AboutLen Kroll Expertise I can provide advice on the proper design, construction, maintenance, restoration, preservation, cleaning and waterproofing of log homes. Questions concerning proper cleaning, sealing, staining and waterproofing are within my area of expertise. My expertise includes new construction and existing log structures. Chinking application or restoration, log replacement and repair are also in my area of expertise.
Question QUESTION: I was searching on google and found one of your older answers regarding moldy flooring, so I thought I'd contact you. Today, my landlords found (because I clued them in) mold in the crawl space of my apartment (which is a double)and it was on the subflooring and other areas. Their plan is to bleach the mold but not to replace anything. The interior of my half of the building smells too bad for me to even live in it. Will what they are going to do be enough to "fix" the problem? This building is only 20 some years old and looks fine inside. I'm mainly concerned about possible health risks and getting rid of the odor.
Thank you!
ANSWER: Mindy,
No, what they are going to do will not fix the problem. Bleach will remove the stains caused by the mold but it will not kill the fungus. The fungus is there because ambient conditions are right for its growth. The basic condition necessary for fungus propogation is moisture. The source of the moisture needs to be determined and removed, retarded, corrected to the degree that the ambient moisture is lowered to the point that it won't support mold growth.
Crawl spaces are notorious for moisture build up particularly when a vapor retarder or barrier is not present. I would suspect a vapor barrier was never placed in the crawl space, or it was improperly placed or it has deteriorated or been damaged over time so it is not effective today. It has been estimated that as much as 40% of the moisture inside a house enters from the crawl space. If you have mold growing in the crawl space it is clear there is high moisture in the space, which also means a lot of moisture is entering the house above. This is sometimes evident when you see condensation on cold windows or cold closet walls where little heat is circulated during heating days.
Again, bleach will remove the stains from the fungus and you can apply a fungicide to kill the fungus, but if you don't address the moisture level the mold will return. Today there are many companies specializing in moisture control in habitable space. Many pest control companies are entering this field. Crawl space moisture control specialty companies exist as well as mold abatement specialists. These companies can determine the source of the moisture and recommend corrective measures.
The condition you describe can be corrected completely, but the first step is to contact a professional in the field of mold abatement. This condition can range from a nuisance to a serious health problem depending on the inhabitants and their reaction to the fungus. We removed mold from inside the walls and ceiling of a home we remodeled and the owners cat stopped its continuous sneezing the day after we finished the work. This situation is a common problem and has resulted in serious law suits and significant health related issues. Good luck.
Len Kroll
Wood House Construction, Inc.
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QUESTION: Thank you, firstly, for writing back and with such a well thought out answer. My other concern is what to do beyond bleaching. If that will take care of the stain, then what will kill the fungus? I did forget to say that they replaced the spouting problem which was draining into the crawl space instead of away from the house. Perhaps that is the only "cause." I also know that there is a car wash next door, so again constant moisture spraying in my general direction. They are also planning to remove moldy insulation that is in the crawl space. So, what I'm thinking is that if the subflooring is the only flooring and the carpet is what smells so terrible, than if one bleaches (diluted) the carpeting with a shampooer and sprays the subfloor with bleach, plus the fact that the spouting is fixed, would that be enough to solve the problem or "kill the fungus?" Hopefully I'm asking the correct questions.
Bless you and thanks again,
Mindy
Answer Mindy,
You can clean the carpeting and use bleach on the subfloor to remove the stains caused by the fungus, but it will not kill the fungus. You must apply a fungicide. Although you can obtain fungicide from Home Depot or Lowes I would highly recommend hiring a pest control company to do this job. They are professionals and know the best chemicals and the best way to apply them and they are toxic and require protective measures. Good luck
