Our garage (my shop — no cars allowed) has one wall that is cement block. The lowest 2 or 3 feet for about 1/3 the length of the wall is below grade. Today, I was clearing the interior wall preparing to build a lumber rack against it. When I moved out a “spare” sheet of sheetrock that was leaned against it, I discovered patches of what looks to be white mold (I’m assuming**see “PS” below), a pretty goodly amount of it in several different patches.
The cement blocks had been painted at one time. Where the mold is, the paint is kinda peeled back away from the block. The mold looks kinda like fine little cotton puffs or something — at first I thought they were masses of spider eggs.
I sprayed them with Lysol and left them alone for now. Was going to clean it off with a bleach solution. Q: Is there anything else I need to do? This weekend I was planning to put up some roofing felt and then the frame for the wood rack, but am wondering if I need to treat this problem. Suggestions? Anyone seen this and dealt with it?
PS: I just went out and took a closer look. Touching it gently, parts of it crumble and feel almost crystalline, like it has salt in it. What in the world??
forestgirl — you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can’t take the forest out of the girl 😉
Edited 8/29/2002 4:44:58 PM ET by forest_girl
Edited 8/29/2002 4:53:56 PM ET by forest_girl
Replies
Silly question - are you sure this is mold, and not some form of efflourescence (sp?) ? That's the "stuff" that remains as water migrates through a masonry wall. It will pick up salts/minerals/whatever, and upon emerging the other side, those salts and "stuff" crystallize. If so, a stiff brush will remove it. But I believe this indicates a need to address the drainage on the other side of the wall, waterproofing, etc. I'll defer to the guys that deal with it more frequently than I to really advise you on the hows of dealing with it.
If it's not the "stuff", and is mold, well, um, never mind. :)
If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.
Given what I found when I went back out (noted in the "PS" above), it may very well be "stuff" as you say. Perhaps the sheetrock was serving as a draw for the moisture. This garage is located in the Great Northwest, so moisture is ever a problem. Sounds like we may have to do some work on the outside, as you say.
Wonder if this could lead to structural problems....forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Is the sheetrock crumbly or showing signs of moisture (mildew on backside, etc.)?I was circumcised when I was 3 days old; I was unable to walk for over a year.
Mystery solved: Went to work, and my neighbor, who's in major construction, happened to show up. Haven't seen him in 3 weeks! But I was able to go over the situation with him, and confirm that the "stuff" isn't mold, but the mineral leaching spoken of above. He was able to point some out on a newish brick building nearby where we were talking. He also said if there's no indication that actual water is coming in, not to worry about the outside of the wall.
I think the sheetrock must have kept the air from circulating in that area and encouraged this phenomenon.
Thanks! I can rest easy and build my lumber rack. Here in the Northwest, it's easy to classify anything white or grey or black, and fuzzy, as mold. Whew. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)