Detecting moisture key to stopping mold, experts say

October 4, 2002

Sunday, September 29, 2002

By HUBBLE SMITH

REVIEW-JOURNAL

The most practical approach to limiting mold growth is early detection of

excessive moisture and stopping the source, lumber industry experts said.

Mold and mildew are symptoms of high moisture, which can damage a home and

cause wood to decay over time.

The growth of mold can occur naturally on lumber under certain conditions,

through a combination of temperature and the presence of moisture in wood.

" It is not uncommon for unseasoned framing lumber to develop surface mold

and mildew during transit or storage prior to framing, " said Don Wallace,

technical support director for the Portland, Ore.-based Western Wood

Products Association.

Although wood structural building components that have excessive moisture

before and during installation provide suitable conditions for mold to grow,

the mold will die when the building materials dry.

The Wood Truss Council of America reports that Southern Nevada's arid

climate is ideal for destroying mold that may exist in wood used in home

construction

A 1998 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that the

Las Vegas metropolitan area has the lowest equilibrium moisture content, a

measure of the moisture content of wood when stored in areas where relative

humidity and air temperatures remain constant, of 262 U.S. locations.

The study shows Las Vegas' moisture content ranges from a low of 4 percent

in June to a high of 8.5 percent in December, eliminating the likelihood

that mold can survive here for extended periods of time.

Mold and mildew produce a fuzzy surface that is likely to stain wood, but

they do not affect the wood's strength, Wallace said.

" Molds do not normally break down the cell-wall material, and therefore

cause only cosmetic damage, " he said.

To remove discoloration, the surface can be cleaned with an equal solution

of bleach and water.

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