Costly Mold Problems and Mold Information!

Mold is a growing concern among home buyers and sellers - and rightfully so! On a recent sale of one of our properties, the buyer had a "mold inspection contingency" in his contract - the opportunity to have the home tested for mold. The inspection company took air samples and analyzed them as having large numbers of mold spores - the buyer then insisted under the contingency that further testing be done to identify the source of the mold and the cost to remediate. Now, the seller is again caught between a rock and a hard place - if they refuse to do anything and the buyer walks, they must disclose the presence of mold to the next potential purchaser as well as having the problem mitigated beforehand - the house is back on the market with the clock ticking - and who knows the effect this will have on new potential buyers.

So an independent testing facility is brought in to identify the type and source of the mold - cost $395. They identified mold from an old leak under the kitchen sink, way back in a corner which had permeated downward into the ceiling of the finished basement. A second source of mold was identified in the utility room around the furnace. Of course, the buyer wanted the mold mitigated by a licensed company and all the air ducts cleaned. Three estimates were obtained with the LOWEST being $6,500 and ranging all the way to $12,000. Although we managed to get the price reduced to $5,000 - that's STILL $5,000 more than the seller was prepared to "cough up" after everything else - unfortunately there was no choice!

Here again, we have a "word to the wise" - educate yourself about mold - have it cleaned up and taken care of in advance!

The following is some helpful information about mold - this information was taken from the public information portion of the EPA website and there is even more extensive information there - I have tried to break this down to the most important information to homeowners, and have added some additional comments of my own.

WHAT IS MOLD?
According to the EPA: "Molds are part of the natural environment. Outdoors, molds play a part in nature by breaking down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees, but indoors, mold growth should be avoided. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture." -

CHECK FOR LEAKS FROM PIPES, HEATING AND COOLING, WINDOWS, ETC. Another source of moisture is downspouts that do not drain away from the house with extensions, poorly fastened or clogged gutters that overflow down the side of a house, landscaping that does not allow water to flow away from the foundation. All of these things should be looked out to prevent possible mold problems.

How to get rid of mold:
Again, according to the EPA: "It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back."

Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors. One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the EPA guidelines:


Fix plumbing leaks and other water problems as soon as possible. Dry all items completely.
Scrub mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and dry completely.
Absorbent or porous materials, such as ceiling tiles and carpet, may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Mold can grow on or fill in the empty spaces and crevices of porous materials, so the mold may be difficult or impossible to remove completely.

Avoid exposing yourself or others to mold -
Avoid breathing in mold or mold spores. In order to limit your exposure to airborne mold, you may want to wear an N-95 respirator, available at many hardware stores and from companies that advertise on the Internet. (They cost about $12 to $25.) Some N-95 respirators resemble a paper dust mask with a nozzle on the front, others are made primarily of plastic or rubber and have removable cartridges that trap most of the mold spores from entering. In order to be effective, the respirator or mask must fit properly, so carefully follow the instructions supplied with the respirator.
Wear gloves. Long gloves that extend to the middle of the forearm are recommended. When working with water and a mild detergent, ordinary household rubber gloves may be used. If you are using a disinfectant, a biocide such as chlorine bleach, or a strong cleaning solution, you should select gloves made from natural rubber, neoprene, nitrile, polyurethane, or PVC. Avoid touching mold or moldy items with your bare hands.

Cleaning while wearing N-95 respirator, gloves and goggles. Wear goggles. Goggles that do not have ventilation holes are recommended. Avoid getting mold or mold spores in your eyes.

Do not paint or caulk moldy surfaces.
Clean up the mold and dry the surfaces before painting. Paint applied over moldy surfaces is likely to peel.
If you are unsure about how to clean an item, or if the item is expensive or of sentimental value, you may wish to consult a specialist. Specialists in furniture repair, restoration, painting, art restoration and conservation, carpet and rug cleaning, water damage, and fire or water restoration are commonly listed in phone books. Be sure to ask for and check references. Look for specialists who are affiliated with professional organizations.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN MOLD IS GONE?
It is difficult to know when all mold has been removed - you need to check the area to be sure the source of the moisture has been resolved, don't forget, if there is no moisture, there will be no mold! Visual inspection is you best bet, but remember, there are places that will not be easily visible. There should be no remaining signs of moisture and no musty odor.

Even the EPA says with regard to whether or not your mold is gone:

"Ultimately, this is a judgment call; there is no easy answer. If you have concerns or questions call the EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse IAQ INFO at (800) 438-4318"

HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND THE INFORMATION USEFUL AND INFORMATIVE - REMEMBER

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