Learn the 25 steps for safe and effective mold remediation.
 

Mold Advice and Help from Toxic Mold Expert Phillip Fry
 
           Q. I bought a house a little over a year ago with a freshly painted basement.  About 6 months ago white mold that looks like cotton candy started to push the paint off of the walls.  The mold grows into the cinder block and is crumbling the face of some of the blocks.  The wall that is the worst seems to be the driest in the basement.  It is under the interior wall of our two car garage and therefore shouldn't have a lot of water against it outside either.  I have tried bleach and the mold killers from Home Depot.  I sealed it with a deep penetrating oil primer on the cinder blocks after using the mold killer.  I have moisture absorbing pots by each wall of the basement.  I have also been opening the windows to air it out frequently.  The humidity level in the basement is around 47-50%.  None of these things have stopped the mold.  Any ideas?  Do I need to get a dehumidifier to reduce it further?  Will  the mildew proof paint help or will the mold push it off the wall from behind? [Feb. 3, 2005]
         A. Bleach is ineffective to kill mold---visit Bleach Mold. Mildicide paint is usually ineffective to control a mold problem. Another dehumidifier would enable you to keep the indoor humidity to a mold discouraging 30 to 40%. Read the 25 steps for safe and effective mold remediation.

          Q. I would like your opinion on whether or not professional mold removers are required. I realize that do-it-yourself kits are prevalent, but sometimes professional help is necessary. Exactly how much mold is too much to remove by yourself? [July 5, 2004]  
          A.  The problem is really a lack of money by most homeowners to be able to pay for mold inspection, mold testing, and mold remediation. Only 3% of American families are financially strong. About three-fourths of all US homes have a serious mold problem. If each one of the homeowners only has the option to pay for expensive professional mold remediation, where will each family get the $10,000 to $50,000 or more required for pay for professional mold remediation? Certainly not from homeowner’s insurance policies, most of which have effective mold damage exclusions from coverage and other legal barriers to payouts for mold problems.  Most families are struggling to make their credit card payments, etc. If everyone were rich, any mold remediation job that required mold containment walls to be built would be the kind of mold job best left to professionals. Learn the steps required for safe and effective mold remediation. Another serious problem is that most mold contractors are poorly trained and they take many unfortunate shortcuts which often leave mold problems worse AFTER the alleged remediation than before hand. Homeowners can learn how to do effective mold remediation on a budget by reading the in depth mold  advice ebook Do-It-Best-Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing, and Remediation.  

            Q. I have a question regarding some sort of growth that is visible along the outside edge of my roof.  It appears to be a moss-like substance.  It looks like moss but is not really green, it's more black.  Much taller than what I imagine mold would look like.  Does this sound like it could be some form of mold and should I have it tested?   [May 11, 2003]

          Q. We recently moved into a new home in November of 2002.  the house is 40 years old in cedar rapids, Iowa. I noticed mold growing on basement walls on the northwest corner in December same year.  a few weeks later, moving my twins cribs around, i found mold--a pink, green, black fuzzy-- in the same NW corner as the basement.  recommendations from various people was to clean with a strong bleach & water solution.  Checking the locations a month or so later, there was more in the basement--more in my babies room--and then i found some in my bedroom closet on the same north wall.  my 11 month old daughter has had some respiratory problems.  The pediatrician has suggested keeping it cleaned up as much as possible.  My husband is looking into building up the foundation outside and blowing in insulation (as my father-in-law suggested) this summer. I have just started investigating this myself & will be contacting our local health board--realtor purchased from--previous owners (if possible)--& contractors to see if problem can be solved in anyway.  I found your site on the web and would appreciate any info or direction you can send my way. [May 3, 2003]

          Q. My Dad's 45 year old home in Dallas has a musty smell for years and black mildew around most of the baseboards for years also. Where do I start with seeing if it is just mildew or a toxic mold. The insurance company just sent him a letter saying it would only cover up to $5000.00 unless he took out additional coverage. [April 20, 2003]  

          Q. I recently moved into an apartment complex in January 2003 and my unit is located on the ground level.  While completing the walk-thru inspection I noticed mold/mildew in several closet areas.  Since moving in I have discovered there was not a filter in the air/heating unit and the closet area for the unit shows water damage on the ceiling, walls and the floor is wet.  I also found three tupperware bowls (side by side) hidden in the intake air vent.  Now within the last several weeks there is a terrible odor in the master bedroom closet and the bedroom itself (very musty and gas type smell).  If I sleep in the main bedroom I become sick to my stomach from the odor.  I have also developed breathing difficulties (the morning after sleeping in the bedroom is the worse), coughing, etc.  I have notified the apartment office to no avail thus far.  Today it is raining and the carpet in the bedroom felt damp so I went to the corner of the room and pulled it up.  To my disgust they put new carpet over old padding, the wood strips are rotted, the concrete floor is damp/wet, and the concrete flooring is broken up and in some areas there is actually sand/dirt as though the concrete has broken down.  Besides all that, there are dead bugs all around the floor.  Sorry this has been so long, but where do I go from here.  I'm afraid that another day in this apartment could be harmful to my health.  Please help! [April 10, 2003]
          A. Your health problems, the visible water damage, and the mold smells tell you that you need to do one thing: move out immediately to a mold safe place to live. Most landlords will not spend adequate funds for professional and effective mold inspection, mold testing, and mold remediation. During any time you spend trying to get your landlord to do mold inspection and repairs  [that they won't ever do] harms your health. After you move out and prior to your returning the apartment key to the landlord, you could have the apartment physically inspected and mold tested by a very thorough and professional Certified Mold Inspector.  If the Inspector's physical inspection of the apartment and the mold test results from our mold test laboratory show serious mold infestation, you can hire a mold lawyer to go after the landlord for harming your health and your possessions and any other legal relief suggested by your attorney. To find a mold lawyer, please visit: Mold Lawyer  Don't move your clothing and personal possessions which may be mold contaminated until you first do mold decontamination using the directions in the mold book Do-It-Yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Testing, and Remediation..  Otherwise, you may mold cross-contaminate the place to which you move.

          Q. When looking for a mold tester and remediator, what qualifications should you look for?  What type of certification is best? Also, looking for a listing of animal related illnesses related to mold infestations in your house. [Feb. 9, 2003]
          A. As to your first question on mold certification, you should insist on a Certified Mold Inspector, Certified Mold Remediator, and/or Certified Mold Contractor who is trained and certified by the Professional Certification Institute [P.C.I.].  If there is no mold inspector, remediator, or contractor, listed in your area, please email: envirodangers@yahoo.com for the names of Certified Mold Inspectors in your area who have not purchased advertising web pages on our sister websites. 

          Q. My wife and I are planning on buying a home soon. How can we make sure that whatever house we select doesn't have a mold problem? [June 9, 2003]
          A. You are very wise to worry about this problem BEFORE you make your selection and BEFORE you sign a home purchase agreement. First, learn how to do a basic mold inspection on your own as you tour various houses for sale by reading the do-it-yourself mold inspection tips in Phillip Fry's book Mold Health Book. Second, if your personal inspection reveals no obvious mold or water problems in the house you wish to purchase, please include in your purchase agreement that your purchase is subject to your having the house inspected and tested for mold problems and other indoor environmental problems [as well as the normal home inspection] within 21 days of the date of acceptance of your offer by the seller, and also subject to your approval of the results of such a mold and environmental inspection and testing. You would be wise to obtain the advice of your attorney as to the best way to word such a mold, environmental, and home inspection contingency clause. Third, once you have the seller's acceptance of your offer, hire a Certified Mold Inspector to thoroughly inspect and test the house for both visual and hidden mold problems and infestations. Fourth, if the inspection and testing report reveals that there is a mold or other environmental problem, you may want to reconsider your plan to purchase that particular house, or to reduce the purchase price by the high cost that may be incurred to remediate and remove the mold contamination.  

         Q. Why is mold so much in the news now, but not even in the news at all just a few years ago? [Jan. 10, 2003]
         A. The actions of two Texans are the primary reasons why mold health problems went from obscurity to the front page of hundreds of newspapers and into hundreds of TV and radio news casts. The first Texan is Melinda Ballard whose new, million dollar plus mansion in Dripping Springs, Texas, was overrun with the deadly, toxic Stachybotrys mold, causing severe and permanent health damage to both her husband and her young son. Melinda, the former owner of a New York public relations firm is a very skilled communicator who has expended thousands of hours conducting media and scientific tours of her mold-laden former home [now the most televised mold infestation cesspool in the world] and to answer media questions in hundreds of interviews. The fact that she and her husband won a 32.1 million dollar mold lawsuit trial award against Farmers Insurance [recently reduced on appeal to about 4 million dollars] significantly increased her national stature as the number one mold warrior. The second Texan [Texas- born and a former Houston KHOU-TV newsman]  is national CBS News anchorman Dan Rather whose two "48 Hours" mold specials featuring the Melinda Ballard family mold tragedy really got the attention of the American public about the grave health risks presented by indoor mold contamination. The strong  viewer impact of the two Dan Rather mold specials inspired hundreds of newspapers and TV-radio stations to do their own mold awareness features and news stories. Ever since there have been people, there have been human health risks from mold. Read about Biblical Mold Inspectors.

         Q.  I suspect that there may be toxic mold growing somewhere in the basement apartment that I live in. Since I have moved in, I have had problems with my sinuses (which is causing migraines) , and apparently the lady tenant me before had sinus infections while living there as well. (I have never had this problem before.) What are some of the symptoms shown in humans exposed, and where/how may I get testing done within my apartment? I have no idea if/where there is mold growing, but I suspect that it is present. Is it possible to test the air for toxic mold? Can it grow unknown in the walls or anything like that? Any help or information you could provide would be a great help. Not only to me personally, but also to my health. [Jan. 12, 2003]
          A. Your sinus problems and serious headaches and the previous sinus infections of the former tenant are strong indications that you may be living in a mold hell because those medical problems are often caused by indoor exposure to high levels of mold spores, colonies, and growth. You have a very practical idea about testing your apartment air for toxic mold because if your apartment has a serious mold problem, there are probably elevated levels of toxic mold spores or other unhealthy mold organisms in the air that can be readily mold tested by mold air sampling tests that you can hire done by a Certified Mold Inspector.  You will be the one who has to pay for such initial mold investigation to prove that you are living in a mold contaminated apartment so that you and/or your attorney can seek compensation from your landlord for damages [that you may be entitled to under your state's laws for mold damage to you personally and to your personal possessions that will have to be professionally mold disinfected before you can move them elsewhere---or you would otherwise mold cross-contaminate your next apartment with mold transported from your present moldy place]. The biggest mold problem with landlords is that they don't care how much health damage their moldy apartments cause to their tenants and their possessions. Most landlords will not spend ANY money for mold inspection, mold testing, mold remediation, or mold prevention. Your best course of action is to find a healthier place to live and to move there at your earliest convenience. Learn about landlord mold liability.

            Q. We have a storage room in the basement under a concrete porch. I noticed mold forming on the ceiling at the outer wall. I cleaned it with a mold/mildew remover. I have noticed that condensation is causing water bubbles to form on the ceiling during cold weather. What should I do to keep the condensation from forming? Painting with a water sealant didn't solve the mold problem. Would air vents to the outside help get rid of the condensation & mold?   [Jan. 13, 2003]        
            A. Yes, air vents to the outside can enable the air to circulate both in and out of the storage room to avoid a build up of high humidity, condensation-causing, and mold-causing air. Condensation [especially during cold weather months] in closed areas of a house or other building is a common problem because: (1) the humidity builds up with no air exchange with the outside; and (2) cold windows and exterior walls [especially outside closet walls of closed closets] cause water condensation from the humid air. An even better way to control humidity and mold in your storage room, crawl space, and attic is to purchase an automatic exhaust fan that turns on whenever: (1) the temperature gets too high [you set the desired temperature point to activate the fan automatically]; and/or (2) the air humidity level [percent humid] gets too high [you set the desired humidity level, which should be no higher than 40% to discourage mold growth]. The higher the humidity, the easier it is to for mold to grow by utilizing airborne moisture. Humidity levels of 60% upward are wonderful for mold growth! To treat present mold growth already in your storage room, please follow the mold removal tips at: Mold Remediation.

          Q. My daughter lives in Florida. She had a very terrible smell in one of her bedrooms...she just found out that there is mold in there. In the closets, on the furniture, in the drawers...She just had a baby, they are both staying sick. She is going to try to clean it today, after she gets a mask, gloves, and takes the child to a friends house. It is like a powder, green. Is this safe, what can she use please to kill the mold. [Jan. 18, 2003]
          A. The first step is for your daughter and baby to move immediately to a mold-safe place to stay until the house can be professionally mold inspected and mold tested to determine: (1) the location of the water sources for the mold problems; (2) locations of the mold infestation [s], including mold growth inside walls, ceilings, floors, attic, crawl space, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning [hvac] equipment and ducts; (3) the level [quantity] of mold spores in the air of the bedroom and other rooms and areas of the house; and (4) what types of molds are growing in the house [some molds like Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, and Penicillium are more dangerous than others]. If thorough and professional mold inspection and testing discovers that there are serious mold problems in the house, the mold needs to be professionally remediated and removed and the home re-tested as being mold-safe before your daughter and granddaughter move back into the house. Learn how to do safe and effective mold remediation.

           Q. My mother says she can smell mold in our air conditioning system, and she tells my wife and I that we need to get that mold problem taken care of. My wife and I hate the smell of mold, however, we do not smell it in our air conditioning system and its operation nor does anybody else. My mom does have a very sensitive nose, so maybe we do have mold in the AC system. My first question is; is there a test that will tell me for sure and secondly, how do I get rid of it if I do have it? [Jan. 23, 2003]
           A. Use do it yourself mold test kits from a large hardware or home improvement store [with laboratory mold analysis and mold species identification] to collect an air sample from the running hvac system. Please read the following pages on website: Toxic Mold Sampling, Testing, & Laboratory Identification, Mold Test Kit, and Test Instructions. People vary significantly in their ability to smell mold infestation problems. Because mold is such an important health issue, you should inspect investigate not only the hvac ducts and equipment, but also mold test the air in the rooms of the house, your basement, crawl space, and attic to determine if there are elevated levels of mold spores resident in your home. Learn about mold remediation techniques.
          
           Q. I am a student at a school district in which 3 teachers have recently died because of cancer, and one other who was just diagnosed. One of my teachers is now going in for a test on whether or not she has cancer, but I have reason to believe that my school has black toxic mold growing in it. In the classroom of the teacher who is being tested, there are visible wet marks in the corners and a musty smell all the time. She experiences every symptom that would point to Black Toxic Mold, and our school also has all the symptoms that would point there: musty smell, mold spots, bad plumbing, bad circulation, leaks. I am extremely worried about the health and safety of the students and teachers. Do you know who I should go to in order to have it checked out and removed? Please help. I am desperate. [Jan. 15, 2003]
           A. You ought to provide the details about the visible wet marks, the constant musty smell, the bad plumbing and water leaks,  the cancer deaths and illnesses, as well as suggest the need for professional mold and environmental inspection and testing to all of the following parties: (1) certified letter to all officers of your school's parent teacher association or organization; (2) certified mail to each and every school board member; (3) certified mail to both the principal and school superintendent; (4) copies of said letters to all of your local newspapers, radio stations, and TV stations; (5) copies of the letters to your city, county, and state health department; and (6) copies to the closest office of the U.S. Occupational and Safety Administration [OSHA] because workplace mold is a serious employer offense for which your school district can be investigated and heavily fined. Although the commonly-found Aspergillus mold can cause cancer, you also need environmental inspection and testing as well as for mold because the environmental cancer threat could be a non-mold problem such as cancer causing radon. Certified Mold Inspectors can provide both mold testing and environmental testing. You can also learn the mold truth about the school by using do it yourself mold test kits from a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store.

            Q. We have a basement in our home that was built in the 1960's. It has received water damage on numerous occasions. The floor and walls are concrete. Evidence of blackish mold is in a few corners. What's our next move? [Jan. 21, 2003]
            A. Your first step is to see how serious the mold infestation might be in your home by a thorough inspection and testing of the basement and the home above by a Certified Mold Inspector. Your second step is that you must absolutely stop the water intrusion into your home if you want to stop mold problems from arising. You need to get competitive bids from reputable basement waterproofing companies to dig out the dirt on the outside of your basement walls and to install water protection such as: (1) high quality, externally-applied water proofing of basement walls and foundations; (2) installation of pea gravel and water drainage collection pipes [with perforated holes] outside your basement walls and foundations that drain water by gravity away from your home, or to an exterior-located sump pump that pumps away water from the ground around your basement foundation and walls; (3) make sure that the surface grade of your property is away from the house [and not toward it] to prevent surface water from flowing toward your basement walls and foundations; and (4) make sure your roof gutter drainage pipe water flow is taken away from your home and not dumped at your basement walls and foundations. While you are solving your water problems [as well as afterward upon final repair of all water intrusion problems], you should also be doing mold killing and removal. Learn the 25 steps for safe and effective mold remediation.

              Q. I have a 100 year old house that we recently moved into. Since the weather has gotten cold/snowy and we have the heat on, I have noticed a carpet of white, fuzzy mold growing on the wood beams in our attic, as well as puddles of water on storage containers in the attic. We had an inspector look at our home before we bought it (Dec. 2001), and he noted some moisture in the attic around an old chimney, but no signs of mold. Could a leaky roof or poor ventilation cause this sudden growth of mold in my attic? I wasn't too concerned about this mold, until someone told me you cannot resell a house that has a mold problem, and that the only solution is to tear down the house. Now I am worried that the problem is bigger than I realized. How can I tell if the mold has spread to the walls in my house? And is there any solution to getting rid of the mold? [Jan. 24, 2003]
              A. Yes, a leaky roof and poor ventilation both are wonderful to encourage mold infestation growths. The leaky roof wets building materials, enabling mold to grow on and in the construction materials. The poor ventilation enables attic humidity to rise to levels that in and of themselves will support mold growth [e.g., over 60% humidity], plus poor ventilation keeps airborne mold spores from escaping from your attic into the outdoors. Your first step is to have your home completely inspected and tested by a Certified Mold Inspector to determine the extent of your home's mold problems [including fiber optics inspection inside your home ceilings and walls for evidence of mold infestation caused by leaking water], and to identify the types of mold growths [some molds are much more dangerous to your health than others]. Your second step is to have your roof repaired to stop water intrusion into your attic, ceiling, and walls. The third step is mold remediation. Learn to do safe and effective mold remediation.

            Q. We are in the process of building a new home and on two separate occasions the house has been flooded. The first time there were fans through out the house. The water came into the house from incomplete plumbing in the master bath. The second time the flooding water came through the den because the dry wall worker had put a screw through the pipe in the master bath shower. When they turned on the water to the new plumbing, the house was flooded again.  What can we do to assure we have no water damage or mold? [Jan. 25, 2003]
            A. You should hire a Certified Mold Inspector to completely inspect your home for hidden water problems and mold problems. One important inspection point is to drill one-half inch inspection holes in several areas along each wall, ceiling, and [wooden] floor area that was actually flooded to insert a fiber optics inspection tool to look for water damage and mold growth inside the walls, ceiling, and floor. Next the inspector should test the air in the various rooms, basement, crawl space, and attic, plus the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning [hvac] equipment and ducts, to determine if there are elevated levels of dangerous airborne mold spores. It is very likely that your home has a serious mold infestation problem, but only thorough inspection and testing can establish whether or not your home has become a sick house because of mold contamination. If you want to do your own mold inspection and testing, please follow the directions provided in mold expert Phillip Fry's mold book Do it yourself Mold Prevention, Inspection, Remediation, & Testing Guide.  You may want to consider hiring a mold-oriented attorney to pursue any legal rights you have for damages from the home builder and/or contractors that have put your home into mold jeopardy.  Look for environmental attorneys in the lawyer reference book Martindale Hubbell Directory of Attorneys, often available in the reference department of large public libraries.