Re: How to deal with mold in my house

[Guest guest]

Mister Manganese - good old bleach will kill mold. If you're not comfortable

with that, a product named " Tilex Mold and Mildew Remover " will do the job.

It's available in any supermarket - just spray it on. By the way, are you in

the steelmaking business?

Terry

----- Original Message -----

From: mister_manganese

Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 11:46 PM

Subject: [ ] How to deal with mold in my house

I think the Xolair treatments have helped a lot with my allergy to mold

but I'm afraid to push the limits.

Due to a leaky gable vent, I've got a mass of black mold in some

ceiling sheet rock that looks like something out of a horror movie. I'm

living this nightmare that if I rip that sheet rock down i'll be

engulfed in spores and God only knows what lurks in the joists above it.

At a minimum, I'll wear a dust mask. But I wonder if anyone has some

experience in dealing with such problems. Like maybe someone knows of

an effective way to deactivate mold as an allergen.

I really can't afford to bring in contractors to do this and I do have

the tools and skill to renovate the ceiling, I just don't know how to

deal with the allergy situation.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

I live in a (generally) warm humid climate with mold galore and deal

with it in the showers all the time. On top of that we've had some

pipes leak and have had to remove the sheetrock.

As one person pointed out, there are mold and mildew cleaners that

you can buy in the cleaning items part of your grocery store or

discount store or even a drug store. But ... they give me HORRIBLE

sinus infection (burn the daylights out of my sinuses) and trigger

bad asthma attacks. So, the best thing is to get someone else to

spray the sheetrock first!!! If you're still going to do it

yourself, have the area open and highly ventilated with a fan blowing

the fumes and droplets away from you. DO protect your eyes and nose

and mouth. Afterwards, rinse your sinuses (internally)and shower and

be sure there are no fumes inside your house.

Normally, mold cannot exist without a water source and when the water

supply is cut off, then it tends to go away. Perhaps this situation

is too advanced and you need to cut it out. You'll need a box cutter

type knife (ask for suggestions at the hardware store) and I would

use some sort of metal ruler or metal L shaped tool as a guide so you

can make a relatively defined cut to get it out. Once the sheet rock

is gone, you can cover it with plastic garbage bags (tape them up)

until you're ready for Round 2 of the repair. It will look awful but

you'll probably need the break in the working process.

For Round 2 you'll need to buy sheetrock that's hopefully the same

thickness as what you've got. (really best to get someone else to do

this) Because you're probably working with your arms over your head

you'll need to take LOTS of breaks. Measure the hole you've created

and cut a section that's about that size. You might have to tape it

in place with packaging tape to tempoarily hold it in place if you

can't wedge it in. You'll also need to buy a special type of white

tape that is place over the seams (the area that you just cut) of the

two sections of sheetrock. Can't remember the name but tell the

hardware store - they'll know. I think it's called " floating " it.

Once the sheetrock is secure, you cover it with " mud " - a substance

that is the spread all over the new sheetrock - again the hardware

store will know. It's a mess - you'll have it in your hair, etc. and

will need drop cloths. After that's dried you can add texture to

match whatever was up there. After the texture is dried you can

paint. My husband is not necessarily all that adept due to a

neurological disease but he's done this several times and if you

don't look too closely you probably would not realize what happened.

(!!!!)

I really recommend some help with it - and also read something on the

net or get a book from the public library about replacing sheetrock.

Good luck!

>

> I think the Xolair treatments have helped a lot with my allergy to

mold

> but I'm afraid to push the limits.

>

> Due to a leaky gable vent, I've got a mass of black mold in some

> ceiling sheet rock that looks like something out of a horror movie.

I'm

> living this nightmare that if I rip that sheet rock down i'll be

> engulfed in spores and God only knows what lurks in the joists

above it.

>

> At a minimum, I'll wear a dust mask. But I wonder if anyone has

some

> experience in dealing with such problems. Like maybe someone knows

of

> an effective way to deactivate mold as an allergen.

>

> I really can't afford to bring in contractors to do this and I do

have

> the tools and skill to renovate the ceiling, I just don't know how

to

> deal with the allergy situation.

>

> Any suggestions will be appreciated.

>

[Guest guest]

Oops! Sorry, I just noticed you have the skills and equipment after

I posted my long expo !!!!

Perhaps consider sealing off the room and using a very strong air

filtering machine(s) in the room?

Take care of yourself!

>

> I think the Xolair treatments have helped a lot with my allergy to

mold

> but I'm afraid to push the limits.

>

> Due to a leaky gable vent, I've got a mass of black mold in some

> ceiling sheet rock that looks like something out of a horror movie.

I'm

> living this nightmare that if I rip that sheet rock down i'll be

> engulfed in spores and God only knows what lurks in the joists

above it.

>

> At a minimum, I'll wear a dust mask. But I wonder if anyone has

some

> experience in dealing with such problems. Like maybe someone knows

of

> an effective way to deactivate mold as an allergen.

>

> I really can't afford to bring in contractors to do this and I do

have

> the tools and skill to renovate the ceiling, I just don't know how

to

> deal with the allergy situation.

>

> Any suggestions will be appreciated.

>

[Guest guest]

I'm wondering if you might have homeowner's insurance that would

cover this problem, in which case the insurance would pay for a

contractor to take care of it. A friend of mine is having a similar

problem here in Florida and her homeowner's is footing the bill so

it's worth reviewing your policy for this possibility.

Fran

> >

> > I think the Xolair treatments have helped a lot with my allergy

to

> mold

> > but I'm afraid to push the limits.

> >

> > Due to a leaky gable vent, I've got a mass of black mold in some

> > ceiling sheet rock that looks like something out of a horror

movie.

> I'm

> > living this nightmare that if I rip that sheet rock down i'll be

> > engulfed in spores and God only knows what lurks in the joists

> above it.

> >

> > At a minimum, I'll wear a dust mask. But I wonder if anyone has

> some

> > experience in dealing with such problems. Like maybe someone

knows

> of

> > an effective way to deactivate mold as an allergen.

> >

> > I really can't afford to bring in contractors to do this and I do

> have

> > the tools and skill to renovate the ceiling, I just don't know

how

> to

> > deal with the allergy situation.

> >

> > Any suggestions will be appreciated.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I've had a couple of bad mold situations in my

house. In both cases, there were leaks that went

undetected for too long, and so caused lots and lots

of mold, including the toxic kind. Of course, our

insurance wouln't cover mold repair, but they did

cover testing. This was definitely a mixed blessing

because once you get your house tested for mold and it

tests positive, you have to disclose the fact that

it's had mold when you try to sell the house. This, in

turn, means that you'd better hire the fancy and very

expensive mold removal contractors. It sounds like

you'd like to avoid all of this.

Okay, let me tell you a little bit about how they

handled it. They put clear plastic up from ceiling to

floor (kind of like a tent) around the area they

worked on to protect the rest of the house from

spores. After removing and replacing parts of the

wall, they used a fan and some other air filtering

machine to get rid of the moldy air. They also used a

foamy substance that they sprayed inside the wall (ask

your Lowe's folks about that, I guess). And they used

their own cleaning service to clean EVERYTHING in the

moldy room and the rooms around it.

After all of this, we did pass the mold test when

the tester came back, but only after we used plastic

to cover up other potential trouble spots, like under

the kitchen sink or behind the washing machine. And

yes, my asthma has been worse ever since.

I'm new here. I haven't started Xolair yet, and I'm

fairly scared of the whole prospect. I don't have an

epipen and have never had a really serious allergic

reaction, so I certainly hope they don't start now.

I'm glad to read that it's working well for many of

you.

Good luck with the mold. I hate the mold.

Jackie

________________________________________________________________________________\

____

Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast

with the Search weather shortcut.

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Jackie, and everyone else that has given me good suggestions

on the mold problem. Here's my plan now. As soon as warm days come

along I'll open a nearby window and put a window fan in it so suck

out the mold spores. I'll fill a garden sprayer with clorox

solution and spray the mold areas with clorox solution, then wear a

dust mask and cut out the affected areas of sheetrock. I suspect

I'll find mold in the framing underneith the sheetrock so I'll hit

those with the clorox solution too. I'll let things dry for a day,

then replace the sheetrock.

I'll also try to find some special sheetrock that isn't friendly to

mold when I replace the damaged areas.

Also, I'll wear coveralls and wash them after each encounter with

the mold.

>

> Hi,

> I've had a couple of bad mold situations in my

> house. In both cases, there were leaks that went

> undetected for too long, and so caused lots and lots

> of mold, including the toxic kind. Of course, our

> insurance wouln't cover mold repair, but they did

> cover testing. This was definitely a mixed blessing

> because once you get your house tested for mold and it

> tests positive, you have to disclose the fact that

> it's had mold when you try to sell the house. This, in

> turn, means that you'd better hire the fancy and very

> expensive mold removal contractors. It sounds like

> you'd like to avoid all of this.

> Okay, let me tell you a little bit about how they

> handled it. They put clear plastic up from ceiling to

> floor (kind of like a tent) around the area they

> worked on to protect the rest of the house from

> spores. After removing and replacing parts of the

> wall, they used a fan and some other air filtering

> machine to get rid of the moldy air. They also used a

> foamy substance that they sprayed inside the wall (ask

> your Lowe's folks about that, I guess). And they used

> their own cleaning service to clean EVERYTHING in the

> moldy room and the rooms around it.

> After all of this, we did pass the mold test when

> the tester came back, but only after we used plastic

> to cover up other potential trouble spots, like under

> the kitchen sink or behind the washing machine. And

> yes, my asthma has been worse ever since.

> I'm new here. I haven't started Xolair yet, and I'm

> fairly scared of the whole prospect. I don't have an

> epipen and have never had a really serious allergic

> reaction, so I certainly hope they don't start now.

> I'm glad to read that it's working well for many of

> you.

> Good luck with the mold. I hate the mold.

> Jackie

>

>

>

>

_____________________________________________________________________

_______________

> Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast

> with the Search weather shortcut.

> http://tools.search./shortcuts/#loc_weather

>

[Guest guest]

Suggest you wash your overalls each time with Borax - it kills mold

spores in clothing, which I learned when I had mega-mold issues after

Hurricane Charlie. Also, when you do any of this, wear gloves (you

can find a box of disposable gloves at Walgreen's) and when using

Clorox, protect your eyes with goggles as well as your nose and mouth

with a good mask.

I don't remember your first e-group message but if you have books or

cloth upholstered furniture in the same rooms where you have mold,

I'm sorry to say you have to throw them away as there's no effective

way to thoroughly rid these items of mold.

Wood furniture should be wiped down with Clorox, every single nook

and cranny as well as the back and bottom - believe it or not, it

won't damage the wood of the finish. This is what furniture repair

experts use. In my case, the mold grew back on my wood dining room

set in spite of the Clorox scrub and I then had to have it stripped,

treated for mold and then refinished.

Good luck!

Fran

> >

> > Hi,

> > I've had a couple of bad mold situations in my

> > house. In both cases, there were leaks that went

> > undetected for too long, and so caused lots and lots

> > of mold, including the toxic kind. Of course, our

> > insurance wouln't cover mold repair, but they did

> > cover testing. This was definitely a mixed blessing

> > because once you get your house tested for mold and it

> > tests positive, you have to disclose the fact that

> > it's had mold when you try to sell the house. This, in

> > turn, means that you'd better hire the fancy and very

> > expensive mold removal contractors. It sounds like

> > you'd like to avoid all of this.

> > Okay, let me tell you a little bit about how they

> > handled it. They put clear plastic up from ceiling to

> > floor (kind of like a tent) around the area they

> > worked on to protect the rest of the house from

> > spores. After removing and replacing parts of the

> > wall, they used a fan and some other air filtering

> > machine to get rid of the moldy air. They also used a

> > foamy substance that they sprayed inside the wall (ask

> > your Lowe's folks about that, I guess). And they used

> > their own cleaning service to clean EVERYTHING in the

> > moldy room and the rooms around it.

> > After all of this, we did pass the mold test when

> > the tester came back, but only after we used plastic

> > to cover up other potential trouble spots, like under

> > the kitchen sink or behind the washing machine. And

> > yes, my asthma has been worse ever since.

> > I'm new here. I haven't started Xolair yet, and I'm

> > fairly scared of the whole prospect. I don't have an

> > epipen and have never had a really serious allergic

> > reaction, so I certainly hope they don't start now.

> > I'm glad to read that it's working well for many of

> > you.

> > Good luck with the mold. I hate the mold.

> > Jackie

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

_____________________________________________________________________

> _______________

> > Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast

> > with the Search weather shortcut.

> > http://tools.search./shortcuts/#loc_weather

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Another thought, Mang, there are coatings or paints that are unfriendly to mold

and prevent or inhibit its growth. I've read about them but don't recall any

names, but your local Lowes or Home Depot could probably help. You could help

prevent future regrowth that way if the moisture problem doesn't clear up.

Terry

----- Original Message -----

From: mister_manganese

Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 12:46 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: How to deal with mold in my house

Thanks Jackie, and everyone else that has given me good suggestions

on the mold problem. Here's my plan now. As soon as warm days come

along I'll open a nearby window and put a window fan in it so suck

out the mold spores. I'll fill a garden sprayer with clorox

solution and spray the mold areas with clorox solution, then wear a

dust mask and cut out the affected areas of sheetrock. I suspect

I'll find mold in the framing underneith the sheetrock so I'll hit

those with the clorox solution too. I'll let things dry for a day,

then replace the sheetrock.

I'll also try to find some special sheetrock that isn't friendly to

mold when I replace the damaged areas.

Also, I'll wear coveralls and wash them after each encounter with

the mold.

>

> Hi,

> I've had a couple of bad mold situations in my

> house. In both cases, there were leaks that went

> undetected for too long, and so caused lots and lots

> of mold, including the toxic kind. Of course, our

> insurance wouln't cover mold repair, but they did

> cover testing. This was definitely a mixed blessing

> because once you get your house tested for mold and it

> tests positive, you have to disclose the fact that

> it's had mold when you try to sell the house. This, in

> turn, means that you'd better hire the fancy and very

> expensive mold removal contractors. It sounds like

> you'd like to avoid all of this.

> Okay, let me tell you a little bit about how they

> handled it. They put clear plastic up from ceiling to

> floor (kind of like a tent) around the area they

> worked on to protect the rest of the house from

> spores. After removing and replacing parts of the

> wall, they used a fan and some other air filtering

> machine to get rid of the moldy air. They also used a

> foamy substance that they sprayed inside the wall (ask

> your Lowe's folks about that, I guess). And they used

> their own cleaning service to clean EVERYTHING in the

> moldy room and the rooms around it.

> After all of this, we did pass the mold test when

> the tester came back, but only after we used plastic

> to cover up other potential trouble spots, like under

> the kitchen sink or behind the washing machine. And

> yes, my asthma has been worse ever since.

> I'm new here. I haven't started Xolair yet, and I'm

> fairly scared of the whole prospect. I don't have an

> epipen and have never had a really serious allergic

> reaction, so I certainly hope they don't start now.

> I'm glad to read that it's working well for many of

> you.

> Good luck with the mold. I hate the mold.

> Jackie

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________________

_______________

> Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast

> with the Search weather shortcut.

> http://tools.search./shortcuts/#loc_weather

>