Solera residents suffer through mold

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Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Solera residents suffer through mold

Sub-contractor cleaning out homes in development, forcing residents

to stay in motels while work is done

http://www.vvdailypress.com/2005/112480311457601.html

By LEROY STANDISH

Staff Writer

Victorville,CA

APPLE VALLEY — Numerous residents of the Solera Homes development in

Jess Ranch are finding out their new homes are infested with mold —

a byproduct of the winter rains.

The mold problem is forcing some residents to leave their homes for

up to three weeks as a sub-contractor for the developer, Pulte

Homes, first cleans the mold and then another sub-contractor is

brought in to re-install home furnishing, insulation and sections of

walls and ceilings.

Most residents seem to be taking the news in stride and applaud

Pulte Homes for stepping up to the plate and addressing the problem.

But an expert in the field said that Pulte's efforts may be more

show than providing an actual solution to the problem.

Quigg / Staff Photographer

Erl of Paragon Schmid replaces cabinets in the kitchen of a

Solera home. The home is one of several in the development with mold.

Day is a certified mold technician and investigator. He also

owns Day Associates in Victorville, a home inspection/mold

inspection and testing company. He was contacted by Pulte to inspect

mold removal operations at one home earlier this year. He was not

impressed with the operation.

" There is a very clear cut way to do this and a wrong way to do it

and it is not difficult to do it properly, " Day said. " The house

that I witnessed it was done improperly. I was able to walk in and

out of the house unescorted, containment was falling down and the

negative air machines (which ensure air flows in one direction out

of the house) were not running. "

In a home that was cleaned and having new fixtures installed the

same conditions were apparent, when a Daily Press reporter visited

on Monday. Workers were able to move in and out unescorted, there

was no negative air machines and the rest of the house was separated

from the infected area by a thin plastic sheet taped to the ceiling.

" Unless it is done properly it almost shouldn't be done at all, " Day

said. " What you are doing is spreading those mold spores around.

High concentrations of mold in the air can basically be hazardous,

especially to certain people that have immune deficiencies and small

children. "

Many residents who moved in only months ago are now having to spend

three weeks or more at a hotel. Their room and board is being paid

by Pulte.

" No one is really happy with it, but at least Pulte is doing the

right thing, " Ralph said. He has lived in a new house on

Shamrock Road for two months. His home was tested for mold last week

by Envirocheck, Inc., of Garden Grove, and he is waiting for the

results to come back.

Solera residents said they are being offered up to $125 a day for

hotel and $50 a day for food. Some are taking advantage of the offer

to take trips to Las Vegas or other destinations. Other residents

are choosing to be put up for a few weeks at local hotels.

" This past spring, Pulte Homes began checking for the possible

presence of mold in (10 to 12 homes per week in) homes it

constructed at its Solera at Apple Valley subdivision. Mold was

found on walls behind items such as cabinets and mirrors in some

homes, " according to an e-mail statement from Mark mee,

spokesman for Pulte Homes. " Remediation typically starts with

containment of the mold areas, so that when cabinets and mirrors are

removed from the walls the mold stays in place. The remediation

company then removes and disposes of any mold. It also disposes of

old drywall and insulation and replaces it with new materials. The

remediation process typically takes between eight to 10 days to

complete. "

Solera Homes are not the only ones affected by mold. Joe Crotinger,

co-owner of California Water and Mold Specialists, in Oak Hills,

said he has worked with numerous contractors this year eliminating

mold from multiple developments.

" We had about 100-inches of rain this year. That is 10 times more

than the normal amount of rain, " Crotinger said. " I have seen a lot

more mold than normal because we had so much more rain than normal. "

He went on to say that although mold is a common part of everyday

life, it can pose a health threat to some people. " There are all

kinds of good things mold does the problem is if it gets in high

enough concentrations in a home then someone that is susceptible to

mold it can become a health issue, " he said.

phine has lived in her Solera home on Canora Court for

two months. She recently received a letter asking her to schedule a

time to have her house tested. She said she is glad that Pulte is

testing the homes and fixing the problem.

" I'm really happy about that, " she said. " If they do find mold and

do have to send me to a hotel, oh well, I'm on vacation again. "

Several residents who did have their homes tested said mold was

discovered in bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchen areas. While they wait

to have it cleaned they also wait to have furniture delivered and

items like carpeting installed.

" The company believes that last fall and winter's above average

rainfall in Southern California caused higher-than-normal relative

humidity, which affected the typical 'drying time' it takes to

ensure that insulation behind walls dries adequately, " according to

mee's e-mail.

had a more pointed explanation: " Somebody goofed. "

LeRoy Standish may be reached at 951-6277 or lstandish@vvdaily

press.com.