7 Tips for Preventing Mold In Your Home

Exposure to mould is more common than you think!

Your home may be covered with mould, but you don’t realize it. Exposure to mold is common both inside and outside the home. Some people are more sensitive than others, especially those with allergies and asthma. Because mould spores are very small and can easily be inhaled into the lungs, it is harmful to live in a home with high mould levels. Exposure to high spore levels can cause severe mould allergies.

How do I know if I have mold and what do I do?

Moulds grow on organic materials such as wood,paper, leather, dirt and soap scum. They grow best at warm, moist temperatures, between 15 to 28 degrees Celsius.

The simplest way to detect a mould problem is using your own senses. A musty odor is one indication. Not only is mould smelly, but can be many different colors from black and gray to orange and green. Watermarks on the ceiling and walls are also a telltale sign.

Most often bleach and water can be used to rid the house of mould. The problem is this does not guarantee that the mould will not come back in the future. The only way to keep your house clean is to prevent mould from occurring.

Here are 7 tips for mould prevention:

1. Wet materials need to be dried quickly.

   Mould will grow within 2 days given the right conditions. Leaving your wet towel or other item lying around inside or outside the house gives mould a chance. Ever left your laundry in the washer for too long? The nasty smell when you pull it out is mould.

2. Cleaning, disinfecting and drying surfaces prevents mould growth.

   Surfaces like sinks or floors are also favorite places for mold; more so if they are wet most of the time. Luckily these are typically non porous surfaces (tile, stone, laminate…) which makes them ideal for disinfectants and other cleaners. Some people consider the strongest and safest method of disinfecting to be a vapor steam cleaner. Once finished cleaning, make sure no moisture remains. Mould can grow faster than you think. Making sure your surfaces are dry prevents other hazards for the residents living there too.

3. Reduce moisture levels in the bathroom by running an exhaust fan during and after showers.

   Your foggy mirror isn’t the worst problem you’ll have if you don’t use the fan during your shower. The moisture in the air is getting into every nook and cranny, the kind of places that are very hard to clean, even if you do notice the mold growing there. Exhaust fans help minimize the moisture level in the bathroom as well as the possibility of growing mold.

4. Fix plumbing leaks and seepage to prevent the buildup of moisture and prevent the growth of mould.

   Leaks are caused by pipes that have disintegrated already. It is important to replace old pipes as soon as they show signs of being dilapidated. The moisture from a leaky pipe will travel much further than just the visible signs. No matter how much you try to keep the house clean, there are still areas that you are neglecting or can’t get to. Those are the places mould loves to grow.

5. Store clothing, camping gear, and other occasional use items dry and clean to prevent the growth of mould.

   Thoroughly dry your items before putting them into storage. Try to put them outside or in places where there is air circulating. The last thing you want to find out on a camping trip is that your tent was put away wet last time and is covered in mold.

6. Increase the flow of air within your home.

   Moving furniture away from walls and opening closet doors to permit air circulation limits the growth of molds. Confined spaces and dark areas should be kept ventilated. Open windows are preferable over fans and air conditioning. There should be a stable availability of fresh air coming inside the house to prevent mold.

7. Deal with your basement!, and prevent condensation.

   Lets face it, no one likes going down to the musty basement. You just need to man (or woman) up and deal with it. Whether that means running a dehumidifier, installing a foundation drain, or getting more air circulation, don’t let that moisture remain trapped under you home. Insulating walls and installing storm or thermal pane windows keeps walls warm and limits condensation.

Other additional mold prevention tips :

You may not realize it yet but those beautiful plants you have in your home could be harboring unwanted friends and foes. Plants are great for helping to keep the air in the home clean but can also be a source of mold. Moulds like to grow in the soil of our house plants and sometimes on the leaves.

One simple treatment can help keep your houseplants mould free. Taheboo tea can help to retard mold growth in your plants soil. Just adding this tea to your house plant water in a mild solution is enough to do the trick!

If you have any questions around mould and how to remove it call Wash Rite on 0800101216 for free advise

How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?

It’s dirty work, but every house has to do it or get it done. Your gutters need to be kept clean and free of dead leaves, birds’ nests, and other debris. It’s just a fact of life when it comes to owning a home.

And it’s especially true in New Zealand, where summer is so dry and fall, winter, and spring are so wet. Why? Because we tend to forget about our gutters in New Zealand until it’s too late.

Dry leaves, tree branches, and other material can accumulate in your gutters during the dry summer and you won’t notice until your gutters start overflowing during the first big rain of the season. Or worse, you won’t notice at all.

Today I’ll answer a few questions many homeowners have about cleaning their gutters, including why it’s necessary, how often it’s necessary, and most importantly how to clean your gutters.

What Can Happen if You Don’t Clean Your Gutters?

It sounds like a simple question, but the reality is that unclean gutters can lead to many complex and costly problems. Let’s look at a few of them

Leaky Gutters & Mold

If you don’t clean your gutters, the first problem to crop up will be clogged gutters and downspouts leading to standing water collecting in your gutters and overflowing. As dead leaves decompose, the water in your gutters will become filthy and mold will start growing and will contaminate your roof and house siding.

In our wet climate, mold is common and can cause a host of health problems if it gets inside your house. And it’s tricky (and expensive) to thoroughly clean, so it’s best to stop mold before it starts.

Leaking Roofs & Floods house

Replacing your roof is a major undertaking– even if you put a new roof on top of your existing roof. The best strategy is to get the most out of your current roof by protecting it from the elements.

If you put off cleaning your gutters, your roof can and will leak. Water that doesn’t drain to the ground can accumulate on the roof, soaking through eves and fascia boards and causing significant damage.

The same goes for your basement or lower levels in your house. If your gutter’s downspouts are clogged, don’t drain into a storm water pipe or far enough away from the house (at least 6-10 feet is recommended), or are disconnected from your gutters, water can seep into your houses foundations.

This can cause damage to anything you have stored in the lower level of your house , as well as to your foundation itself. You might also damage your heating units, circuit breakers, and other utilities in the lower parts of your house.

Cracked Foundations

A cracked foundation is a major headache for any homeowner. Repairs can be very costly. But an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By extending your downspouts away from your home (and making sure water is flowing through them), or connecting them up to the stor water piping system you’ll protect your foundation from cracks. Foundation cracks are caused by water damage and by expanding ice during the coldest part of the winter.

Bugs & Other Critters

Gutters are a magnet for insects, birds, mice and other animals. Warm moist decomposing leaves are a rich source of food for many pests and once they’ve settled into your gutters, their next stop will be inside your house.

If you discover birds or other wildlife, call your local animal control center for advice.

Driveway & Yard Damage

When it comes to your lawn and plants, too much water is just as bad as not enough. If your gutters aren’t draining water properly, water can pool up (even underground) killing delicate plants.

Too much water that isn’t draining properly can cause slick mold to grow on your driveway, or freeze into slippery ice during the winter. Both of these problems can lead to falls and potentially serious injuries, especially to kids and older adults.

How Often Should You Clean Your Gutters?

Like many other questions, the answer is, “it depends!” Many experts recommend cleaning your gutters at least twice a year– once in the late spring and once in the late summer/early fall. But there are a few factors that might make you reconsider.

If you have pine trees growing above your house, consider inspecting your gutters every 3 months. The reason for this is because pine trees shed needles year-round (and they have a lot of needles to shed).

If you’re at a higher elevation, ice is your biggest worry. Making sure your gutters are clean throughout the winter is a bit of a headache, but damage to your roof caused by ice is a real pain. Better to catch it before it starts.

If you have any questions about gutter cleaning feel free to call Wash Rite on 0800101216 or visit http://washrite.co.nz/contact-us/ and we will be happy to give you a free quote or answer any questions you have on gutter cleaning in New Zealand.

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR DRIVEWAY OR CONCRETE AREA'S CLEAN

There are a few easy steps you can take to keep your driveway clean and free from moss, mould and gunge. Now there is no replacement for getting a professional company in to clean and treat your driveway and hard surfaces. These tips are for after the professionals have been in and cleaned your concrete and you wish to keep it looking clean and just like it was brand new. For a free quote on the initial clean click FREE QUOTE

After your driveway is clean and you wish to keep it clean you can follow some or all of the bellow points.

• Mix a 10 to 1 bleach to water solution and spray that over the concrete once a month, The sodium hypoclhorite in the bleach will kill and moss, mould and gunge spaws before they can grow.
• If you have fruit tree's in your garden you would almost certainly spray them with cooper sulphate on a yearly basis. Next time you spray your fruit trees make a little more up than you need and spray any concrete area's. Nothing kills moss, mould spaw's as fast as cooper sulphate.
• A very Eco friendly option os to spray the concrete with vinegar, This is not as fast as bleach but will slow down the return of the moss and mould dramatically as it puts the PH balance out and its not ideally growing conditions for the moss and mould.
• The best long term option if its available is to trim or cut down any plants or trees that is shading your concrete, direct sunlight is great for stopping moss and mould growing, As you will see it always grows on the shaded side of your house. Sunlight is free so try this step first.

If you have any questions please visit our website at www.washrite.co.nz

COST AND BENEFITS OF WASHING YOUR ROOF

If you’re noticing black streaking and stains on your roof, you may be thinking it’s time to replace it. You’re dreading the cost of such a large project, but before you start calling for estimates, you should consider calling a profession roof cleaning service first like Wash Rite.

HOW BAD IS THE DAMAGE?

If you can see the algae, lichen, moss, mildew or mold on my roof, that’s not a great sign. We can’t say for sure if your roof is damaged beyond repair without seeing it first, but unless the roof system is over 15 years, it’s probably safe to say you could have it cleaned and gain considerably more time to save up for a total replacement down the road.

The plants growing on the roof can be killed and washed off with a good low pressure wash. Wash Rite not only gently washes your roof to protect your roofing material warranty, we also apply an algaecide/fungicide to inhibit future growth.

WILL A ROOF CLEANING SAVE ME MONEY?

Absolutely, a roof cleaning will save you money. First, hiring a professional company to wash and protect your roof saves you 90 to 95 percent of the cost of a total replacement right off the bat. If the roof is still within its service life, you won’t need to come up with the $10,000 plus to replace the roof if it is of an average size, slope and standard materials. The cost savings jumps from there if you have a cedar, shingle, slate roof, as these are considerably more expensive to replace.

On top of those savings, by removing the sun-absorbing black stains, you’ll restore the reflective properties of the roofs protective coatings, which can help reduce the heat-trapping in your attic and reduce your summer cooling costs.

WILL A ROOF CLEANING EXTEND THE LIFE OF MY ROOF?

In our wet and humid climate, plant growth on roofs and home exteriors is so common that we can say yes, a good cleaning and algaecide/fungicide application will extend the life of your roof. In our climate zone, the average roof life, without regular cleaning, is 14 to 18 years. In New Zealand, where roof cleaning has been routinely practiced for the better part of 40 years, the average roof life is 24 to 28 years. That’s a 10-year extension of roof life! With regular roof cleanings and no storm damages, you might need to replace your roof twice in 50 years. Without cleanings, you may end up replacing it every 15 years.

WILL A CLEAN ROOF ENHANCE MY HOME’S CURB APPEAL?

It sure will. If you’re putting your home on the market, any streaking, staining, moss or lichen growth on the roof is going to stand out like a sore thumb and turn prospects away. They’ll see a maintenance chore or re-roof awaiting them, so they will be discouraged from buying. We highly recommend a good low pressure wash cleaning not only for your roof but your whole house as well. You should be able to get top dollar with a bright clean property.

Before you start calling roofing companies, give Wash Rite a call. Or, you can schedule a free estimate online. We would be happy to come assess your roof to see if it’s a good candidate for a money-saving roof wash. Contact us today!

Wash Rite Servicing Waikato and Wellington http://washrite.co.nz/services/roof-wash/

Franchising Your House Wash Business

Wash Rite House Washing - Hamilton & Wellington 

Now you have grown to the point where you have a decent market share in your local market. Its clear to you that growth in that market will still happen at a fast pace but not as fast as the first 12 months was. But you still want to expend into new city's and new towns. You have two main options.

1st is to open up satellite depots in those city's and run it as a company owned operation. This is a great option as you have 100% control over everything. But it has major draw backs as well the two main ones are you have to pay for everything and pay up front before you get any type of return. second is you have to hire staff to help run it for you and we all know staff on wages done care anywhere near as much as someone who has money on the line.

2nd option is sell franchises in those are's you want to open up. This is in my opinion the best option. As long as you vet the person you sell the franchise too and go into business with honest hardworking people it should be a win win for all involved. They foot the bill for all start up cost's and you train and give them guidance on how to run there business and make money at the same time.
You also get the benefit of franchise fees or royalties depending on how your format the deal. Just remember it needs to be a win win for both parties.

At Wash Rite we have just sold our first franchise to Tim Beale down in Wellington, He has been set up with all New Equipment provided to us by our friends at BE Pressure and he has undergone 3 weeks training in 2 blocks, 1st block was a 1 week period and than the second was a 2 week block of training.

After this training Tim is up to speed on sales and marketing, quoting, client relations, basic business management and actually doing the work. A few days Tim left our head office with his van fitted out, signed written and a head full of knowledge and is now back in Wellington spreading the Wash Rite word. Tim already has over 14 jobs booked in over the next two weeks and he has only just started.

This type of business format will only work if you both work.

At Wash Rite its our intention to roll out 4 more franchises in the next 12 months across the country and grow our service network, We intend on being the largest domestic service's company in the country within 5 years and we are on track to doing this.

If you have any questions around franchising or growing your service business please just ask.

Troy Hillard
Wash Rite NZ
www.washrite.co.nz