The Mold Report

01.09.12 Monday the report is written and received on 01.10.12

“Re: Mold Test Report,” he wrote. “The house with the exception of the addition in back is not occupied. The Marks [hmm, so now I’m a Marks? I think not…] are moving back into the house and the tenants had since moved out. It was known that mold had a tendency to appear on the exterior walls of several bedrooms and it would be periodically cleaned but it would then reappear. The roof was replaced a few years back, and the mold continues to reappear. Before moving back in, the Marks asked for testing and analysis.”

The Foundation:  “…planters against wall…stucco deteriorating…walls not sealed properly…water penetrating through…sprinklers spraying wall…grade higher than wall bottom of the wall…no weep screed, windows and doors appear sealed well…stucco not exposed to constant water  in good condition.” [The bad and the good]

“Visual mold spots on walls in bedrooms… a musty smell. In closet black spots on exterior wall…no elevated moisture content…invasive test?  = remove drywall?  …mold penetrated drywall?  Or originated on surface? a combination?”

Testing:  “Air samples taken [bedrooms & outside for comparison]… representative of ambient air and concentration… lab report attached…Environmental Microbiology Laboratories…mold scores in moderate range.

Education – The Beginning: There are multiple allergenic type molds, specifically Cladosporium. This type of mold is an abundant mold worldwide and is normally one of the most abundant spore types present in both indoor and outdoor air samples. Cladosporium can be found anywhere indoors, including textiles, bathroom tiles, wood, drywall, moist windowsills, and wet areas in a home. Cladosporium species are rarely pathogenic or (infectious agent, or more commonly a germ) to humans, but has been reported to cause (in some people) infections of the skin and toenails, as well as sinusitis and pulmonary infections. The airborne spores of Cladosporium mold species are significant allergens, and in large amounts they can affect asthmatics and people with respiratory diseases. In addition, there are a couple of other molds that are considered to be toxigenic type molds that can cause adverse health problems with long term exposure. They are Penicillium/Aspergillus and Chaetomium. Chaetomium is a fungal genus which contains around 80 known species of mold. Chaetomium produces a variety of mycotoxins called chaetoglobsins whose health effects in humans is for the most part unknown. Because it is a toxigenic fungus, it is one of species sometimes identified as requiring special precautions in its remediation, as this species with prolonged exposure can cause health effects in humans. Mold affects individuals differently and to different degrees, especially those with weak immune systems, asthmatics, or people with other sensitivities allergies, the following are some of the most common adverse health effects: Nasal and sinus congestion, respiratory problems---wheezing, difficulty in breathing, eyes-burning, watery, reddened, blurry vision, light sensitivity, sore throat, shortness of breath and lung disease, chronic fatigue, skin irritation, headaches, loss of memory, and mood changes, aches and pains.

Summary:  “It is obvious that some of the moisture penetration was through the walls at the planters in front and sprinklers spraying the walls. First and foremost, the planters should be removed or the walls sealed properly to prevent water penetration. Also, any sprinklers spraying the walls should be corrected and any bushes against the walls removed and the soil re-graded below the base of the inside walls by at least 4”. In addition, there is no insulation in the walls for this age of the home and I recommend adding insulation of all exterior walls. Without insulation, this causes the walls to sweat due to differentiation of temperatures between indoors and outdoors. Since mold spores are present in the air, this gives them the resources to grow. After the exterior problems are corrected, I then recommend having all affected drywall removed, especially the drywall and shelves in the closet of the 1st bedroom on the right. In addition, all other areas will need to be treated with mold inhibitors and any surface mold cleaned with mold detergent/cleaners. Also, the carpet should be removed and thrown out as carpet has a tendency to trap mold spores within it. Finally, mold inhibitor primers and painting will need to be applied. The final sanitizing of the entire room will need to be done. Due to the nature of the mold and what needs to be done to remove, clean and contain the mold, I recommend [using] professional remediation [techniques]. Proper cleaning or removal and precautions, including personal protective equipment, please see the EPA guidelines at the following web sites called “Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings” These guidelines are also used for residential remediation and can be found at the following web sites:

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/index.html or http://www.epa.gov/mold/mold_remediation.html “

Aha! Already read and reread...ahead of the game? Doesn't feel like it.

Can you guess where we began physically even before this report came in? The inspector's pictures and comments tell…where is an easy place to start to feel like we have some modicum of control in a situation that feels completely out of control? 

Knowledge is Power

01.05.12 Where to Launch the Attack?

“Houston, we have a problem.” No. no, it’s --> Lompoc, we have a problem.” Denial will not work.  Acceptance and moving forward.  Daunting. Where to begin? We live in the age of instant information, gobs of information, more information than can ever be absorbed, conflicting information, good news, bad news, take your pick. I know my punctuation is all wrong but who cares now. This is already 12 days late. Hey but I am catching up, no? So why can I continue? Well, an aching back, numb arms, tingling fingers, need a break. From what? You ask. Digging, digging, digging, and more digging to come. Here does all the soil come from? How did it get here? Oh must you must wait 12 more days to hear today’s story. Or, am I allowed to tell it out of order? I don’t know. Who sets the rules? Is it me? Can I be in charge of my own writing? Can I use punctuation any old way I wish? Let’s try it on for size. Who knows?

Have you figured out yet that this is not just an Ascomycota Assault? I battle my own inner demon, the incessant voice ever grumbling in my ear. Don’t expect a style out of this. I know not where it leads. Free-writing…I first learned of this idea from Chris who was also my inspiration for this blog, truly talented and committed educator in every sense of the word. Check out the blog Blue Ice.

So what do we do now? Read, read read, and the best information at this point? The EPA, gotta love’em. http://www.epa.gov/mold/index.html is a good place to start with downloadable PDF files, including, but of course not limited to, "A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", Mold Checklist EPA, Mold Remediation EPA, Mold Airducts EPA, Mold Image Library, Prevention and Control… And ever the overachiever with a desperate need to deeply understand I embarked on The Mold Course http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/index.html. Naturally, like any solid education program it started off with a Pre-Test. Can you fill in the blanks?

?         The most important factor influencing mold growth is: 
?         True or False: Molds have the potential to cause health effects such as allergic reactions. 
?         Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is worn in order to limit mold exposure. Minimum PPE for mold remediation includes: 
?         True or False: Water-damaged furnishings and building components should be dried within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. 
?         True or False: Mold cannot be eliminated from indoor environments. Some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in dust; however, they will not grow if moisture is not present.

And thus the battles began.

Moisture Issue: A lawn sprinkler is located near the outside wall of a building; the sprinkler sprays the wall directly, and water leaks through wall into the building.

Ascomycota species love inaccessible hiding places that meet the 4 critical requirements for mold growth – available mold spores, available mold food, appropriate temperatures and considerable moisture.

Dark Unventilated Closet

Over Crowded Room

Light may enter but Ascomycota finds the inaccessible hiding places