No easy fix for expensive problem

[Guest guest]

No easy fix for expensive problem

ton Post Courier - ton,SC*

By Prentiss Findlay (Contact)

The Post and Courier

Sunday, August 31, 2008

http://www.charleston.net/news/2008/aug/31/no_easy_fix_expensive_prob

lem52647/

Melinda Ballard felt so bad that she wondered if she had cancer.

Eventually, she learned her illness was related to mold in the leaky

Dripping Springs, Texas, home where she lived before moving to

ton.

" You almost feel like you're dying because it's such chronic

fatigue, " Ballard said.

Seven years ago, a Texas jury awarded her $32 million after hearing

arguments in her mold-related suit. Her insurance company appealed

the verdict to the Texas Supreme Court. Ballard decided to settle

the suit for " a goose egg, " in essence walking away from the

situation because she feared her case would be remanded for a new

trial. That would have meant she couldn't bulldoze the house because

it would have to be preserved as evidence. She feared the home would

become a tremendous liability.

" I just wanted to get out of Texas, " she said. She spent $2 million

on the trial and lost $9 million on the house, she said.

During her Texas legal battle, she had gotten to know ton as

a frequent visitor to Renaissance Weekend. She purchased a home here

and took up the cause of mold-related health and financial issues

for homeowners through her locally-based non-profit organization,

Policyholders of America.

She said that she fields hundreds of e-mails and phone calls daily

from homeowners with questions about mold.

" It's serious business when you talk about people's assets, " she

said.

Problems with mold in houses here are not unusual, experts say.

" Everybody in the coastal region should run a dehumidifier in their

house. Almost every house that we check on, all the levels seem to

be elevated. It's rampant, " Swinea, president of Cleanx Corp.

of West , said.

Terrence Tully, owner of Moisture Control Experts of Summerville and

Mount Pleasant, tested the homes of three Island families

that left their residences recently after consulting doctors.

and Joy said that for months they lived with health

problems that affected a young daughter severely. When they noticed

a moldy growth on the house exterior, they called in Tully, who

opened up a wall and found extensive mold. They recently sued the

builder, alleging that construction defects allowed water to seep

inside walls, creating conditions for widespread mold.

Tully said musty odors and cupped floors are signs of a possible

mold problem. Some homeowners report headaches, a runny nose or flu-

like symptoms. Pregnant women, kids and the elderly are most

susceptible to problems. " It just depends on the person, " he said.

Odor is a good way to pick up on a mold problem, he said. However,

it might not be apparent to a homeowner who has lived with the smell

for a long time. " Get away for a day or two, " he said.

Eleven years ago, Tully re-located his business from Long Island,

N.Y. He said homeowners initially were skeptical when he recommended

mold control measures such as a dehumidifier in a crawl space. " We

were told we were crazy Yankees, " Tully said.

Government standards or regulations for acceptable levels of

residential indoor mold are non-existent, but federal and state

agencies recommend actions that homeowners can take to prevent mold

growth, which might lead to a health problem.

Maintenance to reduce moisture is the key to preventing a serious

mold infestation, experts say. Keeping humidity levels between 40

percent and 60 percent; promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows and

pipes; thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding; and

ventilating shower, laundry and cooking areas are recommended ways

to control mold growth, according to the federal Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention.

" If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present, "

according to the CDC.

There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores

indoors, but the way to control mold growth is to limit moisture,

according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If a mold

contamination problem is present, inhaling mold spores can produce

health symptoms including irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat

and lungs. Molds produce allergens, irritants and in some cases

potentially toxic substances, the EPA says.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control does not

perform mold tests or inspections in homes. It recommends consulting

the yellow pages under " Environmental Consultants " for professional

advice and assistance. The local phone book also has listings under

mold and mildew services.

Local mold inspectors said consumers should look for professional

certification from the American Indoor Air Quality Council of the

Indoor Air Quality Association Inc. Check that the business has

environmental pollution insurance and is bonded, Swinea said.

Jim , an environmental consultant with Environmental Solutions

and Service of Mount Pleasant, said Indoor Air Quality Association

certification includes a four-year science degree, eight years of

experience, a week-long class, testing and passing muster with a

review board. said some unqualified companies use a " shock

treatment " method that bombards homeowners with bad news from mold

test results.

The recommended solution is highly-overpriced remediation for a

problem that may be minor, he said. Acts of God, improper

construction and lack of maintenance can cause a moisture problem

that creates a place for mold to grow indoors, said. Homes are

built more air-tight these days which is a new factor in the

creation of an indoor mold problem, he said.

Ballard cautioned that there is a downside to testing for mold. " If

you have to test, know that you may be destroying your own property

value, " she said. " Stealth testing " which does not directly connect

mold test results to a property address is an option, she said. A

homeowner can take an indoor sample using a Q-tip or scotch tape and

send it to an EPA-accredited lab. The results are e-mailed, she said.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@...