Mold and New Construction
Although the emphasis on mold in the courts and in the media is relatively new, mold has always been in our environment. Mold is a naturally
occurring type of fungus that requires just two things in order to grow: a food source; and sufficient moisture. A variety of construction
materials can provide the food source including: ceiling tiles, carpet, insulation and, perhaps most commonly, the paper backing of drywall.
The necessary moisture may be provided by a single event -- a broken pipe, for example -- or may result from construction and/or
environmental conditions that allow water infiltration or, over time, create condensation or humidity. Mold may grow either through expansion
on a moist surface or through the dispersal of spores into the air.
Dangers of Mold
Generally, within 48 hours after getting wet, invisible mold growth has started on wet woods and paper-backed products such as sheetrock.
After about four days, mold growth on surfaces is visible in the form of discoloration. Because molds digest organic material, they gradually
destroy whatever they grow on. Moisture damage contributes to over 90% of all reported building material failures. According to the National
Association of Home Builders, moisture damage costs builders in the U.S. approximately 5.3 billion dollars per year in new construction and 9
billion dollars in existing housing.
Mold Related Claims
Mold is a growning concern for the building industry as the number of mold related lawsuits skyrockets. The filing of mold-related cases is on
the rise, and recent large jury verdicts and media attention undoubtedly will encourage the filing of even more lawsuits. Virtually every
participant in the building industry -- owners, contractors, designers and material suppliers -- faces some potential exposure to mold claims
Moldsprayers can help
Our Mold Prevention Specialists can help limit your exposure to mold liability. Our advanced prevention services include the application of
proprietary technologies once the structure is framed. These technologies work to prohibit mold, mildew and algae growth on all wood
surfaces. This application provides a barrier that prevents mold from forming inside the walls of a treated structure. All prevention services are
guaranteed.
Molds do not require liquid water to grow. They only require relative humidity levels from 65% to 99% at the surface on which
they grow. If you keep the humidity low enough, you can prevent mold growth. Maintaining relative humidity below 50%
inhibits mold and mildew growth, dust mite infestations, and bacteria. This lower relative humidity also reduces the out-
gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In colder climates, wintertime humidity levels must be even lower —
generally, 25% to 40% (to prevent condensation on windows).
To protect your respiratory system indoors, the relative humidity should be above 25%.
Although the emphasis on mold in the courts and in the media is relatively new, mold has always been in our environment. Mold is a naturally
occurring type of fungus that requires just two things in order to grow: a food source; and sufficient moisture. A variety of construction
materials can provide the food source including: ceiling tiles, carpet, insulation and, perhaps most commonly, the paper backing of drywall.
The necessary moisture may be provided by a single event -- a broken pipe, for example -- or may result from construction and/or
environmental conditions that allow water infiltration or, over time, create condensation or humidity. Mold may grow either through expansion
on a moist surface or through the dispersal of spores into the air.
Dangers of Mold
Generally, within 48 hours after getting wet, invisible mold growth has started on wet woods and paper-backed products such as sheetrock.
After about four days, mold growth on surfaces is visible in the form of discoloration. Because molds digest organic material, they gradually
destroy whatever they grow on. Moisture damage contributes to over 90% of all reported building material failures. According to the National
Association of Home Builders, moisture damage costs builders in the U.S. approximately 5.3 billion dollars per year in new construction and 9
billion dollars in existing housing.
Mold Related Claims
Mold is a growning concern for the building industry as the number of mold related lawsuits skyrockets. The filing of mold-related cases is on
the rise, and recent large jury verdicts and media attention undoubtedly will encourage the filing of even more lawsuits. Virtually every
participant in the building industry -- owners, contractors, designers and material suppliers -- faces some potential exposure to mold claims
Moldsprayers can help
Our Mold Prevention Specialists can help limit your exposure to mold liability. Our advanced prevention services include the application of
proprietary technologies once the structure is framed. These technologies work to prohibit mold, mildew and algae growth on all wood
surfaces. This application provides a barrier that prevents mold from forming inside the walls of a treated structure. All prevention services are
guaranteed.
Molds do not require liquid water to grow. They only require relative humidity levels from 65% to 99% at the surface on which
they grow. If you keep the humidity low enough, you can prevent mold growth. Maintaining relative humidity below 50%
inhibits mold and mildew growth, dust mite infestations, and bacteria. This lower relative humidity also reduces the out-
gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In colder climates, wintertime humidity levels must be even lower —
generally, 25% to 40% (to prevent condensation on windows).
To protect your respiratory system indoors, the relative humidity should be above 25%.
Mold Prevention - Depriving Molds of the Moisture They Need to Survive and Thrive
• Fix leaky plumbing and leaks in the building envelope as soon as possible.
• Watch for condensation and wet spots. Fix source(s) of moisture problem(s) as soon as possible. Insulate any cold water pipes that
have a visibly damp exterior.
• Prevent moisture due to condensation by increasing surface temperature or reducing the moisture level in air (humidity). To
increase surface temperature, insulate or increase air circulation. To reduce the moisture level in air, repair leaks, increase ventilation (if
outside air is cold and dry), or dehumidify (if outdoor air is warm and humid).
• Keep heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) drip pans clean, flowing properly, and unobstructed. Use a properly sized air
conditioner. Use ceiling fans - Mold is more robust in poorly ventilated areas with little air movement to disrupt their growth.
• Remove excess humidity from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom by using an exhaust fan or opening a window. Vent moisture-
generating appliances, such as dryers, to the outside where possible. Hang wet laundry outside or use a clothes dryer when indoor
humidity is high.
• Avoid storing papers, clothing, or other "mold food", in contact with basement floors or outer walls where their moisture content
could become high enough to initiate mold growth.
• Maintain low indoor humidity, below 60% relative humidity (RH), ideally 30-50%, if possible. Use an electrically powered
dehumidifier or a natural gas desiccant dehumidifier to keep indoor relative humidity below 50 percent (as measured in the middle of
rooms) and below 60 percent near the coolest surfaces.
• Perform regular building/HVAC inspections and maintenance as scheduled.
• After taking a shower, wipe water droplets on the shower walls into the drain. Clean and dry wet or damp spots within 24 hours.
• Do not carpet bathrooms or basements
• Make certain that rain water drains away from the building quickly enough to prevent saturation of walls and floors that contact
the earth. Reduce entry of water vapor from the soil. Don't let foundations stay wet. Provide drainage and slope the ground away from
the foundation. Make sure the ground slopes down at least 6 inches within the first ten feet from each exterior wall.
• The widespread practice of shutting down ventilation systems during unoccupied hours should be stopped. Instead buildings
should continually be slightly pressurized to prevent infiltration of moist air and radon. Some dehumidifiers can help you control
humidity and provide necessary ventilation at the same time.
• Fix leaky plumbing and leaks in the building envelope as soon as possible.
• Watch for condensation and wet spots. Fix source(s) of moisture problem(s) as soon as possible. Insulate any cold water pipes that
have a visibly damp exterior.
• Prevent moisture due to condensation by increasing surface temperature or reducing the moisture level in air (humidity). To
increase surface temperature, insulate or increase air circulation. To reduce the moisture level in air, repair leaks, increase ventilation (if
outside air is cold and dry), or dehumidify (if outdoor air is warm and humid).
• Keep heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) drip pans clean, flowing properly, and unobstructed. Use a properly sized air
conditioner. Use ceiling fans - Mold is more robust in poorly ventilated areas with little air movement to disrupt their growth.
• Remove excess humidity from the kitchen, laundry and bathroom by using an exhaust fan or opening a window. Vent moisture-
generating appliances, such as dryers, to the outside where possible. Hang wet laundry outside or use a clothes dryer when indoor
humidity is high.
• Avoid storing papers, clothing, or other "mold food", in contact with basement floors or outer walls where their moisture content
could become high enough to initiate mold growth.
• Maintain low indoor humidity, below 60% relative humidity (RH), ideally 30-50%, if possible. Use an electrically powered
dehumidifier or a natural gas desiccant dehumidifier to keep indoor relative humidity below 50 percent (as measured in the middle of
rooms) and below 60 percent near the coolest surfaces.
• Perform regular building/HVAC inspections and maintenance as scheduled.
• After taking a shower, wipe water droplets on the shower walls into the drain. Clean and dry wet or damp spots within 24 hours.
• Do not carpet bathrooms or basements
• Make certain that rain water drains away from the building quickly enough to prevent saturation of walls and floors that contact
the earth. Reduce entry of water vapor from the soil. Don't let foundations stay wet. Provide drainage and slope the ground away from
the foundation. Make sure the ground slopes down at least 6 inches within the first ten feet from each exterior wall.
- Keep the air pressure in the lowest rooms slightly higher than the soil gas pressure to minimize entry of water vapor through
pores and cracks in the concrete. - Use subslab depressurization to expel water vapor and radon from the soil to the exterior so they don't leak into your home
through pores and cracks in the concrete.
• The widespread practice of shutting down ventilation systems during unoccupied hours should be stopped. Instead buildings
should continually be slightly pressurized to prevent infiltration of moist air and radon. Some dehumidifiers can help you control
humidity and provide necessary ventilation at the same time.
| Remember, only you can prevent mold infestation. |
Molds are incapable of obtaining the moisture needed for their
development directly from the atmosphere, but they can obtain it from a
substrate, which has absorbed moisture from moist air (60% to 100%
relative humidity). The relative humidity of the air has an indirect effect
on fungal growth, and the more hygroscopic a material was, the more
susceptible it is to mold growth. The minimum moisture content at
which mold growth occurs depends on the material and usually ranges
from 10% to 14%. Suitable substrates include carpet fibers, gypsum,
concrete, bricks, etc.
development directly from the atmosphere, but they can obtain it from a
substrate, which has absorbed moisture from moist air (60% to 100%
relative humidity). The relative humidity of the air has an indirect effect
on fungal growth, and the more hygroscopic a material was, the more
susceptible it is to mold growth. The minimum moisture content at
which mold growth occurs depends on the material and usually ranges
from 10% to 14%. Suitable substrates include carpet fibers, gypsum,
concrete, bricks, etc.
| MoldSprayers LLC mold remediation experts Serving northwest Florida and surrounding areas Licensed Home Inspectors & Mold Inspectors Certified Mold Remediation - Certified Mold Testing Assessment |
| Contact us at: 1-850-499-2227 |
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| Copyright© 2005-2009 Moldsprayers LLC This site is written and maintained by Jim Bellew |
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