Preventing Mold Problems in
New Construction

   Home builders and buyers should be aware of the numerous problems caused by mold. There are however several economical solutions to combat the dangerous fungi.
   Buyers and builders alike could solve invasive mold damage by simply guarding against the problem in the first place. Whether caused by a hurricane or faulty construction practices, there are solutions for home owners such as biocides and retardants.
   A number of people are especially sensitive to mold, which the Center for Disease Control says can cause and exacerbate illnesses. Florida’s excessive moisture from hurricanes and enclosed living environments create ideal conditions for mold to thrive.
   According to the New York Times News Service, mold has been said to cause flu or asthma-like symptoms, skin rashes, heart palpitations, headaches, respiratory problems and fatigue. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease adds wheezing, persistent coughing and low-grade fever to the list of afflictions.
   Homeowners’ insurance policies often only cover mold that is caused by a covered peril. For instance, according to the Insurance Information Institute, if a hurricane damages a roof or harms ceilings and walls because rain has drenched them after a window has blown out, a typical policy would cover the problem, but if the mold was because of a storm surge or flooding, that would probably not be included in the policy.
   Molds, which are actually fungi, need five things to grow: food, which can be found in lumber; temperature; moisture; stagnant air and time. It only gets worse with time.
   Utilizing mold preventive services, from the outset of the home-building process, the average homeowner might spend less than two-tenths of a percent of the home’s selling price. In addition to pre-treatment on new construction, some companies distribute and install EPA mold retardant and biocide products that are water-based, environmentally friendly, with no VOCs or out gassing. These products may be applied to any surface, such as wood, metal, paper-backed products, wood sheeting, lined HVAC ducts, etc. On top of preventing mold, the process minimizes builder liability, reduces material loss and gives cautious builders a marketing advantage of cleaner and healthier living environments.
   Homeowners should seek information about mold detection and analysis, water mapping and full remediation services involving protection against future mold infestation. The first step is to identify the water intrusion source and measure the extent of the mold infestation. Trained and licensed technicians select the appropriate protocol for mold elimination. Mold retardant or biocide can be a wash, spray or foam, depending on what is needed for the structure. Make sure the treatment used provides factory-warranted protection against future mold liabilities.With the director of claims for the alliance of American Insurers reporting that there are 10,000 active lawsuits involving mold in homes, this type of protection is becoming a must.
   With mold causing so many problems these days and a low-cost solution available to avert this, homebuyers might soon be requiring builders to routinely provide this important feature.    

Courtesy of Tim Killeen, president of Mold Grad, a Sarasota company specializing in mold retardant products and biocides for new and existing construction.