Read detailed answers to mold victims' questions about Mold Problems in the Home,
Condominium, Co-op Apartment, Rental Apartment, Office, and Workplace

Please visit these mold advice sections---
 

[Mold Advice] [Mold In Schools] [New-Home-Builder] [Realtor Mold] [Apartment-Mold-Respiratory-Infections] [Attic-Mold] [Basement-Black-Mold] [Home-Mold-Inspection] [Sewage-Leak-Mold-Problem] [Real Estate & Mold] [Hospital-Mold] [Real People & Mold] [Workplace-Mold] [Pet-Health-Mold] [Mold-Cross-Contamination] [Mold-Resistant Paint] [Grout-Mold-Growth] [Support-Beam-Mold] [Mold-Mildew-in-House] [Purchasing-New-Home-Mold] [Condominium-Flooding-Mold-Problem] [Standing-Water-Wood-Rot-Mold] [Leaky-Roof-Water-Damage-Mold] [Bedroom-Mold] [Leaky-Plumbing-Mold] [Rental-Home-Mold] [Garage-Mold] [Leaky-Pipes] [Basement-Waterproofing]
 

"The way to control indoor mold growth is to control moisture.”---The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]

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Mold Answers from Mold Expert Phillip Fry---
 

        Q. On July 1st of 2004 my husband and I closed the loan on our new home.  The home was built in 1982 and appeared to be in excellent 
condition.  We had the customary inspections done and felt we had made a good purchase. About a month ago, I noticed mold on the garage 
doors. I did not think too much about it because it was the wet winter time. My husband and I come and go to work in the dark so we

did not notice what was happening to our home. We now have a very large mold problem on the outside of our home.  Our siding is wood 
and apparently was painted 3 months before we purchased it. What can we do?  It is quite frightening to see this happening to our 
beautiful home. [Feb. 14, 2005] 
       A. You need to use a power planer, grinder with wire brush attachment, and sander to remove all of the surface mold growth, all paint, 
and any underlying mold growth [very likely to exist]. Then, spray with a Mold Home Remedy Recipe.  Then, paint with at least two good 
coverage's of a top-quality, oil-based, semi-gloss exterior paint. Learn the twenty-five steps for safe and effective mold remediation. Every few 
months use a high pressure sprayer to wash off any accumulated organic dirt and mold spores which have landed on the surface of your siding. 
As a precaution, mold test all-around the interior of your home, including its heating and
cooling system. 

Dampness Problem in the Basement and the Possible Mold Growth

       Q. Having new home built and are scheduled to close July 25th. We have noticed in the basement along one long interior wall is concrete but I refer to it as interior as it is not the true outside concrete wall. It is the basement concrete wall along the inside back of garage.) Since the foundation was poured in January, it remains damp half way up the wall. It is now July. We live in Pennsylvania.

       We have had a lot of rain and noticed a couple of days ago that the dampness in this area is even darker. We spoke with the project manager this morning who indicated this condition has been noted and they believe that since they have not graded a final time yet that water is getting down into this area and causing the dampness on the wall. Their remedy first is to power wash the basement floor and then put fans in the basement to dry everything out and to grade the dirt. When we spoke with him on the phone this seemed reasonable however when we looked back at the house plan this is not an exterior concrete wall. Our thought is why would the dampness be on the interior wall. Grading will take place outside the exterior wall. Should we be concerned? Could fixing the problem as he has stated be sufficient, do we need to have the house tested for mold [growth], or should we get some type of document from the builder that says if the problem does not clear up they will be responsible? [July 11, 2003]
       A. You must get this water problem fixed to your satisfaction before buying the home or you are going to have sufficient water intrusion to enable big-time mold growth in your new home. The wet wall will drive up indoor humidity levels, thus making mold be able to grow through out your home, especially after continually recirculation airborne mold spores through your heating or cooling equipment and ducts. The wet wall can also ultimately have mold growing on it as organic dust and dirt lands on the wet wall, providing food for airborne mold spores to grow after landing on the wet wall. You need to have the wall and water problem inspected by a qualified professional such as a licensed physical engineer, basement foundation contractor, and/or home inspector. You must discover for sure what is the cause of the water problem and what is the solution that will work. If the problem is simply the grade that the home builder says will take care of the problem, delay the closing until a few weeks after the grading is done. Better yet, ask your attorney to negotiate a holding of some of the purchase funds of the house into an escrow account to cover future water problems.  Keeping water and high humidity [exceeding 50 to 60% indoors some or regularly] out of your home is of the utmost importance to your family's health and financial well-being.

      Q. I own an older home that "had" a moisture problem in the crawl space that has been rectified and now has a fulltime dehumidification system.  I have plans to improve drainage around the perimeter as well as repair leaking flashing around a chimney.  The house will also have all of the carpet removed and get a thorough cleaning/painting /rehab.  I'm just looking to make sure these mold levels are not dangerous, nor extreme...that this can be overcome with cleaning/drying ...normal mold remediation measures. The mold lab analysis of the two do it yourself mold test kits I used show the following molds:  (1) Penicillium: 125 mold spores in the indoor test, and 14 outdoors; (2) Chaetomium: 3 mold spores indoors, and 0 outdoors; and (3) Cladosporium: 11 spores indoors, and 3 outdoors. [Dec. 8, 2004]
      A. When indoor mold counts are much higher indoors than the outdoor control test, you know you have a serious indoor mold infestation problem. Your test results show a big indoor problem with Penicillium, the third most dangerous indoor mold. You also have a indoor mold contamination threat from both dangerous Chaetomium and Cladosporium. Crawl space mold can easily grow into the insides of the walls and floors above. You need to have a Certified Mold Inspector use fiber optics inspection to visually inspect inside floors and walls for hidden mold growth. Airborne mold spores from the crawl space mold can travel in air currents to mold cross contaminate your entire house and its heating/cooling system. Use the Mold Inspector or do it yourself mold tests kits [like you have used so far] to mold test the air of each room, crawl space, basement, attic, garage, and the outward air flow form each heating/cooling duct register for the possible presence of elevated levels of airborne mold spores, in comparison to an outdoor mold control test. Mold test kits are available at a large hardware, home improvement, or safety store. You very much need to use thoroughly the 25 steps recommended for safe and effective mold remediation
 

More related topics:

• Home builder found mold in my new home.

• There is a serious mold problem in the house we are renting.

• I have  found black mold in our basement shower.

• Home mold inspection, particularly in the crawl space.

• Attic mold.

• Does mold cause respiratory infections?

  Mold Cleaning, Remediation, Abatement, and Removal Tips
  
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