Mold control for a new home

[Guest guest]

Ken, where did you get your specifics from ?? Thank You

[Guest guest]

Builders --How to deliver a mold free home

Mold spores are everywhere. High humidity triggers the growth

process. After 24 hours of +75% relative humidity , the mold spores

have sprouted and started the contaminating process. The moment you

take delivery of the basic building components that makeup the home

to the end of the home warranty and maybe beyond, builders may be

liable for the condition of the material that makes up the home.

Under certain conditions, builder could also be liable for other mold

damage to other materialsfurnishings in the home.

Here are the suggestions:

Keep all building materials from being +75% relative humidity for +48

continuous hours.

First floor decks should never be placed over bare earth basements or

crawlspace. Plastic or concrete should cover the earth prior to

placement of the deck. Once the house floor is placed over the

sealed earth, keep the space below 75% relative humidity or mold will

grow.

Basements should never have standing water extreme humidity for +24

hours after the deck is in place.

As the house is closed in, keep the interior from being +70% relative

humidity for +48 continuous hours. This prevents the growth of mold

on the structural materials that makeup the home.

Before applying the trim and finished floors, maintain <50% for a

minimum of 7 days. If the finishing materials are damp, they should

be placed in the home and thoroughly dried before applied. This

process helps prevent loose fitting trim and floors.

During dry hot years, natural drying may provide the dehumidification

required to attend to the above details. Most homes have some mold

in them and the condition has been accepted. From now on, don't take

the chance. Inspect materials when delivered to be mold free. Be

ready to provide dehumidification to control the humidity when

needed. Document the humidity levels throughout construction

process.

Ken Gehring

keng@...