Re: Does mold only grow upwards?

[Guest guest]

Surella,

my experience in a house with a leak is that mold in sheetrock grows

in every direction and crosses the compound between sheetrock and

even crosses metal studs. It did all this in my previous house

growing mostly sideway into three rooms and also up and down. Molds

low sheetrock, period. The mold we had we Penicillium, Stachy B and

one Aspergillus. Anne

On Dec 7, 2009, at 10:46 AM, surellabaer wrote:

> I've been told that mold only grows up-it starts on the ground and

> grows up to the end of the sheetrock-it can't grow past the spackle

> (or whatever it is they use to cement two pieces of sheetrock

> together).

>

> Is this true? Because I'm looking at the bottom of the sheetrock in

> my kitchen and I don;t see anything but I know something is there-

> do different molds grow differently?

>

> I know this is such a stupid question and I should know this by

> this time but I don't.

>

> Thanks for your help, Surella

>

>

[Guest guest]

Surella,

Mold goes where the water goes.

Mold will grow upward on sheetrock if water is on the floor

because the water wicks upward. But the limit is about 20 " . If

there is mold growth above that height then there is moisture

above that height. The leak could come from above. Or, moisture

condenses on the surface. Or, the water inside the wall

evaporates inside the wall and later condenses at higher levels

inside the wall; but the mold will be inside, not outside. If it is true

(and I don't think it is) that mold won't grow past the spackle then

that means the water, for some reason, didn't get past the

spackle.

Mold follows the water like mice follow the breadcrumbs.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

I've been told that mold only grows up-it starts on the ground and grows

up to the end of the sheetrock-it can't grow past the spackle (or whatever

it is they use to cement two pieces of sheetrock together).

Is this true? Because I'm looking at the bottom of the sheetrock in my

kitchen and I don;t see anything but I know something is there-do

different molds grow differently?

I know this is such a stupid question and I should know this by this time

but I don't.

Thanks for your help, Surella

----------

The following section of this message contains a file attachment

prepared for transmission using the Internet MIME message format.

If you are using Pegasus Mail, or any other MIME-compliant system,

you should be able to save it or view it from within your mailer.

If you cannot, please ask your system administrator for assistance.

---- File information -----------

File: DEFAULT.BMP

Date: 15 Jun 2009, 23:10

Size: 358 bytes.

Type: Unknown

[Guest guest]

Mold can grow on anything if there is a food source. The food source can be

drywall, carpet, dust, cardboard, fabric, clothing, etc. Mold even grows on

concrete because there is dust and debris on concrete.

_______________________________

From: Anne Reach <dravr@...>

Sent: Mon, December 7, 2009 8:00:46 AM

Subject: Re: [] Does mold only grow upwards?

Surella,

my experience in a house with a leak is that mold in sheetrock grows

in every direction and crosses the compound between sheetrock and

even crosses metal studs. It did all this in my previous house

growing mostly sideway into three rooms and also up and down. Molds

low sheetrock, period. The mold we had we Penicillium, Stachy B and

one Aspergillus. Anne

On Dec 7, 2009, at 10:46 AM, surellabaer wrote:

> I've been told that mold only grows up-it starts on the ground and

> grows up to the end of the sheetrock-it can't grow past the spackle

> (or whatever it is they use to cement two pieces of sheetrock

> together).

>

> Is this true? Because I'm looking at the bottom of the sheetrock in

> my kitchen and I don;t see anything but I know something is there-

> do different molds grow differently?

>

> I know this is such a stupid question and I should know this by

> this time but I don't.

>

> Thanks for your help, Surella

>

>

[Guest guest]

Some newer concrete (read from at least 1990) can have mold grow INSIDE it, too,

because about then some companies added fillers that mold uses as a food source.

I became totally, permanently, disabled due to mold in such concrete.

Ella

>

> Mold can grow on anything if there is a food source. The food source can be

drywall, carpet, dust, cardboard, fabric, clothing, etc. Mold even grows on

concrete because there is dust and debris on concrete.

>

[Guest guest]

I agree. Mold grows whereever there is sufficient moisture. You can check the

base boards for growth by pulling back the molding. If the mold is not behind

the molding then it is somewhere else besides the base of the wallboard. You

should have a moisture meter so you can check for the areas of increased

moisture. Once you have discovered these areas, then check for mold growth.

Also, look for signs of moisture staining. If you have carpeting lift the

carpet and check the underside.

Jack-Dwayne: Thrasher, Ph.D.

Toxicologist/Immunotoxicologist/Fetaltoxicologist

www.drthrasher.org

toxicologist1@...

Off: 916-745-4703

Cell: 575-937-1150

L. Crawley, M.ED., LADC

Trauma Specialist

sandracrawley@...

916-745-4703 - Off

775-309-3994 - Cell

This message and any attachments forwarded with it is to be considered

privileged and confidential. The forwarding or redistribution of this message

(and any attachments) without my prior written consent is strictly prohibited

and may violate privacy laws. Once the intended purpose of this message has been

served, please destroy the original message contents. If you have received this

message in error, please reply immediately to advise the sender of the

miscommunication and then delete the message and any copies you have printed.

Thank you in advance for your compliance.

[Guest guest]

This mold is in a more complicated place. It is behind kitchen cabinets and I am

now starting to suspect it is in the wood frame of the house itself. I don't

know-the sheetrock looks clean, where else could it be?

Making the matter worse is the weather-it is now cold in NY and I don;t smell

the mold as much although of course I am still sick from it. It would just be

easier to find if I could sniff it out.

Meanwhile, today is such a bad day-migraine that won't go away-hopelessness-I

just want to be in bed all day-and the sinking feeling that I am going to have

to rip away half my kitchen and the walls behind it and I will still not find

the mold.

I can't afford a mold specialist-I can't afford anything I'm doing really. Oh,

this is starting to sound depressing-

Thanks for your help, Surella

--- In , " Jack Thrasher, Ph.D. " <toxicologist1@...>

wrote:

>

> I agree. Mold grows whereever there is sufficient moisture.