Mold Problem
What are the typical costs involved with mold present in a home in the cellar joists. I am sure the costs can vary but I just wanted to get an idea on the range of costs for a simple clean up to an extensive problem.
TBARBER
$1 to $10,000 ! Without knowing the type, the amount, the amount of damage to materials, etc. It is impossible to come even close. First you need to know the source, poor drainage, yard sloping towards house, gutter or downspout problems, flood plain, crack in walls, etc. If its simple mold like in a shower. bleach and water, a brush and your time, maybe a dehumidifier and an ozone machine rental for awhile. If replace joists, excavation to cure drainage problems, then expect the big bucks.
I guess I need to study up a little on mold. I assumed all molds could be cleaned up after eliminating the source. I did not know mold could cause the need to replace wood joists. Does it eat the wood or do the spores infiltrate the wood and make it impossible to clean. If the wood is structural sound, meaning no rot, just mold present can't it just be cleaned off. Also if mold is present on drywall can you just prime over it and eliminate it or does it have to be cleaned off in order to eliminate it from coming back
TBARBER
As a contractor I have never been asked to replace "moldy joists". I don't think that mold on the joists is even an issue if it is in a crawlspace. In fact, I am sure I could find mold in any crawlspace that I looked at without excxeption. Most of the lumber you frame with has "mold" on it.
Now dry rot is another issue, I have replaced joists that were rotted.
Mold in general is only an issue when it is on the inside of the house.
In the old days a little X14 and some Kilz would do the trick. Now days you could be stuck with megs bucks. Mold does not eat wood but the dampness could cause other pest to have a meal or two. As suggested you need to find the dampness source and cure that first.
Good LUCK and HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Hope this helps some
Ted Jr
Here is the EPA site on mold http://www.epa.gov/iaq/molds/moldresources.html#Homes%20and%20Molds
you may want to check and see if your state site has anything on mold also.
I recently had some experience w/ mold in my own residence. First, mold needs two things to survive: moisture, and a medium to feed/attach itself to. Light is irrelevant (a common misconception is that mold only grows in dark places-it's actually typical that dark places are also moist). The only way to rid yourself of mold is to remove one or the other (moisture or medium). Since the medium is typically an integral part of the structure it is advisable to remove the moisture. A dehumidifier is highly effective (much more so than i expected in my case). This will not remove the mold only kill it. Bleach is advised to remove it. Be sure to be thorough in finding it because if you miss some and allow moisture to return...your mold problem will return. There are carbon filter fans to assist in removing the musty/moldy smell. So far so good for us. I have heard stories of houses having to be torn down or HVAC systems being replaced due to the mold being so advanced. Good luck.
PS: Don't bother hiring somebody to test air samples. There are no standards set to determine when a problem exists based on airborne spores. I mention this because testing can be expensive and it means nothing to anybody regarding a remedy to the issue.
Really -
Mold is a joke created by bored attorneys trying to bilk insurance companies and property owners. California may be an exception because of liberal politics in terms of frivolous lawsuit liabilities created by lawyers and liberal politicians. Otherwise, remove the source of the mold an get on with your life.
C-
I used to think that way also until I experienced what it can do. My family experienced some very unpleasant health effects: sore throats; constant headaches; sour tastes in mouth; congestion in chest & head/nose etc. All these things were constant while in the home or returning to it. If we left for the weekend, we would all begin to feel better but it would come back by Monday morning.
I couldn't believe that it went like that as I am not prone to allergies. It is a real problem but I agree with you in that lawyers are jumping on this issue and trying to make it bigger than it really is. As I mentined, a dehumidifier & carbon fan alleviated all the issues that I experienced.
Depends on the extent of the infestation. I love mold. I once bought a house infested with the stuff. 10 gallons of bleach, 5 gallons of primer and a fresh coat of paint and Voila....a new house. Cost: $120
I have a bid on a house that has mold like a mofo. First time checking it out I they made me sign some release. I thought ooooo mold big deal.. but man after 10 minutes in the house I had a headache for the rest of the day with my sinuses going all nuts and a bad taste in my mouth.
The second time I brought a mask with double filters still got a headache.
Guess the mold as it feeds secretes a gas so no regular mask with a filter is gonna do it if you`re alergic or sensative to the stuff like me.
Time to break out the gas mask
Anyway, even thou this house has a $hit load of the stuff growing in the basement
it`s no big deal... one day and one dumpster I got that basement gutted and all that mold gone.
Bleach has served me well in the past.
In your case you need to check how bad that mold fed on that wood...