We are in the sixth week of framing. The roof is scheduled to be decked Thursday and the windows installed next week. In the meantime, our house is totally opened in one of the muggiest winters I can remember, even by Gulf Coast standards. Today, I noticed a black sooty substance on a large majority of the still-exposed wall studs and rafters. Is this common? What can be done about it?
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It's most likely plain old dirt, not mold.
No, I don't think so. It's pretty obvious and wasn't there before. I notice it more on the wall studs that are engineered with the finger joints. On one, there was no mold at all except on one segment and it was totally black with it. It looked as though that section had been painted. That makes me think that, in addition to the lousy weather we have been having, it's got to have something to do with the moisture in the wood.
Dan,
You can use a borax solution to kill the mold. It will kill what's there now and keep it from coming back if done correctly. Once the house is buttoned up the mold shouldn't be a major worry anyhow, because mold needs moisture to grow. go with the borax.
Justin Fink
FHB Editorial
I'd prefer a weal clorox solution to kill and the borate to prevent after. of coursed, that means spraying more moisture around, so time to do it is after dry-in, but leaving window open for drying.I sdoubt this is serious mold - but a rampant case of mildew gone wild.
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> I notice it more on the wall studs that are engineered with the finger joints. That's probably a problem as well -- FJ lumber shouldn't be exposed to the weather.
Could be feeding on the glue? That's scary, eh?
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Out here in the PNW its not uncommon to have black mold (mildew?) on green framing lumber. I never gave it much thought until mold in living spaces became an issue in recent years. Occasionally now an informed homeowner will point it out to me. I dont believe it will be a problem unless your building system has a leak or moisture problem. And then it will be a problem anyway. Mold spores are everpresent, waiting for the right conditions. That being said I dont think it would hurt to treat the wood with Borax? A diluted bleach solution will also kill the mold.
Tom
Edited 1/11/2005 11:42 am ET by mcfish