Video - Moldy Mess

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Moldy Mess

Friday, Jan 19, 2007 - 05:29 PM

WCBD-TV - Mt. Pleasant,SC

Reporter: Meryl Conant

http://www.wcbd.com/midatlantic/cbd/news.apx.-content-articles-CBD-

2007-01-19-0012.html

Home sweet home turned into a moldy mess for one new homeowner. She

claims the mold in her new Summerville home made her family sick.

Shareen says after 8 months she started to see signs of

mold and moved out. She wants the builder to get rid of it right

away.

An employee with the builder, Weakley Homes, tells me they

received two reports of mold in the Legend Oaks Subdivision in

Summerville. He says the company's inspector saw no evidence of mold

but is waiting for a final report.

says she has all the evidence she needs.

" Eight months into living in the house I noticed changes in the wood

flooring, " she explained. " It began to turn black underneath. "

She notified her builder, Winkley Homes.

" When they came in to take off the old flooring, I noticed just

patches of just black mold around the perimeter of the room and the

smell of mildew was overwhelming. "

That's when she called home inspector Wilsey to take air

samples.

" You don't want to see the interior numbers higher than the outdoor

levels, " he explained.

But that's what he found. There were no traces of a mold called

Aspergillius Penicillium outside but tests found more than 2300

spores inside.

" Is this something to take seriously if you find mold in your home? "

Meryl asked Dr. Tim Callaghan, who practices environmental medicine.

" Very seriously because it can reflect a great issue, " he said. " A

little bit of mold can reflect a greater issue and health wise the

consequence can be incredible. "

Dr Callaghan says they can include coughs, rashes, bloody noses,

stomach aches, fatigue, confusion and serious neurological problems.

Mold symptoms often are confused with allergies, sinus infections or

a cold that just won't go away.

He says children, like 's 6-year-old, are more susceptible.

" He kept getting upper respiratory infections which at the time I

thought at the time were just allergies, " Dr. explained.

This subdivision isn't the only one with mold woes.

" It's a silent epidemic particularly in the Lowcountry with our

moisture, humidity and history of rains and hurricanes, " said Dr.

. " Many of the buildings themselves have mold issues that

aren't even surfacing on the walls. "

fears the builder will not take responsibility for the mold

problem. But Winkley Homes says it is taking the necessary

steps to resolve the issue.

Another neighbor who has also reported mold in her home told me she

is confident the builder will correct the problems.

If you are experiencing some of the symptoms, experts suggest you

hire a home inspector. If tests find mold, you may need to hire

professionals to find a permanent solution.