Mold In My House?.. Confronting The Issue Of Moisture In Homebuilding And Repair

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Mold In My House?.. Confronting The Issue Of Moisture In Homebuilding And Repair</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(HIT) – With more than 100,000 species of mold present in- and outdoors, wherever there is standing water or any dampness, it’s no wonder that leading building product manufacturers are making major commitments to insure the availability of moisture control information and moisture resistant products that actively inhibit mold development.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The single most effective way to prevent mold growth and maintain a healthy home, according to the Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition (RSMC), is by controlling moisture. Since mold can grow on virtually any material that becomes dirty or wet, builders and do-it-yourselfers are faced with tough choices in the selection of building and maintenance materials and practices.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/1b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/1b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Fiberglas insulation, lumber, carpet, fabric, vinyl wall coverings, paint, plywood, siding, wallboard, ceiling panels and brick share a potential for mold; and even products made of aluminum, steel and glass can support mold growth under the right conditions.</p>  <h3 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font face="Cambria" size="3" color="#4f81bd">Moisture Control In Today’s Homes</font></h3>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Venting bathroom dryers, and other moisture producing sources such as showers, stoves and dishwashers to the outside is a good place to start. Regular use of dehumidifiers and air-conditioners is helpful during summer months, as is fresh air circulation in times of low humidity. Insulation around pipes, windows and doors, roofing and floors can make a difference also. One vitally important aspect of moisture control is finding the source of leaks and making necessary repairs at once. An additional help is remembering to turn off furnace humidifiers during the winter months.</p>  <h3 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font face="Cambria" size="3" color="#4f81bd">The Comprehensive Approach</font></h3>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The only truly effective strategy to eliminate mold according to the Mold Coalition website guidelines is "to embrace best building practices and eliminate sources of unwanted moisture." </p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Homeowner can clean small patches of mold with household detergents and warm water. After cleaning, rinsing, and drying, the spot where the mold has grown, rubber gloves and cleaning cloths should be thrown away. Those who discover large areas of mold, however, may require the services of a mold abatement specialist to eradicate the mold and identify and eliminate the source of moisture.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Any modern, energy-efficient and advanced building can run the risk of potential mold growth, due to airtight construction– trapping moisture inside wall cavities and other enclosures. A comprehensive approach to the problem of mold includes the use of innovative products like Sheetrock® brand Mold Tough™ gypsum panels by United States Gypsum Company (USG), as well as locating and drying up the source of moisture These gypsum panels are specifically intended for use in interior areas–like basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms or garages–where incidental moisture is a concern.</p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">The Mold Tough™ product was the first patented wallboard to have added ingredients that actively inhibit mold growth in the core and on both sides of the surface paper, a technology that earns a 10 (on a scale of 0 to 10) for mold resistance under the American Society for Testing and Materials guidelines and standards.</p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/1c.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/1c.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Mold prevention through moisture control is a focus of the Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition (RSMC), which is comprised of 13 companies, associations, government and academic organizations that are dedicated to identifying and communicating accurate, science-based information. More information is available at <a href="http://www.responsiblemoldsolutions.org/">http://www.responsiblemoldsolutions.org/</a>.</p>  <p><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy:</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"> Home Improvement News and Information Center</span></p></span>