Hold the mold

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Cindy Parker

Moldy, musty, dank, damp, wet; none of these terms should be used in describing parts of your home. For many people that have become tolerant with poor ventilation, these terms express conditions that they live with on a daily basis. Moldy basements are not uncommon – but there are some issues to understand if you have one. In general, if you have a “musty” smelling basement – you have mold.

First, be aware that there are many types of mold. Health concerns related to mold exposure can be anything from headaches, watery eyes and cold-like symptoms to severe allergic reactions with skin irritations and respiratory infections. Although many people have heard of “black mold” and may know that it can be rapid growing and highly toxic, an allergic reaction to other molds can also be very unhealthy.

If you try to determine the type of mold that you have, be extremely cautious. Don’t inhale deeply – better yet, wear a mask. Use gloves and safety glasses. Consider the mold to be poisonous and act appropriately. Allergic reactions to mold can occur whether the mold is alive or dead. Mold growth and spread can be stopped by killing the spores, but the spores must be removed to eliminate health concerns.

Basement (and bathroom) mold can be any color from whitish gray to black with tinges of green, blue or brown.

Stachybotrys and Cladosporium molds are generally the darker colors. These are the molds commonly known as “black mold” and frequently appear slimy in texture and growing in streaks. Exposure to this type of mold can result in severe allergic reactions.

Some of the light colored, fuzzy looking molds are common outdoor plant and food molds, such as Aspergillus or Fusarium.

What’s the root cause of mold? Moisture.

Eliminate any existing mold – thoroughly. Prevent further mold growth by eliminating the conditions that encourage it.

Mold likes moisture. Think of items that stay damp in your basement. Those are the areas that have the greatest tendency to develop mold. Carpet, carpet padding, wallpaper, cellulose ceiling tiles, the paper on drywall, wood products – all these have the capacity to “hold” moisture. Other than basement flooding, the relative humidity in your basement is the biggest contributor to your chances of developing mold.

If the basement area is air conditioned, there are rarely problems with moisture. Without air conditioning or some means of de-humidification, basement moisture is an issue in most climates. The problem is dew point. Because of the cool ground temperature, the walls and floor in a basement are usually cooler than the air temperature. Moisture condenses out of the air and collects on (and in) any surface that is slightly porous. Peeling paint, curling wallpaper and “soft” drywall are all signs of moisture retention.

Although mold remediation can be accomplished as a do-it-yourself project, if the condition is severe and compromising health, a professional abatement firm should perform the job. Additionally, homeowner insurance policies should be checked for provisions on mold removal. In many instances, the “infected” home is not fit for occupancy and labeled uninhabitable.

Mold is serious; approach it with caution, never assume that it will just go away. Mold prevention is easy – just keep things dry.