Most of us know what mold looks and smells like. It is that "mildewy" smell also known as the "basement" smell. Well that leads me to the Number One thing you MUST know about mold.
1. Your eyes and nose are the best possible mold detection system known to man! Many clients that I visit will tell me that they just can't seem o get rid of that "basement" smell and they can see a mildewy substance on wood surfaces near the floor in their basement. Then they ask, "Do you think I have a mold problem?" So, upon witnessing these symptoms for myself, I tell them that I am 100% sure that they have mold growing and I recommend that the mold is remediated. A very high percentage still demand that we take a Mold Sample to be tested and they ALWAYS come back positive. The testing process has many very good uses but when it is sensually obvious I honestly think that the quicker the mold is remediated, the better off the homeowner. So let us all trust our eyes and noses. If you can see it and smell it, skip the mold test and get the problem solved. That leads me to our next item.
2. An interior area of 10 square feet or more covered in mold is considered by the EPA as a SERIOUS mold problem that needs professional attention. Many homeowners that are handy will see a couple walls, half covered in mold and start ripping them apart and hauling the exposed moldy materials off to the dump. This is a VERY dangerous situation. The high exposure to mold spores and the introduction of these spores into other areas of the home can cause major detrimental health affects to those with mold sensitivity. The EPA and mold organizations have unlimited resources for do-it-yourselfers so that they use the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and mitigation methods.
3. Most of us are not born with a high sensitivity to mold. The number one reason that people have allergic reactions to mold is from past or continued exposure to mold spores. Mold is not something that our bodies can build up a resistance to. Just the opposite is true. As mycotoxins from mold enter our bloodstream they latch on and the more spores we inhale the more of these little colonies of mycotoxins are formed. If these mycotoxins build up to a certain level, the result is an allergic reaction and sometimes severe respiratory distress. Many people who suffer from mold allergies are really suffering from their bodies' inability to filter out the mycotoxins quickly enough.
4. Exterior Doors and Windows have a high mold potential if not properly flashed. When windows and doors become part of the building's envelope they need to be properly implemented into the shell's water management system. Many of us have seen homes being built and noticed the different types of "Housewrap" that contractors use. The housewrap is there to reduce and eliminate water from getting onto the wooden exterior of the houses' framing. Flashing is used around external protrusions and chimneys to become part of the envelope water management system. Many older homes do not even have this system. If the flashing is properly incorporated with the housewrap, no water should enter the building envelope. If improperly installed, or non-existent, water can settle into window and door frames, rotting organic material and causing huge clusters of dangerous mold.
5. Moisture control is the key to mold elimination. All the mold cleaning process does is eliminate the existing spores of mold. Unless you address the moisture problem, the mold is going to come back. I use finished basement walls as an example. I have met with countless individuals that notice some mold, rip out a few sections of drywall and then patch it up, thinking that they have solved their mold problem. That is unfortunately not the case. Unless the moisture came from a broken or leaky pipe, appliance or another water disaster, it is very likely that the moisture problem needs to be addressed. Water enters basements in numerous ways and we recommend some form of basement waterproofing to address a wet basement.
Autor: Lois Bartels
Lois Bartels is the owner of Green Bear Innovations, Massachusetts greenest home improvement company offering green insulation, basement waterproofing, foundation repair, sump pump installations, mold and radon assessment and remediation. We use energy efficient products, recycled/recyclable materials and hold a high standard for resource conservation during all installations. We are based in Reading, MA and serve the entire state and also RI, CT and NH.
Added: January 23, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/
Posts
0 Comments:
Post a Comment