Potential Signs
And Mitigating Factors Of A Mold Problem
POTENTIAL
SIGNS
-
Stained
ceiling tiles (you
may be very surprised as to what may be growing underneath) or walls.
-
Musty,
earthy, or urine scented odor.
-
Black,
brown, orange, pink, or green speckled walls or around any plumbing grout
or tile.
-
Deficient
siding, siding that is not covering a building adequately, or certain
types appear to be more prone to mold (i.e., Hardie Plank® which may not
be installed properly; meaning without a "tray," or nailed in too hard;
thus cracking, L.P.®, and untreated wood, particleboard (OSB) or wood and
materials) not weather protected in lumberyards and prior or during
construction, and the wood becoming moist due to water intrusion,
humidity, etc. This is known as "lumberyard mold." (More information
on this below).
-
Wood siding where the paint has cracked and water
has intruded (poor maintenance).
-
Mild to severe unexplained illness, see
symptoms, in
combination with any other building problems listed on this page.
-
Swollen or crumbling walls or buckling floor
boards.
-
Sewer backup which has caused water harm.
-
Leaky roof or flashing installed improperly.
-
Flood or hurricane damage.
-
Leaky window or door.
-
Washing machine overflow, washing machine leaks
such as drain valve phalanges, leaky gaskets, etc.
-
leaky
toilet seal or bathtub drainage problems.
-
Lack of
ventilation.
-
Relative
humidity over 55%.
-
Damp
basements.
-
Disaster
damage (hurricane, flood, earthquake, tornado, etc.).
CONTRIBUTING FACTORS
-
Leaky
door or unseated windows that have broken seals.
-
Plumbing
leak/inferior plumbing job.
-
Water
damage after a fire. (Unfortunately, many restoration companies fail to
address or prevent mold while they control water/fire restoration).
-
Faulty
air conditioning or heating system.
-
Vinyl
siding that is defective or installed in a incorrect manner, such as trim
pieces missing or bowing, or not installed properly around windows or has
holes from branches or improper care.
-
Clogged
vents or air ducts.
-
Cracked
or disconnected hoses behind refrigerators from automatic ice makers/water
dispensers or dishwashers.
-
Construction defects that could lead to water intrusion (i.e., windows not
seated properly, soffits with pieces missing or installed in the wrong
direction, cracked foundations, shoddy workmanship).
-
Poor
planning (i.e., lack of crawl space, sealed windows, no overflow spouts in
sinks/bathtubs, carpeting in bathrooms.
-
Downspouts that are disconnected, allowing water to flow under the
foundation or along the siding.
-
Lumber is
a major problem. The first mistake is the fact that some lumber mills are
obtaining their inventory from the rain forests, where many fungal species
live, and they are not treating the wood with fungicides. Previously,
builders often used kiln dried wood, but unfortunately the use of quality
wood products has essentially ceased. Due to the cost factor, most
contractors use "green" wood. Another error exists with home improvement
stores and lumberyards as they inefficiently store lumber outside. When
these products are exposed to the elements, invisible and visible fungal
growth starts even before the wood is purchased. The companies who
practice this method should be held liable for this ignorant and unhealthy
way of storing wood products. Of course wood could be very expensive if it
had to be stored inside. It is also much safer to purchase a home that was
constructed during the summer months as lumberyard mold can also
proliferate during the construction phase, as well.
-
Cut-rate
materials; substandard plumbing, shoddy siding, etc.
-
Flat
roofs that are not properly maintained (annually checked for drainage,
bubbles, holes and coating).
-
Location;
flood zones, water table, environmental issues, etc.
- Poor carpet
cleaning job where excess water was not removed properly.
Note:
Carpet appears to be a major problem in moldy environments. The less carpet
one has, the less chance they will have with a mold problem, especially with
current weather factors, humidity, water intrusion, allergies, etc. In some
European countries, carpeting is prohibited in new home construction for
health reasons. Natural or even synthetic flooring is a much healthier
alternative.
*Despite
construction problems, some recent mold concerns can be attributed to
overall problems resulting from the
greenhouse
affect.
This is
not an all inclusive list, nor does it suggest you may possibly have a
toxigenic mold problem. For more information, seek the advice of a
professional.
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