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Apparently, I should have been far more expiditious in installing the insulation in my walk-out basement, or run the de-humidifier all winter long while the concrete and everything dried (approx. one year old foundation/modular house)because I found that black crumbly mold all over the floor joists this afternoon.
Aside from hosing every square inch down with a 50/50 mix of Clorox and water, what else should I do to;
1) kill the mold
2) keep it from coming back
I’ve insulated against and on top of the concrete walls with pink foam panels and also framed out 2×4 walls and installed the new plastic encased insulation bats. This will be covered with dry wall.
The basement is heated but I didn’t run it much over 55 degrees this winter due to lack of completed insulation project and, of course, the cost of oil.
I would have been burning a wood stove down there but the concrete contractor somehow thought I could run two flues through a ten inch space (don’t get me started!)
Almost forgot; there’s a 12 foot opening of operating windows and a 6′ french door if that makes a difference.
Thanks in advance!
Replies
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I've read that cloroz bleach can damage wood, and that you should use an oxygenating bleach.
I think all you'll need to do is keep moisture evapaporing from the concrete from saturating the air. I have no idea how long this will continue, but it take some more time given the wall treatments you've already done. You could use a hydrometer to measure humidty and a thermometer to calculate the dew point and determine whether you're likely to get continued condensation on the framing. Or use a moisture meter on the framing.
Wood will support mold growth at about 20% moisture content, that mositure _probably_ came from condensation.
Bob
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Apply a coating of CWM (Xypex or Hi-Dry) to the floor. Its a catalyst which will block transmission of vapor.(Looks kinda like OD green sand paint)
Use TimBor(10% borate) or BoraCare(20% borate, $100! a gallons) on the wood framing to kill all fungal spores and permanently inocculate the wood against future growth of fungal spores.(You'll have to get the wood WET for this, and you'll have to air the space out for a couple of days to dry it out. - Don't worry these products are non-toxic to humans and pets, but deadly to mold and insects.)
Provided you've done an adequate job of waterproofing the outside of the foundation, this should lower ambient moisture to acceptable level. The borate treatments will ensure that no Poria, which uses ordinary water vapor to spread, can develop. Don't know who distributes in your area, but Wood Care Systems in Kirkland, WA 800-827-3480, have BoraCare and TimBor.
Good Luck
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Apparently, I should have been far more expiditious in installing the insulation in my walk-out basement, or run the de-humidifier all winter long while the concrete and everything dried (approx. one year old foundation/modular house)because I found that black crumbly mold all over the floor joists this afternoon.
Aside from hosing every square inch down with a 50/50 mix of Clorox and water, what else should I do to;
1) kill the mold
2) keep it from coming back
I've insulated against and on top of the concrete walls with pink foam panels and also framed out 2x4 walls and installed the new plastic encased insulation bats. This will be covered with dry wall.
The basement is heated but I didn't run it much over 55 degrees this winter due to lack of completed insulation project and, of course, the cost of oil.
I would have been burning a wood stove down there but the concrete contractor somehow thought I could run two flues through a ten inch space (don't get me started!)
Almost forgot; there's a 12 foot opening of operating windows and a 6' french door if that makes a difference.
Thanks in advance!