POTENTIAL SIGNS

Susan Lillard-Roberts

• Stained ceiling tiles (you may be very surprised as to what may be growing underneath) or walls.

• Musty, earthy, or urine type odor.

• Black, brown, orange, pink,  or green speckled walls or around any plumbing grout or tile.

• Deficient siding, siding that is not covering a building adequately, or certain types appear to be more prone to mold (i.e., Hardie Plank® which is not installed properly; meaning without a "tray," L.P.®, and untreated wood, particleboard (OSB) or wood and materials) not weather protected in lumberyards and prior or during construction. This is known as "lumberyard mold." (More information on this below).

• Wood siding where the paint has cracked and water has intruded (poor maintenance).

• Mild to severe unexplained illness, see symptoms, in combination with any other building problems listed on this page.

• Swollen or crumbling walls or buckling floor boards.

• Sewer backup which has caused water harm.

• Leaky roof or flashing installed improperly.

• Flood or hurricane damage.

• Leaky window or door.

• Washing machine overflow, washing machine leaks such as drain valve phalanges, leaky gaskets, etc.

• leaky toilet/bathtub seals.

• Lack of ventilation.

• Relative humidity over 55%.

• Damp basements.

• Disaster damage (hurricane, flood, earthquake, tornado, etc.).

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS

• Leaky door or unseated windows that have broken seals.

• Plumbing leak/inferior plumbing job.

• Water damage after a fire. (Unfortunately, many restoration companies fail to address or prevent mold while they control water/fire restoration).

• Faulty air conditioning or heating system.

• Vinyl siding that is defective or installed in a incorrect manner, such as trim pieces missing or bowing, or not installed properly around windows or has holes in it from branches or improper care.

• Clogged vents or air ducts.

• Cracked or disconnected hoses behind refrigerators from automatic ice makers/water dispensers or dishwashers.

• Construction defects that could lead to water intrusion (i.e., windows not seated properly, soffits with pieces missing or installed in the wrong direction, cracked foundations, shoddy workmanship).

• Poor planning (i.e., lack of crawl space, sealed windows, no overflow spouts in sinks/bathtubs, carpeting in bathrooms.

• Downspouts that are disconnected, allowing water to flow under the foundation or along the siding.

• Lumber is a major problem. The first mistake is the fact that some lumber mills are obtaining their inventory from the rain forests, where many fungal species live, and they are not treating the wood with fungacides. Wood and OSB are another major problem. Previously, builders often used kiln dried wood, but unfortunately the use of quality wood products has essentially ceased. Due to the cost factor, most contractors use "green" wood. Another error exists with home improvement stores and lumberyards as they inefficiently store lumber outside. When these products are exposed to the elements, invisible and visible fungal growth starts even before the wood is purchased. The companies who practice this method should be held liable for this ignorant and unhealthy way of storing wood products. Of course wood could be very expensive if it had to be stored inside. It is also much safer to purchase a home that was constructed during the summer months as lumberyard mold can also proliferate during the construction phase, as well.

• Cut-rate materials; substandard plumbing, shoddy siding, etc.

• Flat roofs that are not properly maintained (annually checked for drainage, bubbles, holes and coating).

• Location; flood zones, water table, environmental issues, etc.

• Poor carpet cleaning job where excess water was not removed properly.

Note: Carpet appears to be a major problem in moldy environments. The less carpet one has, the less chance they will have with a mold problem, especially with current weather factors, humidity, water intrusion, allergies, etc.  In some European countries, carpeting is prohibited in new home construction for health reasons.  Natural or even synthetic flooring is a much healthier alternative.

*Despite construction problems, some recent mold concerns can be attributed to overall problems resulting from the greenhouse affect.

This is not an all inclusive list, nor does it suggest you may possibly have a toxigenic mold problem. For more information, seek the advice of a professional.