Mold in basement of house

[ultrarunner]

Assuming no water leaks, i.e., roof, pipes, extreme weather humidity, I have found that a family's lifestyle to be the greatest variable.

I have managed apartments where the same unit will not have any mold with one family and constant mold issues with a different family.

Case in point... I had to deal with mold issues when a family with four teenagers moved in. The kids were taking several showers each day, someone was always cooking pasta and steaming veggies. All of this was done with the windows closed and cooking on a gas range which also introduced moisture into the air as a by-product of combustion. Water would just cover the inside side of the windows and drip down the sill.

One thing that I found is a paint called Mildew Guard by Zinser paint. I use it in bathrooms, closets, and for wood window sills... it has eliminated 99% of my mildew problems. It costs about $18 a gallon.

 

[midlf]

Yikes get profesional help. Black mold is BAD from what I have read. (I'm not a profesional) Houses can be condemned based on mold. Stay away, stay away, stay away!

Common mildew is black and is no big deal.

 

[Highbeam]

I wouldn't worry so much about the mold as I would worry about the cause of the mold and the potential rotten wood, structural wood. There are too many people out there trying to scare us to death, don't you think they had mold and mildew 50 years ago? My 1960s built house doesn't even have bathroom fans though I plan to fix that.

Don't sweat the mold, worry about the cause and other effects that are unseen.

 

[AlanB]

Better or worse, doing the deal on the house.

9.6 acres, 1150 sq ft house built in 66, full basement underneath.... As is with Termite letter and 120K.....

I watched Flip this house once, so now I get to do it twice

Cross your fingers and toes for me, may need the two houses if this leads to a divorce....

Oh, yeah, the wife has not seen the house yet..... BOY will she be in for a suprise when she gets home

On a more serious note, have a good freind that flips houses regularly, and is a paint sales guy and has been a remodeler / painting contractor a long time.

He said no problem, and would go through it with me. I know he has been through worse several times over so.... with a little leap of faith, away we go.

Now just have to figure out how to pay for the thing But no more rental property for the business so that is a good thing!

 

[thcri]

I wouldn't worry so much about the mold as I would worry about the cause of the mold and the potential rotten wood, structural wood. There are too many people out there trying to scare us to death, don't you think they had mold and mildew 50 years ago? My 1960s built house doesn't even have bathroom fans though I plan to fix that.

Don't sweat the mold, worry about the cause and other effects that are unseen.

I am going to agree with Highbeam on his above statements. Mold is becoming a very popular thing especially with the tighter houses being made today. I see it in about 50 houses a year now. Get an inspector in there, find out where all the mold is and what the clean up procedures are that would clean it up and most of all, what caused it in the first place. The seller probably won't be able to sell the house without documenting it and cleaning it up. In Minnesota selling a house the seller has to document if he has ever had mold problems.

If you just clean it up, it will be back within a year.


murph

 

[EddieWalker]

Better or worse, doing the deal on the house.

9.6 acres, 1150 sq ft house built in 66, full basement underneath.... As is with Termite letter and 120K.....

Congratulations!!!

Sounds like you'll have plenty of projects to share with us in the future.

Eddie

 

[AlanB]

A few too many I think

I have been given the official tasking from the headmaster that she want's to see pictures...... She did not find it nearly as amusing as I when I said, what difference does it make now?????

Let the lists begin, Flip 2 houses in 4 months, loose 1 month too paperwork on this one, oh, and Hanna has to build a pond when she gets back,,,, so we can pay for these new things

looks like bike riding is going on the back burner, and Vacation will be spent scrubbing a basement and demoing a bathroom.... WoooooHOOOOOOO!

 

[paco]

Alan,

Servall pest control in clarksville inspects for mold also. If your lender has to have termite letter for finance purposes then they will most likely catch the mold and it should be at the sellers expense. I have a friend who buys and sells property. Mold is common and is required to be treated and proof given prior to loan closing.

 

[IslandTractor]

Yikes get profesional help. Black mold is BAD from what I have read. (I'm not a profesional) Houses can be condemned based on mold. Stay away, stay away, stay away!

As this shows there is a lot of hysteria about "black mold" or Stachybotrys. It is truly hysteria but it now out of control in this country and being driven primarily by business interests as mold abatement is an extremely lucrative area.

If you look back historically you will find virtually no mention of this problem before 1990. The reason is that the whole fiasco started with a very bad study done by CDC in Cleveland. The study was poorly designed and executed but managed to be published and immediately got wide media attention. The study has subsequently been disowned and severely criticized by CDC itself (they fired some of their own staff over this) but the hysteria has not slowed down.

I think the major reason the hysteria has not calmed down is that like lead abatement or asbestos removal, there was an obvious and highly lucrative business opportunity supported by a wonderful marketing gimick: fear. If you try to find information on the web you will find dozens of sites that talk about the horrible hazards associated with "mycotoxins" etc. Those same sites will then reassuringly direct you to very expensive companies who will "abate" the problem by cleaning out your house and bank account in one fell swoop.

The rational approach IMHO is exactly what Eddie advocated above: clorox clean up combined with better ventilation and prevention of water ingress.

 

[AlanB]

I am actually buying in somewhat to the Traskresearch line of thinking somewhat.

I think the website is Trask Research, Inc. Mold Treatment and Healthcare Products

I guess my thoughts run around the circle of I could spend $500 to have it professionally inspected,, or just treat it as though it is, Fog it with a mildewcide and fogger spending the $500 on remediation and sealing and fixing the problem. It will be far easier to deal with while the house is empty. The idea of the fog penetrating into the little nooks and crannies gives me good thoughts. Might ask if I can go fix the gutters prior to closing.

In the FWIW category, I probably have as much or more training in Hazmat handling etc as most in the area that I would be hiring. I am currently fit tested and certified in several respirators, current on my Hazwoper Technician through Incident command levels, and generally prize my health quite highly.

Off too do battle with the mold,,,, just have to clear through the battle with the BANK first.... It was pretty painless yesterday, there is just SO much paperwork to sign, but the ladies are beautifull so it makes it all the nicer It still took about two hours though, and they already had most the paperwork.

Got to close on the 28th. After that it will be time to attack the problem.