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How to handle the mold problem in the basement? figstem 07-17-2005
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Posted by on July 17, 2005, 12:40 pm


I just found a quite serious mold problem in my unfinished
basement---after peeling off the plastic covers and isolations (the
first owner or the builder covered the isolation with the plastic
sheets), I found an area of 10ft. X 5ft size on the wallboard are
dark-black with several small spots rotten...I guess it's so-called
black mold due to the long-time dampness. It's my first time buying a
house and I feel very panic and depressed...would you please tell me
how to do next? Contact my insurance company first? or find a mold
cleanup company to have a free estimate first?

Since the bad situation and it involves some vertical supporting wooden
poles for the first floor, I don't think the mold cleanup would do the
work...maybe those wallboard and poles should be replaced---it's the
huge work I think, which kind of company should I turn to? A
construction company? I really don't have any experience about this
issue. Please teach me. Thanks a lot in advance. - Mike



Posted by Speedy Jim on July 17, 2005, 4:50 pm


figstem@yahoo.com wrote:
> I just found a quite serious mold problem in my unfinished
> basement---after peeling off the plastic covers and isolations (the
> first owner or the builder covered the isolation with the plastic
> sheets), I found an area of 10ft. X 5ft size on the wallboard are
> dark-black with several small spots rotten...I guess it's so-called
> black mold due to the long-time dampness. It's my first time buying a
> house and I feel very panic and depressed...would you please tell me
> how to do next? Contact my insurance company first? or find a mold
> cleanup company to have a free estimate first?
>
> Since the bad situation and it involves some vertical supporting wooden
> poles for the first floor, I don't think the mold cleanup would do the
> work...maybe those wallboard and poles should be replaced---it's the
> huge work I think, which kind of company should I turn to? A
> construction company? I really don't have any experience about this
> issue. Please teach me. Thanks a lot in advance. - Mike
>

Don't panic! And don't make any hasty decisions.

Spend some time on the Internet studying about mold problems.

Mold cleanup (remediation) companies are generally rip-off,
quick-buck firms, although there may be some reputable ones.

Step #1 should be to find out *why* the mold grew.
Is it too humid in the basement? If so, that needs to be
fixed (dehumidifier).

If it is wallboard (drywall) that is moldy, the best answer
may be to remove it rather than attempt remediation. The "poles"
(studs?) could be saved, perhaps.

Here are a few links to get you started :

http://www.dehs.umn.edu/iaq/fungus/
http://www3.sympatico.ca/ross.fraser/Richard9.htm
http://www.toxic-black-mold-info.com/moldsigns.htm
http://www.moldcheck.com/MoldCleanUp.asp
http://www.molddamagecontrol.com/list.htm
http://www.moldinspector.com/mold_removal.htm


Do a
http://google.com/
search for: Mold + Remediation

Thousands of pages.
Many are from commercial "cleanup" companies,
but there are some helpful sites out there as well.

Jim


Posted by on July 17, 2005, 10:57 pm


Thank you all! It's very kind of you and I really appreciate. Do you
know, say in the yellow book, what kind of companies (remodeling?
improvement?) I should ask to remove the wallboards? I don't think I
can do it myself since the large board under vinyl is not easy to take
off from the studs and also too heavy. Thanks again. - Mike


Speedy Jim wrote:
>
> Don't panic! And don't make any hasty decisions.
>
> Spend some time on the Internet studying about mold problems.
>
> Mold cleanup (remediation) companies are generally rip-off,
> quick-buck firms, although there may be some reputable ones.
>
> Step #1 should be to find out *why* the mold grew.
> Is it too humid in the basement? If so, that needs to be
> fixed (dehumidifier).
>
> If it is wallboard (drywall) that is moldy, the best answer
> may be to remove it rather than attempt remediation. The "poles"
> (studs?) could be saved, perhaps.
>
> Here are a few links to get you started :
>
> http://www.dehs.umn.edu/iaq/fungus/
> http://www3.sympatico.ca/ross.fraser/Richard9.htm
> http://www.toxic-black-mold-info.com/moldsigns.htm
> http://www.moldcheck.com/MoldCleanUp.asp
> http://www.molddamagecontrol.com/list.htm
> http://www.moldinspector.com/mold_removal.htm
>
>
> Do a
> http://google.com/
> search for: Mold + Remediation
>
> Thousands of pages.
> Many are from commercial "cleanup" companies,
> but there are some helpful sites out there as well.
>
> Jim



Posted by Joseph Meehan on July 17, 2005, 10:30 pm


figstem@yahoo.com wrote:
>I just found a quite serious mold problem in my unfinished
> basement---after peeling off the plastic covers and isolations (the
> first owner or the builder covered the isolation with the plastic
> sheets), I found an area of 10ft. X 5ft size on the wallboard are
> dark-black with several small spots rotten...I guess it's so-called
> black mold due to the long-time dampness. It's my first time buying a
> house and I feel very panic and depressed...would you please tell me
> how to do next? Contact my insurance company first? or find a mold
> cleanup company to have a free estimate first?
>
> Since the bad situation and it involves some vertical supporting
> wooden poles for the first floor, I don't think the mold cleanup
> would do the work...maybe those wallboard and poles should be
> replaced---it's the huge work I think, which kind of company should I
> turn to? A construction company? I really don't have any experience
> about this issue. Please teach me. Thanks a lot in advance. - Mike

I at least partly agree with Speedy. Don't panic, and don't trust most
mold companies. Mold is normal and most molds are harmless. Do as Jim
suggested and do your research. Keep in mind there will be some conflicting
information. Consider the sources.

Before committing yourself to spending a lot of money call your
insurance company and investigate the possibility that the prior owner may
be responsible.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit




Posted by Curly Sue on July 18, 2005, 12:57 am


On Sun, 17 Jul 2005 22:30:11 GMT, "Joseph Meehan"

> Before committing yourself to spending a lot of money call your
>insurance company and investigate the possibility that the prior owner may
>be responsible.

Be careful. If the house gets labeled as one with a mold/water
problem, he might find himself without insurance. Insurance companies
have a sort of rating code regarding claims that stay with the house
even for different owners. (I read that recently; unfortunately, I
don't remember where. Reader's Digest, perhaps?)

From the article, it seems that the insurance companies for the buyer
can't get access to the report with the code until the buyer owns the
house, so a buyer could get a policy only to have it revoked after
closing or find out the policy will cost a lot more than the price
quoted before the purchase.

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!


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