Concrete Slab and Floor Water and Mold
Problems
from Water Wicking Up From the Ground Thru the Concrete
Q.
Is there a formula - or best practice - for the cure time on a concrete slab
for a new home. Is there a way to measure the amount of moisture coming
from the slab and or what is the threshold to be below so that mold will not
grow? [Aug. 23, 2005]
A.
The concrete cure time is not the problem. Be sure the concrete has adequate
amounts of waterproofing compound mixed into the concrete to turn the entire
concrete slab into a impenetrable water and moisture barrier. Also, it would
be wise to install the best possible rubber membrane waterproofing barrier
beneath the concrete and to make sure the workers don't damage it during
concrete installation.
Q. First, I appreciate all the
information on the website. The question I have is about the basement
floor. I moved into a house a few years ago and laid vinyl tiles in the
basement. The squares started to pop up and leak in the seams. Come to
find out the moisture content is high in the floor. It was taken up and
carpet was laid, it was recommended that I tape plastic down as a moisture
barrier; I am not so sure that was a good idea. The carpet now is showing
stains from the bottom and there are a few brown spots that make us
concerned about mold. Do I need to pull the carpet up, or have a company
do it? What can I do to fix the problem? Can I lay any type of flooring
in a high moisture floor that will not cause mold? [February 28, 2005]
A.
Unfortunately, your wet concrete floor problem is common. Many basement
floors and many concrete floor slabs have no moisture barrier beneath the
concrete, the moisture barrier was damaged during negligent installation,
or it has degraded over time. The result is that water beneath the
concrete wicks up from the ground into the concrete, making the concrete
wet, which makes the tiles, carpeting, and walls resting on the concrete
wet also and thus driving mold growth. You need to remove all of your
flooring, clean the flooring to the bare concrete and then do it yourself
or hire a cement contractor to install a new top layer onto the floor of
at least one inch thick or more of cement containing adequate amounts of
waterproofing compound to make the new concrete floor topping totally
waterproofed and to be your new and strong moisture barrier. As to present
mold growth in the basement, follow the 25 steps for safe and effective
mold remediation You would be wise to mold test your entire home using
do-it-yourself mold test kits [available from your local large hardware,
home improvement, or safety store] or hiring a
Certified Mold Inspector.
Q.
I believe there is mold underneath the sheet tile in my downstairs half
bathroom. There is not a tub there, just a sink and toilet. The
townhouse is built on a concrete slab in 1992. I bought it in 1997. I
noticed that there was a blue color around the toilet when I bought the
place. I figured I would just replace the flooring. I didn’t know
anything about mold. Now I want to replace the floor not just in my
bathroom but the whole kitchen. If it is mold growing under my vinyl
sheet tile floor, how would be able to get rid of it. Would the glue used
to put the floor down cause problems for me to remove the mold. Over the
past year, I have noticed blue areas have grown through out my floor in
the bathroom. A floor specialist said that the mold would be trapped
under the floor and I could put new flooring over it. I would think the
mold could still spread throughout. [Feb. 1, 2005]
A.
You are right that the mold needs to be removed. You cannot ignore mold
growth, which can easily spread through out your entire floor area and
into the walls, if it has not already done so. The mold growth beneath
your floor covering is probably driven by water wicking up from the ground
into the concrete. Your home has either no water barrier beneath the
concrete, or a damaged or degraded barrier. If this is your home’s
problem, you will also likely have water and mold problems inside walls
resting on the concrete slab and beneath and in carpeting, etc. You need
to have your home carefully mold inspected and tested by a
Certified Mold Inspector. The problem can not be easily and affordably
fixed. At least in your bathroom and kitchen area you can remove the
flooring and glue, kill and remove the mold, and apply a surface layer of
concrete containing waterproofing compound as a good foundation for your
installation of replacement flooring. Learn the 25 steps for safe and
effective
mold remediation.
Q. I'm in Prescott Arizona at 5500 feet
elevation. On my concrete basement floor, I have a fuzzy white mold
popping up in places. It has been a very wet winter and there was minimal
moisture coming up through cracks in the concrete. What species of mold is
most likely growing and how dangerous is it. [Jan.
31, 2005]
A.
Any mold species in elevated levels indoors is unhealthy according to the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. To learn the precise mold species of
the mold growing in your basement, you need to send a sample to the mold
analysis laboratory. Mold growing on concrete from a wet concrete
slab is a very common problem. Your first step should be to fill and seal
all floor and wall cracks with a waterproofing compound designed for such
purposes---check your local hardware or home improvement store. If the
problem persists, put a one inch new concrete flooring down over your
present floor, with adequate amounts of waterproofing compound in the
concrete mix to make your entire basement floor into an effective water
barrier against water leaks and water wicking up from the ground into your
basement floor. Learn the 25 steps for safe and effective
mold remediation. You can also use one of the low-cost
Mold Home Remedy Recipes available at
Mold Mart.
Q. We recently have had days of rain
here in San Diego. My cement garage floor (1st time ever) has white fuzzy
mold all over it. First I washed it with diluted bleach, the next day it
came back. I just poured straight bleach on it but it still is coming
back. I am running a dehumidifier in the garage which is never necessary
here in San Diego as it is so dry. Also, my washer & dryer are in the
garage. What would you recommend as my next course of action? [Jan. 18,
2004]
A.
Because of the extreme amounts of rain your area has recently
experienced, the ground is very saturated. Water is coming up through
the garage floor by wicking upwards through the concrete. Most homes
have no moisture barrier beneath their concrete slabs, an ineffective
barrier, or a degraded barrier. Water penetration of a home through its
concrete slab is an extremely big problem in California and worldwide.
If the rest of your home is also on a concrete slab, you may have the
same problem in your entire house. The wetness in the concrete will
cause mold growth inside the walls of your home resting on the concrete. Bleach is ineffective for killing mold. Please visit:
Bleach Mold. You should also
mold test your entire home with
do-it-yourself mold test kits [available from your local large hardware,
home improvement, or safety store]. |
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