provide you with a portfolio or showcase of their work. For reference, see www.klmcontractors.com/showcase which features work samples from a siding contractor in Bucks County. Furthermore, you should always ask for referrals and reviews from real customers. Most professional siding contractors will want to keep their clients’ information private so they will only disclose the contact information of past clients who permitted to be listed as referrals.

8. What is the payment arrangement and how does it work?

A vital determining factor you must address with your siding contractor before hiring them is the payment. Find out how they expect to be paid, when they expect to be paid, and how the payments are scheduled. Be careful when asked for a full payment upfront because sometimes, you do not know who you are dealing with. For example, at KLM Contractors we sit down with the homeowner and go through comfortable payment options prior to taking any money.

9. Is your company insured?

In order to legally and safely work with a contractor, you must ensure that you will not be liable for any work-related accidents on your property. Asking to see your siding contractor’s insurance information is a must. You do not want to be paying medical bills.

10. How will I be able to visualize the finished house?

This last question can be quite tricky for many siding contractors, but it also helps you narrow down the experts. Any siding contractor who is staying on top of the recent trends in technology is most likely staying on top of the newest trends in siding products, practices, and certifications. You should find out if your siding contractor has options for you to be able to visualize the finished project ahead of time in order to make an informed decision on the color, style, and design of your siding. An example of this visualizer can be seen here, www.klmcontractors.com/siding from this Bucks County Siding Contractor. In fact, KLM Contractors also offers a custom graphic design of the home for extensive projects like stucco remediation and stone veneers.

That is all for now!

Good luck hiring your next siding contractor. It can seem overwhelming at times, but just ask your potential siding contractor these 10 questions and evaluate them based on the answers. Always shop around until you find a siding contractor that you are completely confident and content with. If you are a homeowner in the Bucks County area or surrounding regions, we highly recommend using our company. We have been in business for over 20 years doing siding, stucco remediation, roofing, additions, porches and patios, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, and so much more!

Being in the business of stucco remediation for over 20 years allowed us to meet many people and hear even more stories. With each year passing year, we realized more and more just how serious mold damage truly was. Still, most Bucks County homeowners whose homes we serviced and remediated from mold were able to catch the mold pretty early on thanks to seeing their neighbors go through the trouble first. Our concern with the safety of the homeowners grew significantly in December of 2014 when we first met Natalie K., a Doylestown homeowner.

Natalie K. has been living in her Victorian-style stucco home for only three years. During this time, Natalie visited the doctor on a bi-monthly basis to seek a solution for her constant watery eyes and postnasal drip. With each visit, Natalie would go home with a new prescription or dosage adjustment for an allergy medication. Her daily life now consisted of oral decongestants, nasal sprays, Claritin, Flonase, so on and so on.

By her third year inhabiting the Doylestown home, Natalie’s health problems progressed into, “what seemed like always having a cold”. Having spent so much money on doctor visits, medications, air purifiers, and dehumidifiers, Natalie was desperate for something more than a temporary fix.

While speaking to one of her neighbors, Natalie learned that there were others who shared her problem. Her neighbor’s father, who was living in their home, developed asthma-like symptoms within six months of moving in. Luckily, their family physician recommended seeking a mold removal specialist who then directed them to a stucco remediation expert.

Natalie knew that stucco remediation was a potential solution for her health problems, and having exhausted all other solutions, she was ready to try anything.

Our team here at KLM Contractors gave Natalie a free consultation at her Doylestown home. A typical consultation consists of educating the homeowner about the risks of mold and talking them through the entire process; preparation, removal, installation, and so on.

By the end of a typical consultation, we progress into choosing a new siding, trims, and possibly a stone veneer for the home. If you are replacing your stucco, you mind as well enhance the exterior of your home in the process. We always provide a virtual graphic design rendering of what your renovated home will look like to eliminate the guesswork. After all, as a homeowner, your satisfaction with your home is our primary concern.

Working with Natalie was a pleasure, but what she reported back to us only a month after the remediation was even more astonishing.

Only a month after the stucco remediation, Natalie said, “I am breathing normally again and I am no longer wheezing at night!”, she continued, “thanks to you, I am free of spitting nasty mucus all day and wasting money on meds and other machines.”

This was truly a breakthrough experience both for us and Natalie. We always knew that mold posed severe health risks and threats to the homeowner, but not to this extreme. We are excited for Natalie and looking forward to help all future homeowners who are also dealing with the same problems.

The purpose of this article was to share the story of a fellow Doylestown resident and should not be a replacement for professional medical advice. After all, mold is quite complex and can lead to all sorts of different health risks which we ourselves do not entirely understand. Only mold advice we can give you is about getting it the heck out of your home!

Read more about anaphylaxis and the health risks associated with prolonged mold exposure here! http://www.mold-survivor.com/anaphylaxis.html

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

… is home to more than 625,000 residents and is known for beautiful architecture, historic destinations, and most importantly, an amazing community. Over the 20 years we have been servicing Bucks County, we were fortunate enough to get acquainted with countless Bucks County homeowners who were all unanimous in one important aspect – their love and respect for their property.

“My beautiful Georgian-style home is my most cherished asset, my best investment, and the fruit of my life’s work. I will pass this home down to my kids, and hopefully they to their kids.” told us John Greenarch, a New Hope resident and our client of 8 years.

Unfortunately, more and more stucco homes in Bucks County are experiencing severe levels of mold damage. The mold originates underneath the stucco because of water intrusion and spreads like a plague. Pennsylvania’s wet climates and constant humidity greatly contribute to this outbreak.

Still, when installed properly, stucco is supposed to withstand these tough weather conditions and disallow water to penetrate beneath the surface. The problem actually lies with the original installer of the stucco. Due to a faulty installation by an uncertified amatuer contractor, your Bucks County stucco home could now be rotting of mold and infestation below the stucco exterior.

6ABC reported, “hundreds of homeowners claim a construction problem of epidemic proportions is tearing through homes in the Delaware Valley, leaving them with repairs costing into the six figures”.

The Solution

In order to protect your investment and your family, you may choose to get your home checked for signs of mold. Some of these signs include stucco cracking, visible dark spots, odd smells, constant migraines, and many more. Only professional stucco remediation contractors like ourselves will be able to identify the problem and formulate an action plan to save your home.

Stucco Remediation

Because a single spot of mold can spread up to 30 feet, the stucco remediation process must be extremely thorough and eliminate any lumber or other matter that came in contact with the mold. Stucco remediation can seem overwhelming but it really shouldn’t be. The breakdown of a typical stucco remediation process includes the preparation of the property, removal of mold and other matter, reconstruction, and new siding installation. You can view the entire detailed process in our stucco remediation showcase.

What are you waiting for?

If you own a stucco home in Bucks County, PA, there has never been a better time to get your home checked for mold under your stucco. Start the process of a mold-free life and protect your investment by reaching out to us for a FREE CONSULTATION.

Stucco Remediation Costs vary …

While some home improvement projects are voluntary and planned, others can come as a surprise and be very unexpected. Unfortunately, stucco remediation fits into that second category of unexpected. This is because many homeowners are not aware that there is mold underneath their stucco until the mold is advanced and begins showing visible signs such as stucco discoloration or even odd smells. In fact, the progression and severity of the mold highly influences the cost of stucco remediation (the process of removing mold and residing the home), making the evaluation quite tricky.

All homeowners who might be dealing with a stucco mold problem must remember that with stucco remediation, you get what you pay for. Hiring an inexperienced and cheap contractor could sound like a cost-effective decision but will quickly turn into a giant mistake when the mold problem is not removed and you are left with a house that now lacks siding and your contractor became overwhelmed with the severity of the mold and ran for the hills. Therefore, as we go through the factors that affect the price, remember that stucco remediation will ONLY be effective when performed by stucco remediation contractors who are specialists.

While there is no way to pinpoint an exact dollar amount of a stucco remediation project, there are several factors that can help any homeowner understand where they stand within price ranges. Some of these primary factors include ….

Mold Progression

Numerous clear signs exist that can tell you whether your stucco mold problem is severe or only beginning. Remember, a spot of mold can grow to cover 30 feet. Early detection is they key at keeping stucco remediation costs low and the process effective. Darkened areas underneath window sills, trims, and gutters indicate that the mold is advanced, but not as severe as it could be. The most serious cases of stucco mold feature homes where stucco is peeling, cracking, rotting, and even experiencing insect infestation. Stucco homes that display these latter conditions would be on the more expensive side for remediation costs. If no visible signs exist, any odd smells or constant migraines could indicate that the mold spread inward towards the interior. These conditions, depending on detection time, could drive the stucco remediation price upward.

Size of the Home

Naturally, the more stucco there is, the more place there is for mold to spread. Bigger homes are consequently subject to higher stucco remediation costs. Still, home size costs are codependent with the mold progression because mold all over a small home could cost more than mold covering a fragment of a large home. To be precise, larger homes require more materials such as flashing, weather barriers, drip caps, and more, thus costing more.

Amount of Windows

Stucco remediation requires the temporary removal of all windows and their re-installation with proper weather barriers, drip caps, etc. The more windows, the more materials necessary as well as increase in labor time. If your home has more than the average amount of windows for its size, then this could contribute to the stucco remediation cost.

Choice of Siding

Once the stucco and mold have been completely removed, and everything underneath has been reconstructed, it is time to put new siding on your home. There are many siding product manufacturers to choose from, so it can be quite a tricky process to make that perfect choice. Fortunately, when working with professional stucco remediation contractors like KLM Contractors, homeowners are provided with all of the pamphlets, styles, and even online designer applications to ease this process. Different siding manufacturers also have very different pricing scales, and naturally whatever choice you make will reflect on the cost of your stucco remediation project. We always recommend James Hardie siding which is the leading siding products manufacturer in the nation. With tons of styles and colors of products like HardiePlank Lap Siding, HardieShingle, and more fiber-cement siding options, it is difficult not to fall in love!

Effectiveness and Professionalism

We cannot stress enough just how many contractors there are who are looking for ways to make a quick buck. Homeowners must avoid these contractors at all cost because things can end really badly. Every few stucco homes we remediate, we encounter a home where a contractor took the job but could not execute it properly once the stucco was peeled and massive mold was revealed. The cost of stucco remediation will definitely be lower if you work with one of these inexperienced contractors. But then again, can that even be considered stucco remediation at that point? This extensive process of removing the mold is quite complex and involves the proper removal of any sheetrock, lumber, and other matter that came in contact with the mold. This tricky process can only be achieved with the highest level of equipment and trained professionals.

Even though stucco remediation can seem overwhelming, fear not because the price of stucco remediation is most likely competitive to any stucco-related services such as stucco repairs, siding installations, and more!

In conclusion,

Finding out a precise stucco remediation cost is difficult until a professional has assessed the stucco problems and status. Fortunately, you can use the mentioned factors to determine whether your stucco remediation project will be on the more expensive side or not.

Best of luck to all homeowners from Bucks County, Pennsylvania and anywhere else who are dealing with stucco mold problems.

For quite a while, stucco has been the preferred exterior siding for many homeowners in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Since the 90s, new construction builders and developers would build countless Pennsylvania homes utilizing stucco products. Nobody had predicted the epidemic that was to come.

Now, this epidemic is upon us. Recent headlines are shedding light on stucco moisture and mold problems all across the East Coast. 6ABC reported, “hundreds of homeowners claim a construction problem of epidemic proportions is tearing through homes in the Delaware Valley, leaving them with repairs costing into the six figures”. This news report is referring to the hundreds of homeowners in Bucks County and surrounding areas whose stucco homes recently had major mold problems which went unnoticed. One homeowner (our client), Adam Brown, agreed to exclusively share his story with us.

Adam’s home, a 2700 square foot Colonial styled house in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was his most precious asset. He told us that, “purchasing and moving into a home like this was my dream since forever”.

Unfortunately, just a year after buying his home which was a new construction at the time, Adam began noticing a discoloration and dark spots on the stucco. At the time, Adam did not think much of it as the home was relatively new. With each passing season, the dark spots on the stucco became more noticeable.

When the stucco started to crack and peel, Adam decided to get the problem checked out. This is when he reached out to our company. “I got these dark blackish spots underneath my window sills and I need stucco crack repair,” he initially told us. One of our stucco experts gave Adam a free consultation and evaluated the damage. Upon peeling a fragment of the stucco, molded wood and other rotting matter was revealed. “I was sick to my stomach and could not believe my eyes,” Adam said.

The mold, even though discovered quite late, had still not spread to the rest of the house. Adam was extremely lucky to have contacted us when he did. We began the stucco remediation process by removing all of the stucco and mold underneath. Anything that came or could’ve came in contact with the mold had to be removed and replaced with new construction.

Very promptly, Adam Brown’s home was free of mold and he enjoyed new James Hardie Siding on his home. “The results were astonishing; no more mold ever again!” We were successfully able to remediate Adam’s property before it became a $100,000 problem. Lurking behind something like cracked stucco can be a way bigger problem, so contact a professional if you have ANY suspicions.

Who does this affect?

Sadly, stucco mold and rotting is evident in new constructions the same way it is in the older homes. Anyone who owns a stucco home, new or old, in Bucks County and surrounding areas should be on alert. Unfortunately the ones who suffer are the inhabitants of the property, meaning you and your family.

What do I do?

The best action plan when dealing with mold underneath the stucco is to avoid inexperienced contractors and anyone offering to fix cracks in your stucco. In most cases, these contractors do not have the ability to check and evaluate the status of your stucco. Instead, the first thing you should do is reach out to a professional stucco remediation company. An example, in case you are a Bucks County resident, would be a company like ours – KLM Contractors. We’ve been solving stucco-related problems for decades now and always install the safest and best siding available. Our specialties include fiber cement siding, James Hardie Siding, vinyl siding, premium insulated siding, and much more!
Here is our recent trending article about stucco remediation. 10 Myths About Stucco Remediation.

High precipitation levels and extreme atmospheric conditions are leaving homeowners troubled as water damage impacts their stucco homes. This is a growing issue in the East Coast in places like Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Water intrusion leads to mold, rotting, and even infestation below the stucco. 6ABC News reported that, “within a 30-mile radius of Philadelphia, this is a $1 billion problem.” Unfortunately, many unskilled contractors are trying to profit from homeowners without truly understanding the stucco remediation process nor being equipped for it. Therefore, to keep you safe and informed, we constructed a list of 10 Myths About Stucco Remediation.

1. “Mold is always visible.”

Sometimes homeowners in denial turn to the excuse that unless they see mold, there is none. Naturally, this misconception can be quite dangerous because mold problems progress rapidly if not remediated by professionals. Mold can hide in odd places and develop beneath the stucco where it is only visible upon removing stucco. Later stages of stucco mold can be visible on the exterior through dark spots and discoloration. Early detection of mold is possible only by trained professionals who are stucco remediation experts.

2. “A little mold never hurt nobody.”

While the seriousness of symptoms changes depending on the individual, mold has been known to cause allergic reactions, headaches, asthma, and even respiratory damage. The most severe cases of mold exposure are said to possibly cause cancer due to aflatoxins. Keep yourself and your family safe by not disregarding mold as harmless.

3. “There are surfaces that are immune to mold.”

Over the many years that our company has been remediating stucco homes in Bucks County, we’ve heard many myths and misconceptions about fixing stucco damage. One homeowner told us that beneath the stucco of his home were special wooden beams that were immune to mold. To understand why this is impossible, one must understand the capabilities and behaviour of mold. Mold can truly grow on any surface as long as it is in contact with water, in a humid area, or constantly damp. In fact, even if this surface is in contact with water damaged material, it can develop mold. Therefore, mold can truly grow anywhere in and around your home.

4. “Only houses in wet climates can be victim to stucco mold problems.”

Many homeowners in Bucks County believe that cracked stucco and stucco mold problems only occur in wet climate areas. The reality, though, is quite different. Even though the outside air may be dry and not seem humid at all, your home may still develop mold and require stucco remediation. This happens because the outside climate is not the only factor that affects what happens beneath the stucco, between window trims, and behind gutters. Mold thrives in any area where there is trapped water, humidity, and possibly insect infestations. These factors provide a great environment for the development of mold, regardless of the outside climate.

5. “There are laws that regulate mold problems.”

As of right now, no national guidelines exist for dealing with mold testing, remediation process, contractor qualifications, and so forth. Luckily, multiple states are striving to establish firm regulations about mold problems, identification, and repair processes. The conclusion here is to be very selective and careful with who you hire to remediate your stucco home.

6. “Simply removing mold and cleaning the area will do it.”

Having tendencies to replicate every 24 hours or so, mold must never be underestimated. As long as the mold has a source of water or is exposed to excessive humidity, it will continue to grow and spread. The only sure way to get rid of the mold is to employ a professional stucco remediation contractor company. This is necessary because all areas where water damage occurred must be removed completely as well as removing the source of the water. Stucco remediation experts will do a complete removal while installing water resistant barriers and completely rebuilding the damaged material. Our company, KLM Contractors, has perfected this process over the past 20 years.

7. “Stucco remediation is expensive!”

A common myth is that stucco remediation is too expensive for the average homeowner. The reality is that stucco remediation demands precision, expertise, resources, tools, and materials in order to be successful. In order to save your home while protecting your family from mold exposure, it is vital that you work with a professional company that knows exactly what they are doing. Hiring a cheap inexperienced contractor or handymen will at best result in a temporary fix and the quick return of lurking mold. Stucco remediation is made affordable through various options which you can discuss with professional stucco remediation experts.

8. “Mold only happens after a flood.”

Once again, mold grows from moisture, access to water, wet climates, and excessive humidity. Outside factors such as wet climates are often not the sole reason for mold beneath the stucco. A common misconception is that mold problems arise only after a flood. Stay safe and get your Bucks County stucco home checked for free by our company.

9. “Any general contractor would’ve noticed stucco mold problems.”

While there are many contractors and handymen who are great at fixing your closet or even putting up a new wall, it takes a trained professional to identify stucco mold problems and be able to do stucco remediation if necessary. Therefore, do not think that just because a contractor came in to replace a window last month, he would’ve noticed a stucco mold problem.

10. “Mold is normal and happens to all homes.”

Wrong! Many homes that experience mold problems do so because of a faulty installation of stucco and other mistakes by the original builders of the home. Upon removal of the stucco along with the mold and damage beneath, our company always rebuilds everything underneath and places water barriers in place. We utilize James Hardie siding over HardieWrap which results in no more mold problems ever again! For over 20 years, none of the Bucks County stucco homes we’ve remediated ever experienced mold problems again.