Video: Band-Aid Repair May Bring Mold Back

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Band-Aid Repair May Bring Mold Back

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/9740822/detail.html?rss=elp & psp=news

KFOX 14 El Paso Fri, 25 Aug 2006 9:36 PM PDT

The cleanup and repair process continues for flood victims. Right

now, the biggest concern for the El Paso City-County Health

Department is the potential for mold growth. So far, health

officials have inspected 140 homes, and say they've come across a

lot mold.

It's definitely something every homeowner making repairs needs to

look out for.

" Took this (floor molding) off, and I found mold and everything. I

cleaned it out, sanded the wall there, and then I just put it back,

and continued cleaning. That's all I could do, " said Alfred

Arredondo.

But what Arredondo didn't do was tear down the walls that got soaked

by flood water. He's cleaned the 3 foot high water stains, and the

outside of the wall appears to be dry. However, it very well may be

wet inside the plaster and sheet rock. That could eventually develop

mold.

Disinfecting the walls with bleach, or patching it up won't be

enough to keep the mold from growing back.

" They need to cut not just at the level where it got wet, but above

that. Remove that, remove your insulating material. Floor tile if it

got damaged, and it's warped you have to remove, " said Jesus

Reynoso, with the city-county health department.

Major repairs like that costs money. That's something many flood

victims, including Arredondo say they don't have for big repairs,

even if that means mold might be a problem in the future.

" If it comes back then we'll have to take other measures of course.

Then we'll have to start thinking about taking down pieces of the

wall. At this time I can't. We don't have the resources, " said

Arredondo.

Reynoso said it's possible that wood may be salvageable if it's

treated with bleach and dried out for several days, but he said

there's no hope for the walls. That includes both sheet rock and the

plaster kind.

To avoid mold growth you need to get rid of every item that got wet

with flood water. It's the only way to get rid of the bad smell.

Disinfect everything you're going to keep with bleach and water.

Remember to wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself from the mold

and chemicals you'll be handling.

Reynoso said mold can cause allergies and respiratory problems.