Misconceptions about Black Mold
I suppose that after eight years in the business,
I shouldn't be surprised at how misinformed
people are when it comes to black mold.
I can guarantee that a little bit of education
would do away with America's black mold problems.
Here's a story that makes my point.
I was down in Tampa visiting my good friend Matt
when he told me this story about a misunderstanding
he had with his 3-year old son, Frank.
Matt and his wife were getting ready to go visit his
parents, and to make things just a little easier on
themselves, they decided to stop at Wendy's for
dinner on the way.
They ordered chicken nuggets for Frank.
As it turned out, Frank really liked em.
A few weeks later, they had gone out to eat dinner at
a family restaurant (TGI Friday's I believe).
When asked what he wanted for dinner, Frank said
"chicken nuggets".
But once the waitress brought their dinner to the
table, Frank felt that something was amiss.
He immediately announced that what the waitress brought
him was indeed NOT chicken nuggets.
Of course Matt knew better, but the more he tried to
convince his son Frank that the meal on his plate was
indeed chicken nuggets, the more Frank resisted.
You see, since Frank already had chicken nuggets in the
past, he had already formed an opinion as to what
chicken nuggets were, and now that his opinion was being
challenged, he was resisting.
And to be honest, it's no different with us.
Even as adults, we have this mistaken philosophy that
the first thing we learn about a subject is right, and
anything we hear thereafter must be false.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
Let me give you a personal example.
I'm about ready to turn 39 (on July 26th).
When I was in high school, back in the early 80's, I
distinctly remember my teachers telling me that the way
to be successful in life was to go to college, study hard
and get a good education. That way I'd be able to get a
great job that would last me the rest of my life.
My teachers had no reason to lie to me, so I believed
them.
But over the course of the last 20+ years, I've found
this advice to be totally wrong.
In fact, I've lost track of the amount of jobs I had.
You can probably relate.
How many jobs have you worked in during the course of your
life?
In case you ain't noticed, things have changed.
In this day and age, I venture to say that none of us
will work for one company our entire life.
What used to be true years ago, is no longer true.
While my teachers may have meant well, the advice they
gave me was incorrect. And the sad thing is, many people
still swear by this advice to this day.
I tell you this to make a very important point.
Like the story of Frank, and what my teachers told me
years ago, most of what you've heard or been told about
black mold is also incorrect.
How can I be so sure you ask.
Because I talk to people just like you on a daily basis,
and I'm constantly amazed by what I hear.
Things like:
"Mold won't grow in my area of the country."
"I can clean mold with bleach."
"I don't have any mold in my home cause I keep it clean."
Unfortunately, these statements are all wrong!
And if you thought they were true, you've received
some bad information.
And depending on where you're at right now, like Frank,
you may have misconceptions that need to be addressed
before they present a problem for you.
So here's what you do:
Ask yourself the following three questions:
1. Have I been getting my information from the most
reliable sources? (hint: family and friends
are not reliable sources)
2. Is it possible that I may have been misinformed
(intentionally or unintentionally)?
3. Do I want to risk being misinformed?
Now that you've answered these questions, your next step
is very clear, isn't it.
As you now realize...
Much of what you've heard about black mold is dead wrong.
And if you continue believing these myths, you'll continue
to make bad decisions (based on bad information).
Dear Kevin,
Thank you for the article, I promise to keep my eyes wide open, my ears at attention. But alas I still know nothing about Black Mold.
You have prepared me. Removed my pre conceived notions. Now fill my mind with the real stuff.
What does it look like, taste like, feel like? Is it really as terrible as they say? Why, is there some form of terrible disease lurking in its substance. If I smear it on a piece of bread will I die? Hmmm, would my mother in law mistake it for jam? Hmm is reduction of population pressures one of our present time assigned tasks?
I think I have seen it usualy in a basement at the line where there is a crack and the old retention wall is bleeding and the French Drain is filled and not at function. I notice a slimy substance. I have touched it and felt it and smelled it but alas I stopped short of tasting.
What are your suggestions to prevent this primevil ooze from, er oozing?
Ok Kevin ya got the information spread it before us. I think it is something all of us should have a knowledge concerning. Might help us in closing when we are bargaining away to reduce the price., It would help to know just how serious this probem is and what are the estimated costs to remove it on a visual basis and on a permanent basis.
I await your future posting.
Thank you much. Lucius
The title should have been "Much ado about Nothing". The article was such a black hole of knowledge that I fear that knowledge I once had was sucked into your article to fill the void. Do you work for Fox News?? #1 rule of writing : be about SOMETHING
This article is fluff. Kristavian's comments are also fluff. Why bring your partisan attack on Fox News into a forum on a mold article? In light of a largely liberal media, there is a reason why twice as many Americans watch Fox News versus CNN. But, alas, why don't we stick to the subject at hand?
It's important to realize that we real estate investors stand to profit from the debunking of the mold scare just as the mold abatement industry stands to profit greatly from its continuation. So where do we go for unbiased, accurate information if we desire an honest assessment of the issue? Here is an article that is a bit dated, but I think that neither WebMD nor the CDC stand to profit from either side of this issue.
http://www.ehw.org/Healthy_House/HH_Toxic_Mold.htm
Kristavian, please do not attack poor Fox News, they are a breath of fresh air. I watch them all the time. They try so hard. Have you any idea how hard it is to invent that stuff.
Cheers a fan. Lucius
I can hardly believe this article was posted by TCI. I feel like I've read a great intro to an interesting article ... but no one attached the interesting part. I'm left thinking, "What?"
I hope that this is "Misconceptions about Black Mold, Part 1".
I like the way that it was written, but, like everyone else, feel that it is only half way done.
Please enlighten us and share your thoughts about the "Truths of black mold".
Thank's alot Dude...now I have to go Look up Black Mold on the internet....Like I don't have enough unsolved mysteries floating about in my mind....
Well that was a waste of time. You said you can guarantee a little education would do away with with America's black mold problem. Well thats why I read your article, for a little education. Didn't get any.
Except your'e 39, your friend Franks kid likes chicken nuggets, all your teachers were wrong and you've had so many jobs you've lost count. Probably 'cause you could never finish them.
Kevin,
We posted this article thinking that you would post the rest. And no, we haven't received it yet.
If you are going to contribute articles to the community, contribute to the community. Don't contribute advertisements, as they won't get published or people will mock your article as what happened here.
As soon as we receive the second half - the advertisements, we will publish it ASAP.
Way too fluffy and absolutely no meat. Skip the story and get to the meat of the matter.
I too, would love to know the rest of the story. Please fill us in so we can deal with the mold in the correct manner. I have been using bleach and don't like to use chemicals,so if there is another way to kill mold, please let us know what it is. I think you got us interested with the information you gave us, now complete the story. Steven King tends to do the same thing... he gets your attention and leaves you frustrated. You know how women hate that!
How to Kill and Remove Black Mold
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Remove as much of the moisture and humidity in the room as possible.
Turn up the heat and make the area as dry as possible. Use a dehumidifier if one is available.
Ozone is most effective in dry warm areas.
Once moisture is removed, all visible mold and mildew must be removed. Surfaces that can be cleaned with a solution of bleach and water should be washed. The wearing of protective clothing, including gloves and a breathing mask is strongly advised.
Do not touch the mold with your bare hands. Remember there is no such thing as "harmless mold". Any mold can threaten health, so please be very careful when removing fungi molds.
The amount of ozone and length of treatments required depends upon the size of the room, and the level of mold contamination.
The more ozone that is concentrated in an area the more mold and bacteria will be killed.
It is important to use as much ozone as possible to shock a room.
Many times a large ozone generator of at least 2000 milligram per hour ozone generator or larger is needed for the normal sized room to treat severe mold problems.
If possible an XT-6000 or larger machine should be used.
The higher the ozone output used the better the results.
To kill mold and remove strong odors there needs to be as high an ozone concentration as possible in the room.
Since ozone breaks down within 15 to 30 minutes it is important to keep producing large amounts of it to keep the ozone concentration at a sufficient kill level. That's why low level air purification type ozone generators really do not have the ability to kill mold.
Using a smaller machine twice as long is not the same as using a higher powered machine since ozone breaks down very quickly.
With a smaller machine the ozone level never has a chance to "catch up" to the required parts per million concentration needed to kill the mold or bacteria.
It is always recommended to use as large a machine as possible for mold and bacterial problems.
Use the timer to have the ozone generator shut off a couple of hours before you enter the room.
Air the ozone out the room as much as possible upon returning.
The mold may be persistent and many shock treatments may be necessary.
After a series of shock treatments the area will then smell fresher, and much of the mold will have been killed so that it cannot reproduce.
If mold odors reoccur this indicates there are still mold spores in the air.
Additional high ozone shock treatments may be necessary to eliminate these odors.
So the answer would be to take a look at the units sold here at TCI, from my understanding these will get the job done.
http://www.thecreativeinvestor.com/ProductCat20-Supplies_Air_Purifiers.html
John $Cash$ Locke
I don't know anything about black mold either. But this particular human weakness is universal. I believe the correct name for it is Cognitive Dissonance, or a clashing of thoughts or ideas. It appears that those with higher IQ's are just as succeptable as the simple minded to cognitive dissonance. Example; I bought a high performance motorcycle last summer and I wanted to know how to do a proper break in to acheive the best performance. The owners manual version, and a procedure I was given by a renown race engine builder conflicted. It appears the manufacturer's technique uses procedures for WWII era engines. A 180 horsepower 400 pound bike can be lethal. Keeping engine rpms low reduces the odds of a novice rider getting killed and the manufacturer being sued. Engine building and cylinder honing technologies have improved drastically over the past 60 years. The owner of a new Ferrari F2 would be shocked to know his engine was held at the redline for long periods of time before leaving the factory in Italy. But people will swear by the owners manual method in spite of data from dynamometer testing and proven race wins. Another example is the scientific theories of where the american indians originated. I happen to have a book that gives an exact year and place of their origination. Not only this, but a record of the Savior's ministry among them in the new world shortly after His ressurection. Because the hireling priests say its of the devil, many reject it and remain in ignorance of the truth.
I posted this a week or so ago on Black Mold!
I personally avoid homes that have mold issues due to the excessive public concern, as this is similar to the lead based paint scare.
My first concern is if there is a public record of this mold issue and if so my best advise is to run, as an investor you are required to disclose health or major structure issues if know or you can be help financially liable.
If this issue is visible to you than most likely mold remediation and mold removal will be necessary. When mold appears on drywall it will feed and grow.
Because mold and mildew release mold spores in the air that can float throughout the house, it can cause severe allergic reactions such as watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing, nasal congestion and fatigue, especially to those with a mold allergy. In fact, when mold starts to reproduce inside a home, it can eat away at the structure, cause thousands of dollars in damage and possibly make family members sick from mold exposure.
Depending on the extent of the mold infestation you may also have to have the ductwork cleaned to remove spores.
I would suggest some of the following links as help:
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/thriftyliving/tl-removemildew.html
http://muextension.missouri.edu/xplor/hesguide/housing/gh5928.htm
http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/sedgwick/SGFACS/housing/mold.htm
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/011202/dsd_8305867.html
As an investor my investment strategies is based upon the general publics wants, needs and fears even if the fears are not founded.
Fact:
The general public is in a mold scare. So why take a gamble?
This scare is no different than the led based paint scare taken to an extreme but never the less did affect home sales.
Homebuyer fears can drive sales down.
I simply do not invest in homes that have:
MOLD (until the public takes a chill pill)
Homes near a cemetery (does not bother me, but I invest for profit)
Homes where a murder or suicide has taken place
I myself have no concerns for such home, but the public does and when the public does it affects profits.
So misconception or not, the fact is will the fears affect profit
Just some insight from an old timer