Video - Tualatin home full of mold

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KGW investigates new Tualatin home full of mold

11:30 AM PDT on Tuesday, July 21, 2009

By WAYNE HAVRELLY, kgw.com Staff

http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_072009_special_mold_house.5dfd7bb7.htm\

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TUALATIN, Ore. -- It's more than a home to Mark .

" I've had deer down here, an otter lives in the creek and ducks visit nearly

every day, " said .

'Dream home' a moldy mess He designed the newly constructed Tualatin home for

his two kids and as a place to hold workshops for his non-profit organization

that counsels teens. The place is now uninhabitable because of what's lurking

behind the walls.

Independent tests showed black mold everywhere. The mold is apparent on studs,

drywall and installation.

The family moved out after just 9 months in their dream home. The family

videotaped their experience as a dank smell overtook the home along with

moisture seeking insects.

" Look at this - thousands of ants are going into the ceiling they are throughout

the house. I just, I just can't live here, " said 13 year old Nick right

before moving out.

His 17-year-old sister said, " My throat started itching. I instantly got

congested and my nose started running. I also got terrible headaches after being

in the house for only minutes. "

The family decided to pitch an army surplus tent. They lived in the yard

while they worked to find a solution. It was fun at first, but the novelty wore

off in about 3 months.

claims his builder won't cooperate to fix the moldy mess, neither will

his insurance company which excludes mold coverage relating to construction.

says even his lender refused to discuss the issue unless he was three

months behind on his mortgage payments.

" I vacillate between sadness and rage, where I am just livid that this kind of

thing can happen to people and you know what? Nobody seems to care. I mean, it's

mind boggling, " said

Photographs taken during construction appear to show how the home's builder

Baldwin framed the house during intense winter rains.

" I went to him and said 'aren't you going to dry this out?' 'Oh no we do this

all the time,' even though there were subcontractors that said this needs to be

dried out before you put up sheetrock. Well, he didn't dry it out, " claims

.

An attorney representing the builder Baldwin of Woodland, Washington would

not comment on the case, saying his client is in the middle of litigation.

claims independent mold experts estimate it will cost at least 400,000

dollars to make the home safe to live in.

hired an attorney, broke down the tent and moved into an apartment. His

kids moved in with their mother.

" If the builder or the builders attorneys or the builders insurance company

don't think mold is an issue, then I invite them to come and I'll furnish the

house and they can move in here with their families and live here for six months

and if they do that, I'll drop the case.

About 14 months after being forced out of his dream home, there is no end in

sight to this moldy financial and emotional mess.

If you have a problem with a contractor regarding mold, the state of Oregon has

set up a special hotline to help you through the complicated process.

1-888-877-4894

For more information about protecting your family from toxic mold: CDC |

Licensed contractor help

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