Re: new member looking for suggestions/Sharon

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sharon.

I suspect mold between the walls simply because we found mold in both spaces

(the garage and a spare room) that are separated by the wall where the water

leaked through. There is mold out in the garage by the new water heater (tiny

spots of it on the pedistal that the water heater sits on). Luckily, the water

heater is right next to a slotted vent to the outside, so this area receives hot

dry desert air from the outside as opposed to being in a damp basement. When

the carpet in the room that it leaked into was removed, there was mold on the

wood carpet tacking and the concrete under the tacking. Here is the problem

with that room...

A highschool student in our neighborhood had been helping us remove our

carpet. He's been doing one room at a time at his pace. We were not home when

he tackled the room opposite the garage. He removed the carpet and found about

3 feet of moldy carpet tacking. The tacking is about 1 inch wide, so picture a

moldy yard stick (not a large amount of mold). He removed that, thought

nothing of it and washed down the concrete with bleach water. He then sanded

down the carpet glue to the concrete (I don't know why he did this, I think he

just wanted to use our power sander!). The smell in that room is so bad now I

have it closed off. It is really dusty from the sanding & it's not improving.

I don't smell mold, I think I just smell sanded down carpet glue. It burns my

nose when I walk in the room, so I don't. I really don't have any evidence that

there is mold between the wall, but I worry that there is. I have a horrible

air quality problem in that room due to the

sanding & I am not sure how to remedy that in itself.

So the claims that ozone machines (for instance) will kill mold thru the walls

are false I take it? When doing mold remediation, how long do you generally

need to vacate?

-

snk1955@... wrote:

Hi ,

I am no expert on the matter. But I have been through it and may be able to

give you some advice. Like I said, no expert, so take it for what it is

worth.

**I am new to this group. I suspect we have mold between a wall in our

***house because a leak last December went thru the wall into another room.

Why do you think that? What are the signs there may be possible mold in

your walls?

****We would like to move anyway (even if there is no mold, we want to move

by next summer) & I am not sure what steps to take in remediation.

There could be a few different answers to that question, dependant upon what

you are seeing as signs of possible mold.

****The suspected mold area is off of a hallway that we could close off.

Good. Do it immediately if you think it to be a problem area. I don't know

the specifics of your home, but whatever it is, if you can close it off as

easy as you say, then do it. Better safe than sorry.

****I am hoping to be able to live in the house while we repair what needs

to be repaired.

Again, that depends on how big the problem is. Often times that is not a

good thing to do. When mold is being removed, it becomes airborne. That is one

of the most dangerous times as it is more easily inhalable and can get in

the lungs. (Kind of like asbestos on this point). It can be bad for everyone.

But little children, old people and those who have been ill are most at risk.

But like I said, can happen to anyone.

****There are several inexpensive remedies for molds (ozone, anti-microbial

UV lights and another one that escapes me at the moment). Are any of these

worth looking into?

Yes and no. If you are intending to put this home on the market, you need

to have the mold removed, physically. While the other items you mention may

or may not have value, the mold itself needs to go. The sooner the better.

Mold is a living substance and can grow.

*****What would some of you experienced folks look into? Must walls be

ripped down? I am saving my money to build green and do not want to spend the

money to turn this house into a healthy home,

Unfortuately, if you are intending to sell it, you may need to turn it into

a healthy home to generate the best return on your investment.

***just want to make it as good as any other home on the market if that

makes sense.

Yes, it does. You will either have to repair or disclose and/or both. The

market is changing in most parts of the country. You have mold it sounds

like. One way or the other you have to address it. And one way or the other,

it will cost you some money. Sorry to tell you the bad news.

****No one in the house is of failing health, so I am assuming (hoping) any

mold we have is perhaps allergy provoking but not toxic.

Hmmmm? Allergies from mold can be just as serious as toxicity. There is

also infection and hypersensitivity. Glad to hear your family is not of ill

health. Almost all of us on this board are or have been seriously ill from

mold. Ya never know who or from how long of an exposure one will become ill.

My advice to you would be to remove the mold. And depending on how big of

an area, how hard is it to get to, what type is there, etc, it may be

something that requires the services of a professional mold remediator. (watch

out in

this area. there are many self professed professionals - no licenses are

required and many have no insurance for mold remediation). In the meantime, do

section that area off from your family. Get it taken care of ASAP before it

becomes a bigger problem.

Hope that helps!

Sharon