You have helped me in the past with this ongoing problem. I took your advice and sent my mold samples grown on auger to see if the spores were active. They are. My house was built in 1968. The original siding – rough sawed cedar – horizontal – is still on the house. It is stained. The roof has been replaced – second layer – and is @ 15 years old. I live in Michigan with a full 4 seasons. The house is 2 stories with a full basement. The basement is finished. 5 years ago I had no mold problem. I have lived – mold free – in this house for 22 years. I have a few more questions:
1. I had a roof/siding contractor out to view the problem. He told me he thinks the mold is coming from the inside to the outside of the siding. He feels the remedy is to replace the siding. There are visible signs of mold wherever the sun does not hit the house on the outside of the siding. It is also visible on the overhangs. Does that sound right?
2. I have LOTS of mold in the basement shower. The floor is tile and every so often the mold appears on the floor. The shower has its share but the drywall also shows signs of infection. The basement is poured concrete and the floor – except for the shower – is carpet. The laundry room is in the basement and I run a dehumidifier all summer and even when I hang clothes to dry in the winter. Is this the possible source.
3. I have someone who claims to specalize in ‘mold’ coming to look at my house. His card has the following language: NAMP (National Association of Mold Professionals) and claims he is CMI/CMR certified. I have no idea what all of that means. Does anyone?
Thanks, Mike
Replies
When I was in junior high I had a card in my wallet which said: "Civil Defense Officer, The man who hands you this card is an air raid warden. Lie flat on your back and do exactly as he says."
That was during the cold war when we did have occasional air raid drills in school, so some girls believed the instructions.
If I were you I'd check the mold guy's card for fine print which says something about bending over.
Okay - I was of the same belief. But where do I go from here? Any suggestions?Thanks, Mike
For starters, stop hanging clothes in your basement.
What sample did you send in? Are you sure the mold in you basement shower is the same as the fungus on the outside.
Is there trees in your yard or neighborhood that are like a little forrest? Do they have fungus growing on the north side? Because if they do your house probably has the same thing on the outside. That's normal.
You didn't mention if you have an exhaust fan for the shower. If you lower the moisture in that area the mold won't grow.
Have you considered growing mushrooms? Portobellos are going for about $8/lb, ####(shee-takis)* are about the same. Some other varieties are considerably higher.
Honestly, other than installing a dehumidifier, I got nothin' for ya. Never had to deal with it. Not to worry, someone with experience will be along with better answers soon enough.
*edit: So you can't speak Nipponese on this board? ;-)
Edited 2/4/2008 11:57 am by Hudson Valley Carpenter
If you have children, go to their classroom, and take an air sample.
Go to the courthouse, and take an air sample in a courtroom.
Take an air sample in the middle of a forest.
Take an air sample in the desert.
Every one of those air samples is going to have mold in them.
You can let mister NAMP CMI/CMR tell you that the sky is falling...
Or you can clean up every place you have found mold, using TSP.
Then figure out how to keep those areas dry, and/or add air circulation.
Yeah, it may be cold, but at least it's a wet cold !
Thanks everyone. I have an exhaust fan in the basement that is on a motion switch. Keeps my kids from ignoring the process. I do live very near a wooded area with both hardwoods and pine trees. Used to be a golf course and I am on the 8th fairway. Still find golf balls in the woods. The soil is clay. Ugly, hard clay. Its either like cement (summer) or like snot (spring). Several neighbors live on the same street and no one has mold except on their roofs. Not the green stuff - actually the brown/black type.Bleach makes the stuff disappear quickly. Whole house smells like Chlorox but who cares. I have to dry my clothes in the basement. Only place available. I lost the 'helper' that used to use the dryer and the outside. She found a doctor - more $$ less work. Anyway as you go up in the house - by floor - there is less and less mold. Bedrooms and bedroom bathrooms show no signs of infestation. 1st floor - inside - shows no sign either. Its just the basement and the outside siding.Mushrooms? Sure can - morals (not the ethics type) are very popular here. What is TSP?Thanks, Mike
Tri-Sodium-Phosphate.It's been around for a long long time.You'll find it in the paint department at the big box.Mix it with water, and clean with it. It is not as caustic as bleach. And may actually be more effective.If bleach is making the stuff disappear fast, try adding some borax to the TSP cleaning solution. The borax may keep the mold away longer...A mix of borax, boric acid, and food grade antifreeze will definitely put the kibosh to the growth of mold and rot. (Or you can buy it pre-mixed and ready to be diluted and used, by the name of "bora-care".)Wash with the TSP first. Then use the boracare. Keep the areas dry, and add active ventilation. (Even sitting a couple box fans in the basement and other affected areas and letting them run 24/7 will take care of a large part of the problem.)
Yeah, it may be cold, but at least it's a wet cold !
3. I have someone who claims to specalize in 'mold' coming to look at my house. His card has the following language: NAMP (National Association of Mold Professionals) and claims he is CMI/CMR certified. I have no idea what all of that means. Does anyone?
NAMP "certifies" as mold professionals, those who pay $1000 for a two-day class. CMI (Certifed Mold Inspector) and CMR (Certified Mold Remediator) are awarded by the Professional Certification Institute, which is based in the Phillipines, for completing a home study course (one course for each certification).
I wouldn't put a lot of stock in any of the three credentials.
I wouldn't put a lot of stock in any of the three credentials.
Thanks for the straight scoop on those "official" certifications. I'm having a good laugh about it all. Reminds me of Ghost Busters.
und..... get a moisture meter ..like a sling psychrometer.. and test the RH in the basement, first floor & 2d floor
if it's above 50%, ( maybe even above 40% ) you are probably getting condensation inside the walls ( the high humidity and the low temperature in the walls puts the wall surfaces below the dew point
mold needs spores, oxygen, moisture & temperature to thrive... the spores are everywhere... same with oxygen... you need the heat...
so the only way to control the mold is to lower the moisture level
your slab is PROBABLY the source of most of the moisture..... but drying clothes , showers, and expiration all also contribute
most houses in your climate are supe dry during the heating season and need HUMIDIFICATION
your's is one of those that has excess moisture... thus the mold
houses that are too dry are unhealthy... houses that are too wet are breeding places for mold
5Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Here is a web site that may help
http://www.toxic-black-mold-info.com/disinfectant.htm
Thanks to everyone for the advice. Mr. Ghostbuster did not show at the appointed time and so his participation is history. I like the acronyms the CMI/CMR designations. I will put more stock in the roofing/siding contractor. He did see my mold problem inside and outside of the house. He clearly indicated - inside - there is no real problem. Sure I have mold but most folks do and if I simply control moisture things will improve. Outside - well that is a different story.I am thinking if I clean the outside with a power cleaner and TSP that will rid the siding of visible mold. Then I can stain using a stain/paint with mold resistant chemicals in the can. Is this logical or crazy thinking?Mike