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Breaktime…. we have a problem… mold growing at ridge line of new (less than 5 yrs old) building.
Room size is approx 100’x80′, glue lam arches with lam ceiling decking, insulated with 3″ foamboard/vented osb roof deck, continuous shingle over ridge vent.
1 bay of interior ridge line is growing a healthy?? crop of green mold… other 4 bays have no visible sign of mold… yet. Room is conditioned and in use most days of the week. There has been a rash of mold related building problems here locally…. want to stay out of the newspapers, but location is central indiana.
Any input on what i should do to find solution to problem of mold ?
E
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b TVMDC
Eric, Mold needs 4 conditions to thrive: moisture, favorable temperature range (40-105 degrees), oxygen and food. Eliminating any one of the required conditions will stop its growth.
Controlling Oxygen and temperature are not options since humans also need oxygen and a favorable temperature range. That leaves moisture and food.
Moisture is probably from water intrusion from above if a roof, or from condensation from humid interior air rising and coming in contact with a colder exterior surface. Fix the roof and/or install a dehumidifier.
As for the food aspect, you can spray the mold-bearing surfaces with BoraCase which is a borate solution rendering the carbohydrates in sapwood repellent to the fungus. You can get more information on BoraCare at Nisuscorp.com.
*writing this post to get request for help back to top of the list... thanks E
*Inspection report upon closer examination...went equiped with a 60'boom lift, moisture meter, sample jars, tsp and bleach water.... vacuum cleaner...checked out ridge vent, removed coping from shingle over ridge vent and could see down to wood cap at interior of ceiling, no visible water stains.moisture content of glue lam beams at 4' off floor 9% m.c. of laminated decking and beams at ridge line less than 5% (meter needle went below starting point)vacuumed loose mold from ceiling (was like sticky dust), then washed decking with scrubrush and solution of tsp and bleach. dried with clean rags. noticed that glue lam saddles have rust on them in this area only. adjusted diffusers on hvac to change air circulation pattern in this end of room....took sample of mold to lab...in process of identifying, takes about 10 days...E
*Eric, is there a vapor barrier installed behind the ceiling? It is very possible that there is a breach in the membrane which facilitates the collection of excessive indoor moisture to the point of the suspect growth.Anyhow, when you get off of the lift, and get your test results back, you may want to squirt the demons as described above, or with a bleech mix, and see if you can't control the indoor humidity.(just posted to get this back at the top)
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Breaktime.... we have a problem... mold growing at ridge line of new (less than 5 yrs old) building.
Room size is approx 100'x80', glue lam arches with lam ceiling decking, insulated with 3" foamboard/vented osb roof deck, continuous shingle over ridge vent.
1 bay of interior ridge line is growing a healthy?? crop of green mold... other 4 bays have no visible sign of mold... yet. Room is conditioned and in use most days of the week. There has been a rash of mold related building problems here locally.... want to stay out of the newspapers, but location is central indiana.
Any input on what i should do to find solution to problem of mold ?
E