ShareThisQ: My wife and I are looking for a new home. We found a foreclosed home that has been abandoned for probably close to a year. We understand that a previous sale of this home fell through due to mold. What does it take to remove mold from a vacant home? -- K.O., Fort Wayne, Ind.A: Mold is overrated as a major problem, though that's not to say that it can't exasperate existing health problems. Here's what can be done if you discover mold in the accessible areas of the home:Cut out any mold found on drywall or sheetrock.If you can see mold growing on the finished side of the drywall, the back or unfinished side is probably much worse.Although plaster does not support the growth of mold, the paint, wallpaper and sealers used on the plaster will. Scrape and clean the surface of plastered walls.Lead-based paint will not support mold growth, but the oils and dirt that collect on the surface will. Therefore, the paint should be cleaned using a mild bleach and warm water wash.Do not sand or scrape lead-based paint as the lead will become airborne, which is a more serious health threat than the mold.Mold found on wood in the under-floor areas is common and probably would not affect the occupants of the home.To treat, use a bleach-and-water solution on mold in under-floor areas, then seal the wood with a "boat coat" or clear varnish sealer once the wood has dried. Same for the attic.Molds on wood are natural and are a part of the decay process, so look for and correct the sources of moisture that are contributing to the decay.An air conditioner is a dehumidifier, but if it has been left off while the house was unoccupied, that may be why mold is present inside the home.Have the ductwork cleaned, including the interior cooling coil, coil box and fan.Remove any and all damp insulation in the walls, attic or under-floor areas.Use expanding foam in the under-floor and in the wall cavities. Use expanding foam or loose-fill fiberglass in the attics. Insulate the attic to an R-48 to save on energy costs. Insulate the walls if they are not already insulated. An R-13 or higher rating is preferred.Install storm doors and low-E replacement windows.Seal all air leaks to the interior of the home.When the drywall has been removed and wall cavities are exposed, seal all four sides of the cavity where the wood studs meet the exterior sheeting with silicone caulk.Remember: Mold requires moisture, warmth and a food source to survive. Remove any one of the three and the mold will go dormant.May I suggest you have the home inspected by a professional inspector, one listed with the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), or have the home rated by an Energy Star rater before and after the work has been completed.(Dwight Barnett is a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. Write to him with home improvement questions at C. Dwight Barnett, Evansville Courier & Press, P.O. Box 286, Evansville, Ind. 47702.)
Mold overrated as a problem, but can compromise health
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Avoid moldy homes - do not buy
As a formerly healthy person, now totally disabled and struggling to live, due to a mold exposure, I cannot disagree more with the statements above. The information above, if followed, will expose you to mold and possibly harm your family seriously. Even the remediation methods do not follow EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) guidelines.
My advice: steer clear of homes with mold. In Leviticus, in the Bible, they recommend destruction of the building. That is good advice if the mold is pervasive.
If it is not, use, at minimum, EPA guidelines. Since there is no law stipulating how mold must be removed, anyone can recommend anything.
The bad news is that many of our nation's schools are damp and moldy - unhealthy places that parents unknowingly send their children to. When they become sick, no one suspects the school (or the home) environment. We have a very long way to go before the correct information is taught to the public. Science-based information exists, but is not required of the industry by the government. There are many who have succumbed to bad remediations, losing their health and lives.
For more information on mold and health and mold remediation, go to www.schoolmoldhelp.org.
It is important to remember
It is important to remember that you need to seal off the contaminated area so that spores that become air-borne do not fall onto another uncontaminated area and grow there.
Do not use bleach and water. This is taken from the CMHC site:
"Bleach is NOT recommended:
The presence of organic (humic) materials, the pH (acidity/alkalinity) of the water, the surface material and contact time affect the effectiveness of bleach for disinfection. Since these factors are not generally controlled, bleach cannot be relied upon for disinfection. The most compelling reason for advising against bleach is that fumes are harmful but in addition, overuse of bleach will result in increased releases of chlorinated effluents which can be harmful to the environment."
CMHC and EPA provide PROPER steps to remediate a mold problem yourself and guidelines of when to call a professional (someone trained to spot mold, not a general home inspector).
CMHC: http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/yohoyohe/momo/momo_005.cfm
EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldresources.html
Mold without Moisture Still Harmful
It is also important to understand that, within the indoor environment, the products of mold - spores, fungal fragments, toxins (mycotoxins), volatile organic compounds and more - can cause inflammatory conditions and/or infections that are so severe, they may cause death in some individuals or significant, chronic illnesses. It is not simply just the spores that one may worry about. Spores have been known to remain viable (able to grow) for thousands of years. Spores of toxigenic molds contain poisons that are chemicals and remain harmful even if dead. Mycotoxins are not alive - these are highly poisonous chemicals that can be aerosolized by the mold colony separate from the spores and on the heads of the spores. When inhaled by an animal or human, these enter the bloodstream. When mold is dry (the source of moisture removed), the spores are even more likely to be emitted, searching for moisture. That is why good remediation practices remove all contaminated materials and clean the air and contents for fungal products, completely, within a sealed environment, using hepi-filtration and negative-air equipment. It is not simply enough to kill or "seal off" mold or stop moisture. Vacuuming with a regular home vacuum in a contaminated space will cross contaminate the rest of the building. Science-based solutions have been developed for remediation and are archived at www.schoolmoldhelp.org on the Remediation page.
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Molds can end up growing such as following water damage in Los Angeles that is left unclean or untreated. Los Angeles Water Damage Experts are trained when it comes to cleaning up mold and they have the equipment to get the job done right.
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