RE: mold between slab and hardwoods

[Guest guest]

I have been in two homes with wood floors over concrete which had mold

odor. In one, the floor was raised with 2x4 framing, plywood subfloor, and

then hardwood. In the other, harwood was laid directly over the concrete,

glued down. Both problem rooms had previously been garages. Apparently,

contractors were not as particular about waterproofing garages as the rest

of the house, and remodelers years later had no idea their wood floors could

cause mold problems.

Many new homes are built on slabs with a vapor barrier underneath.

Hardwood over properly poured slabs should be no problem. Beware however

hardwood over slabs in older homes, particularly in remodeled garages or

basements.

Gil

Carl--mold between slab and hardwoods

Posted by: " jane mosher " janeannmosher@... janeannmosher

Date: Sun Dec 3, 2006 5:38 pm ((PST))

Is it possible for mold to grow between hardwood floors and slab

foundations?

3c. Re: Carl--mold between slab and hardwoods

Posted by: " Carl E. Grimes " grimes@... grimeshh

Date: Sun Dec 3, 2006 9:20 pm ((PST))

Jane,

Yes, it is possible. But that doesn't always mean that it is or that

you should assume so. It depends on moisture, primarily, plus a

combination of other factors. Such as, how much mold growth there is

and under how much of the flooring; and how the spores, fragments and

other components get from beneath the hardwood into the room where

you are.

Presence is not the same as exposure.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

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[Guest guest]

thank you. I just saw your reply. these were 1998 houses I was considering.

the houses were moldy and I just am continuing to look. it does not matter the

source. having said that, there are so many houseswhich reek of mold--even 2

year old houses which I enter--you know they had a water leak or very poor

construction. and so many people nowadays have huge houses which they can not

afford to maintain. they keep the heat and air turned off except for the

section they stay in and in these tightly sealed houses, that sets up the

perfect breeding ground for mold.

My doctor has advised me to always have my furnace fans operating and this may

not be true for all people but it helps my own asthma. I have the systems

cleaned out 4 times a year, use a special filter system, etc. Jane

Gil Vice <gilvice@...> wrote:

I have been in two homes with wood floors over concrete which had mold

odor. In one, the floor was raised with 2x4 framing, plywood subfloor, and

then hardwood. In the other, harwood was laid directly over the concrete,

glued down. Both problem rooms had previously been garages. Apparently,

contractors were not as particular about waterproofing garages as the rest

of the house, and remodelers years later had no idea their wood floors could

cause mold problems.

Many new homes are built on slabs with a vapor barrier underneath.

Hardwood over properly poured slabs should be no problem. Beware however

hardwood over slabs in older homes, particularly in remodeled garages or

basements.

Gil

Carl--mold between slab and hardwoods

Posted by: " jane mosher " janeannmosher@... janeannmosher

Date: Sun Dec 3, 2006 5:38 pm ((PST))

Is it possible for mold to grow between hardwood floors and slab

foundations?

3c. Re: Carl--mold between slab and hardwoods

Posted by: " Carl E. Grimes " grimes@... grimeshh

Date: Sun Dec 3, 2006 9:20 pm ((PST))

Jane,

Yes, it is possible. But that doesn't always mean that it is or that

you should assume so. It depends on moisture, primarily, plus a

combination of other factors. Such as, how much mold growth there is

and under how much of the flooring; and how the spores, fragments and

other components get from beneath the hardwood into the room where

you are.

Presence is not the same as exposure.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

__________________________________________________________

Visit MSN Holiday Challenge for your chance to win up to $50,000 in Holiday

cash!

http://www.msnholidaychallenge.com/default.aspx?ocid=tagline & locale=en-us

__________________________________________________