FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Building Science is the study of how various systems work together and their effect on Moisture Management, Indoor Air Quality, and the Energy Efficiency of a building. Through Building Science, is we can gain a strong understanding of the phenomena that a building structure undergoes and what the related factors are. Building science draws on principles and knowledge from various branches of science, including life sciences, Architectural Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mechanics, and others.

Ensign is a Building Science Company. We apply Building Science Principles in everything we do, whether performing mold, water, and fire restoration, providing solutions to improve Indoor Air Quality, or working on a custom home project. No other company in the building science industry has greater expertise or breadth of service offerings than Ensign Building Solutions.

Yes. Ensign builds Custom Luxury Homes, Log Homes, Lake Homes, Vacation Homes, Mansions and other high end luxury homes. For more information on building a Custom Home, visit our Custom Homes Website.

EnsignLuxuryHomes.com

Ensign Building Solutions was established in 2005, giving our team over two decades of experience in mold remediation, radon mitigation, water and fire damage restoration, indoor air quality, and custom home construction.

Ensign Building Solutions is an IICRC Certified Firm and holds certifications including Council-Certified Mold Remediation Supervisor and Certified Radon Measurement and Mitigator. These certifications reflect our ongoing commitment to industry best practices and the highest standards of training across every service we offer.

Ensign Building Solutions is headquartered in Cumming, Georgia, and proudly serves homeowners and builders throughout the Greater Atlanta area. We're an active member of the Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce, the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association.

In order to understand how to prevent mold, it's important to understand how mold grows. Mold requires 3 things to grow:

• Oxygen
• An organic substance to feed on
• Sufficient Moisture

Of the three listed above, the only variable that can be adequately controlled is Moisture. The most effective way to prevent mold to grow is to control the amount of moisture within your home.

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Mold is a microscopic fungus that is part of the natural environment. Mold is all around us, indoors and outdoors. It is a necessary part of our ecosystem. While mold is necessary in the outdoor world, too much mold inside a structure can be dangerous and unsanitary. Mold reproduces through spores that float freely in the air. Once these spores land on a moist surface in the right conditions, mold will begin to grow.

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Yes. Mold requires oxygen, an organic surface, and sufficient moisture to grow. Elevated levels of moisture within the home in the form of water vapor can create an environment that is conducive to mold growth. If the relative humidity within the home rises to 65% relative humidity or higher, there can be enough moisture in the air for mold to grow.

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Once floating spores land on a damp surface, mold begins to grow in as little as 24-48 hours. Mold will continue to grow for as long as it has a moisture source. Eliminating the source of moisture will stop the mold from continuing to grow.

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Bleach is not an effective way to kill mold on porous surfaces. It only kills the surface mold, leaving the roots behind to grow back.

• Bleach is a common household cleaner that is often used to kill mold. However, it is not effective at killing mold on porous surfaces, such as wood, drywall, and carpet. This is because bleach only kills the surface mold, not the roots. The roots of mold are what attach it to the surface and allow it to grow back.
• If you use bleach to kill mold on a porous surface, it will only be a temporary solution. The mold will eventually grow back, and it may be even more difficult to remove the next time.
• If you have mold on a porous surface, the most effective way to kill it is by using hydrogen peroxide.

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Read our blog post: Should I Use Bleach To Kill Mold?

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1. When vetting out a mold remediation contractor, make sure your contractor is properly insured, specifically with pollution coverage.
2. Make sure they are properly certified through a reputable certifying firm, such as the IICRC or ACAC.

Mold poses significant health risks. If you suffer from allergies, exposure to molds can trigger symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, skin irritation and even other more severe reactions. In addition to health risks, many people aren’t aware that mold can cause serious structural damage to a home or business. As mold grows on surfaces, it metabolizes organic materials, such as wood.

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Basements and crawlspaces are more susceptible to mold growth because they are below grade, meaning that they are surrounded by Earth below and on at least one side. Basements and crawlspaces often have higher relative humidity because the air temperature is cooler below grade and ultimately does not hold as much moisture as air above grade.

Ensign Building Solutions is certified for mold inspections and remediation. Our technicians are specifically trained and equipped with the right tools to handle any mold situation.

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If you are experiencing issues with mold, we have some tips for you on how to vet a mold remediation contractor.

No. Mold is all around us as it is a natural part of our indoor and outdoor environments. When performing mold remediation, the primary goal is to bring the environment to a normal fungal ecology, also known as condition 1.

Finding mold in your home or business is unfortunate and it should be handled by a professional. Mold grows very fast and it is highly recommended to call in professionals, like Ensign Building Solutions, to come perform a thorough inspection, identify the source of mold growth, and perform remediation.

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For people who suffer with allergies, mold can trigger allergic reactions and other symptoms such as watery nose, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itching, difficulty with breathing, fatigue, and even inflammatory response. The more exposure you have to mold over time, the more severe reactions and symptoms can become. It's important to have mold removed immediately and properly to avoid further issues by eliminating mold growth in your home.

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Mold reproduces via tiny spores. When disturbed, these spores can become airborne and can travel throughout your home or business. Once these spores land on a wet surface, mold will begin to reproduce and spread.

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Radon is a radioactive gas that naturally occurs from the decay of uranium in the Earth's soils. Radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it undetectable to the human senses. The only way to know the levels of radon within any home or building is to test. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States every year after smoking.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends for homes to be fixed once radon levels reach 4 pCi/L. Being that this is only a recommendation by the EPA, this should not be considered as a "Safe Level" of radon exposure. Radon is a Class A carcinogen that can cause lung cancer over a lifetime of exposure. Because everyone's body responds differently to radon exposure, in reality there is no such thing as a "Safe Level" of radon exposure.

There are no immediate symptoms related to Radon exposure. The only known health issue linked to Radon is lung cancer. Each year in the United States, it is estimated that more than 21,000 people die from lung cancer caused by exposure to Radon. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States behind smoking. There is no evidence suggesting that asthma, or any other respiratory disease, is linked to or caused by Radon.

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The only way to know if your home has high levels of radon is to test for it. Known as the "silent killer," radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, making it undetectable by the human senses.

Homeowners can test by themselves using a Radon test kit. This testing method is as simple as following the instructions to set the device out and then send it in to a lab for processing. The lab will then send back a report indicating what the radon levels are in the home. Another method to test is by hiring a certified radon professional. A professional will likely perform a short term test using a Continuous Radon Monitor to measure the radon levels every hour for a 48 hour time period. The most accurate form of testing is a long term test which will last a period of 90 days.

A Radon Resistant New Construction (RRNC) is a home in which a builder has planned for and installed a Radon Mitigation System during the process of the home's construction. By doing this, the builder is able to conceal the piping through a wall or chase and out of the home through the roof. The Radon Mitigation System will enhance the Indoor Air Quality of the home by reducing the homebuyer's exposure to radon, therefore lowering the risk of contracting lung cancer.

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The new construction phase presents the optimal opportunity to address radon due to its cost-effectiveness, convenience, and effectiveness. By implementing radon-resistant construction techniques and mitigation measures from the beginning, occupants can enjoy long-term safety and peace of mind, while avoiding the need for costly retrofitting or potential health risks associated with radon exposure.

The United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that each home be tested for Radon every 2 years. Radon testing should also be performed after any major home renovations that affect the natural stack effect on the home.

Yes! The recommendation is to test each home every 2 years for radon, even if you have had a radon mitigation system installed. This is the best way to test the effectiveness of the mitigation system and to keep exposure to radon levels as low as possible.

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Every radon mitigation system installed by an Ensign certified radon technician comes with a 5 year warranty on the fan and a 1 year on labor.

Yes, rainfall may cause a temporary increase in radon concentration levels within the home. Rainfall can create a capping effect on the soil around the house increasing the likelihood of Radon entering the home from beneath. Also, Radon is invited into the home due to the stack effect, which is the natural rise of air due to pressure and temperature differentials. The dynamics of that pressure and temperature changes with rainfall, often increasing the stack effect.

Every person's response to radon is different. For one person, developing lung cancer may take being exposed to higher levels of radon over a short period of time. For another, it could take lower levels of exposure over a much longer period of time. Each and every person's response to radon is different, making it difficult to determine how much exposure it takes to develop lung cancer.

No. As long as proper ventilation is accounted for in the building process, there is no such thing as building a home that is too tight.

With every home that we build at Ensign Building Solutions, our motto is to "Build it tight, and Ventilate it right."

Asbestos is a group of 6 different minerals that are naturally occurring in the environment from certain types of rocks. Asbestos is made up of very small fibers that are invisible to the human eye. Because of its fire & heat resistant properties, asbestos was used as an insulator in homes for heat and sound in the 1940s to 1970s.

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Exposure to asbestos happens by breathing in asbestos fibers. When Asbestos fibers in building materials are disturbed and become airborne, they can be inhaled and remain in the lungs for a lifetime. Exposure to asbestos and breathing these fibers into the lungs puts someone at risk for developing lung disease, or better known as mesothelioma.

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Unless materials in your home are labeled as having asbestos, the only way to be certain is to have your home tested. If you are unsure if materials in your home have asbestos, you should treat them as if they do. Until these materials can be tested, do not disturb them to keep potential asbestos fibers from becoming airborne. If you are planning a renovation in your home and you are unsure if the building materials have asbestos, you should have your home tested before performing the renovation. If you would like to have your home tested, visit our Indoor Air Quality Page.

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Many factors determine if inhaling asbestos will have harmful effects. Some of these factors include:

• The amount of asbestos inhaled
• The duration of inhalation
• Other personal factors such as age, gender, lifestyle, etc.

After inhaling asbestos fibers, there can be "latency period" between 10 and 40 years before feeling sick. There are no immediate symptoms, such as coughs, sneezing, itchy throat, watering eyes, etc.

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Indoor air quality is affected by a combination of factors, including excess humidity, airborne contaminants like radon and mold spores, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from building materials and household products, and inadequate ventilation. Because modern homes are built tighter for energy efficiency, pollutants and moisture can become trapped indoors without a proper ventilation strategy to exchange stale air for fresh air.

Excess humidity inside a home creates the moisture mold needs to grow, and can also make airborne pollutants and allergens linger longer in the air. Keeping relative humidity below 65% helps prevent conditions that are conducive to mold growth and generally makes a home's air feel fresher and healthier to breathe.

An ERV, or Energy Recovery Ventilator, continuously exchanges stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while recovering the energy from the outgoing air to precondition the incoming air. This allows a tightly sealed, energy-efficient home to maintain healthy air exchange without a big spike in heating and cooling costs, supporting Ensign's approach to "build it tight, and ventilate it right."

VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are chemicals that off-gas from everyday sources like paint, furniture, cleaning products, and building materials. At elevated concentrations, VOCs can cause headaches, eye and throat irritation, and other health effects, and because they build up more easily in tightly sealed homes, proper ventilation and air quality testing are important for keeping VOC levels in check.

Common signs include stale or musty odors, visible mold growth, excess condensation on windows, and household members experiencing allergy-like symptoms, headaches, or fatigue while at home. Because many pollutants like radon and VOCs are undetectable to the human senses, professional indoor air quality testing is the only reliable way to know what's really in your home's air.

Yes. Radon is a radioactive gas that seeps in from the soil beneath a home and is a leading cause of lung cancer, while mold spores are microscopic and become a health concern when moisture allows them to grow and spread indoors. Both are common contributors to poor indoor air quality, and both require dedicated testing and mitigation, which is why Ensign addresses radon, mold, and general air quality together as part of a whole-home approach.

Working with insurance companies on water damage issues can be a cumbersome task. Ensign works directly with your insurance company on your behalf to make sure that you receive the maximum possible for your claim to fully restore your home to pre-damage condition. We have experienced water damage restoration professionals who can assess the damage to your home and facilitate an efficient claims process.

Shut off the water source if possible, turn off electricity to affected areas for safety, and remove or elevate valuables and furniture out of standing water. Contact a water damage restoration professional as soon as possible, since mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure, and the sooner mitigation begins, the less damage and cost you'll typically face.

Most water damage restoration projects take anywhere from 3 to 7 days to fully dry out a structure, though this depends on the extent of the water intrusion, the materials affected, and how long the water sat before mitigation began. Larger or more severe losses, especially those involving structural drying or reconstruction, can take several weeks.

Yes. Any time building materials stay wet for more than 24 to 48 hours, conditions become favorable for mold to begin growing. This is why fast water extraction and thorough structural drying are critical parts of the restoration process, not just removing the visible water.

Water mitigation refers to the immediate steps taken to stop further damage, such as extracting standing water, removing damaged materials, and drying out the structure. Water damage restoration is the broader process that follows, which includes repairing or rebuilding any structural elements, flooring, or drywall that were damaged, returning the home to its pre-loss condition.

Common signs include a musty odor, discoloration or staining on walls and ceilings, peeling paint or wallpaper, warped or buckling flooring, and unexplained increases in your water bill. If you notice any of these signs, it's worth having a professional inspect the area, since water damage that isn't addressed early can lead to mold growth and more costly structural repairs.