Building designs questioned in Denver area

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Building designs questioned

By: Simonson March 13, 2002

Homebuilders using new building designs have left some Denver area houses,

including those in , vulnerable to a mold growth that can be hazardous

to the occupant's health.

The problem has reached such a height that the Tri-County Health Department

recently sent a letter to city and county building officials in Arapahoe,

and counties stating the department's concern.

More than 70 homeowners contacted the health department last year

complaining about mold growth, said the letter written by the executive

director, Vogt. Aurora and Highlands Ranch had the highest number of

complaints, but also was named in the letter.

Exposure to mold spores causes symptoms similar to allergic reactions such

as runny nose, eye irritation, cough, congestion and aggravated asthma.

It affects people differently depending on the type of mold, the amount of

exposure, genetic predisposition, age and health.

" For some people it is just a minor annoyance people deal with on a daily

basis, " said Bruce , Tri-County Health Department's director of

environmental health.

For others, however, the allergic reaction has been so serve it has forced

them to vacate their houses.

The department usually receives a few complaints about mold a week, but

received as many as 300 in one day after the problem was featured on a local

news channel.

The mold, which releases the toxic spores, often grows on wood surfaces and

can be a wide range of colors.

" Most people can look at it and identify it as mold just by common

knowledge, " said.

A homeowner concerned about a possible problem can contact the Tri-County

Health Department to test air samples in the house, but said that if

the homeowner can actually see the mold, it is likely there is a problem.

The main reason mold is a growing problem in the area is because

homebuilders are increasingly designing homes along the Front Range with

wood floors built on top of expansive soils, said.

If water gets into the crawl space beneath the floor and is present for more

than 48 hours, mold is likely to grow, the letter said. Typically, the space

is wet for months before it is discovered. Moisture that is not ventilated

can cause excessive amounts of mold, said.

Because the wood floor does not provide a complete seal, the mold can

migrate to other areas of the house.

building official Pete Tyree said he has not received any complaints

about mold from residents but is aware of the problem. The problem

might be more complex than it appears because it is not limited to

structural wood floors, Tyree said. It also is not the only problem plaguing

homebuilders.

" Mold growth is certainly a concern, especially with folks with allergies,

but in reality there are many other concerns that apply pressure to the

building code documents, " he said in a letter to Vogt.

Tyree is willing to participate in a meeting the health department wants to

have with area building officials to discuss the problem and the solutions

for new and existing houses.

© County News-Press 2002