Idaho Builders on alert about mold

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Builders on alert about mold

04/19/2002

Homan

Idaho's NewsChannel 7

Idaho builders say mold is a problem here in the Treasure Valley and it is

time something is done about it. Idaho builders have formed a task force to

start educating themselves and eventually homeowners about mold in your

home. They say it really was not a problem 30 years ago, but now, builders

are on alert and so are insurance companies.

Chuck , builder: " Mold is in the air everywhere. There are probably

hundreds of mold spores floating around this room right now. "

But for the spores to attach and grow like they did in this Emmett home,

builder Chuck s say the spores need the just the right conditions.

: " It needs moisture. It needs a food source and one of its favorite

food sources is cellulose which is what every wood product is. "

The spores also need warm temperatures and humidty above 15-percent. If you

put them all together, the mold can multiply turning a dream home into a

disaster zone.

But wants to stop the mold before it ever starts, targeting

unfinished, mold-free homes. That is why he is heading up the Building

Contractors Association of Southwest Idaho mold task force - to get the word

out to builders.

: " To assure we keep the buildings dry. Those are doing things like

installing perimeter drains, damp proofing the outside perimeter wall even

the crawl space. "

The task force may be too late for builders when it comes to insurance

policies. Some insurance companies have stopped covering mold in liability

policies because of problems elsewhere in the United States, not in Idaho.

Bob Ricketts, insurance agent: " It's required the insured to go buy

additional coverage or specialty coverage to get mold covered, so it's

basically costing more money is the bottom line because you have to go to a

specialty market with less competition and higher prices. "

Insurance agent Bob Ricketts says the mold exclusions are hitting mostly

builders, but that could grow to include homeowners as well.

Ricketts: " It's going to be a big problem in the homeowner field also

because there's going to be a lot of money spent trying to clean up mold. It

's a growing problem you might say. "

Builder Chuck says mold tends to be a problem mostly in crawl spaces.

He says if you control your moisture and your humidity, you should never

have a problem. The task force formed in March, so it is still in the early

stages, but soon, they expect to extend their education to homeowners. Some

of 's recommendations include keeping an eye on the humidifier in your

home as well as keeping up your caulking. He says caulking has a limited

life and as part of normal maintenance, homeowners need to re-caulk windows.

Another suggestion - says make sure when your lawn is landscaped that

the grating and drainage plain is not altered. You don't want water sloping

towards your home. If you have questions about mold growth in your own home,

you can contact the Idaho Division of Health for information at

1-800-445-8647.