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Mold can be a homeowner's worst nightmare
by Kelly Hildebrandt, News-Leader.com
Asbestos and lead paint were environmental concerns of yesteryear that once had homeowners scurrying to rid their homes of them. But now the dirty word is mold.
Recent concerns about the possible health risks of mold have spurred construction businesses to try to inhibit its growth with new techniques and supplies. Companies such as GeoTek Engineering & Testing Services Inc. in Sioux Falls, which does air-quality consulting, have never been busier.
For homeowner Chad Howe, mold is a real issue even if the health risks are unproven. Doctors never directly linked his wife's health problems to the mold growing behind the wainscoting all throughout his house. But Howe has no doubt that was what caused the flu symptoms, hair loss, blackouts and other problems.
"The sicker she got, the more she stayed in the house, which made it worse," Howe says. The ensuing costly cleanup of the house forced the family into bankruptcy.
Homebuilders today must work to meet new energy efficiency standards while also letting air circulate to prevent mold growth.
Curtis Yost of AAA Home Inspections LLC finds molds of all kinds fairly often.
"Generally, by the time you see it on your walls, it's usually going to be a lot worse behind the Sheetrock," Yost says.
Mold typically starts growing on water-damaged materials such as carpeting and Sheetrock within 48 hours if the items aren't properly dried, says Tim Wilkinson of GeoTek. If mold was caused by water damage or flooding, the source of the flooding must be fixed, Wilkinson says.
Charles Beatch of Beatch Construction says wainscoting is something most builders now try to avoid to lessen the potential for mold growth.
Lumber and new building materials such as paperless Sheetrock can be treated to deter mold and termites.
Construction companies can help seal basements and install Humidex ventilation systems to filter the air.
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061231/LIFE05/612310317/1036# # #
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800-422-7873
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