Restoration experts to address mold concerns

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Restoration experts to address mold concerns

Daily News - Galveston County - TX*

By Bronwyn

Correspondent

Published October 14, 2008

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=2b37f813e3775018

GALVESTON — Restoration experts will speak Wednesday on mold and

other matters in a question and answer session hosted by the

Galveston Historical Foundation.

City of Galveston Planning Department staff will also be on hand at

the free event to be held at 5:30 p.m. at Garten Verein, 2704 Ave.

O. The focus will be on the best way to remediate flood damage to

historic homes.

" A lot of homeowners are being counseled improperly that they have

to remove the floorboards of their home, " said Dwayne ,

executive director of the Galveston Historical Foundation.

Wednesday's information session is one of many initiatives by the

foundation in its work to shore up the reconstruction and

restoration of historic homes in Galveston. Mold experts have been

brought in from Louisiana; structural engineers and architects have

been recruited to share lessons learned after Hurricane Katrina

damaged historic homes in similar costal areas.

In fact, in the wake of Hurricane Ike, Galveston may well become a

statewide center of resources and expertise to help historic homes

damaged by floodwaters and high winds.

" I think you'll see in the future, we'll become a center in Texas

for dealing with flood waters and remediation, " said. " There

is clearly a need to understand the impact of flood waters on

historic properties. "

spent Monday with Louisiana mold expert Glenn Ray, brought to

Galveston by the Historic Foundation with the help of the National

Trust for Historic Preservation. Ray, who works in building science

education at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, has more

than 30 years experience with mold- and water-damaged homes.

" A lot of contractors are giving out information that's not quite

right, " Ray said. " It's not necessarily true that all wood floors

have to be replaced because they got wet. You need to look at the

construction and the conditions. I saw some floors today that could

be saved. "

Ray examined several historic homes and talked with homeowners. He

will return Nov. 1 to take part in a multi-session program with

topics ranging from mold to saving family photographs.

This the first time Ray had seen Galveston since boyhood

visits. " I'm fascinated with Galveston, " he said.

" As tough as it is, this is an opportunity to improve a lot of

things, make homes more energy efficient and hurricane resistant. "