Mold: The Silent Menace
Mold infiltrates a structure silently. One day you spot it in a corner. Or you detect a musty, earthy, smell. These may be the first signs of a "growing" problem: MOLD.
Mold can hitch a ride indoors on you, or wafts in through openings around doors and windows. If it doesn't find moisture, mold won't be a problem. However, if there is the slightest leak or the humidity inside is high, the spore will sprout and spread. Mold is a fungus that flourishes on wet conditions and on organic material, spreading little by little, and filling the air you breathe with its spores.
Mold actually feeds on any organic material, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. Many molds thrive at average indoor temperatures, but cannot survive below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When the spores land on a damp area, they start to grow and disperse, feeding on whatever substance they are on. If the moisture source is undetected or ignored, the mold will continue to spread, binging on wood, paper, carpet, insulation, or any other organic material it can use for sustenance. Eventually mold destroys anything on which it grows.
As many as half of all structures have moisture conditions able to support, spawn and spread mold, mildew or bacteria, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
It does not matter what type of mold is growing in your structure- get rid of it! Immediately repair the moisture source that allowed it to invade in the first place.
Excessive moisture breeds mold
Mold prevention in an existing building is accomplished by cleaning and drying all surfaces with soap and water wherever possible. Too much dampness and humidity breeds mold- and various other microorganisms- so control the moisture!
Periodically check your plumbing, especially around sinks and tubs. Fix any problems immediately. Use exhaust fans whenever cooking or washing dishes. Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers (especially in basements) and change the filters often. Prevent condensation by adding insulation or storm windows. If your building is constructed over a crawlspace, put plastic sheets on the ground under the house to prevent moisture from rising from the ground and make sure the crawlspace is well ventilated. Don't let water stand in air conditioning or refrigerator drip pans.
Once mold has invaded, the best remedy is to clean up the mold and reduce the moisture. Few insurance policies over mold damage, so it is prudent to protect your property— and possible your health— by taking precautions to prevent or eliminate mold. Get to the root problem and eliminate the water issue that allowed the mold in the first place.
After flood, tornado, hurricane, or other similar natural disasters, anything that's been wet for more than 48 hours and cannot be thoroughly cleaned— wood, carpet, drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation, paper, and other absorbent materials— will need to be discarded. Don't take chances with mold and bacteria. The EPA's best advice is: When in doubt, throw it out!
Serious health issues and mold
Most people seem to tolerate moderate levels of mold without much difficulty, but all molds could potentially cause adverse health problems- especially for those most vulnerable and sensitive because of allergies, asthma, or other existing lung or immune system diseases. These people can become very ill from being exposed to even small levels of mold. (Children under one year old may also experience adverse effects.)
Those most easily affected by mold may suffer with a stuffy nose, irritated eyes, throat irritation, wheezing, coughing, fevers, labored breathing, chest tightness, inflammation in the mucous membranes of the nose, worsening or increased frequency of asthma attacks, or rashes.
There are 36 million Americans suffering from allergy problems. Today 24.6 million in the U.S. have asthma, accounting for 8.2% of the population. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says 44,000 people have an asthma attack every day. Mold is a known trigger of asthma attacks.
Building to reduce the risk of mold
One of the most helpful approaches to eliminate mold difficulties is to minimize the chance of mold before you build. For example, start thinking about the framing material.
Since wood is organic, it actually encourages mold, acting as fodder for the furry menace. Molding wood leads to rot, weakening the structural integrity of the framing. Steel is man-made and inorganic. It cannot feed mold, nor any other microorganisms.
Most homes and structures built in recent decades are more energy-conscious and airtight. But that means less air exchange. Moisture builds up, and without sufficient ventilation, that dampness remains in the building, creating a humidity level ripe for planting mold spores.
Mold can't feed on steel like it does lumber. Steel doesn't hold moisture, so mold can't grow. Steel framing does not change, creep, warp, or sag, like lumber-built construction because steel is inorganic and unaffected by moisture. (Painted coatings on "red-iron" steel prevent rust.) Steel building connections are bolts and screws that won't work out like nails. Steel-framing creates deeper walls for thicker, more energy efficient insulation.
There are more advantages to building with a metal building kit. Steel is not only mold-resistant, but also termite-resistant, and fire-resistant. Steel is strong, designed to stand up better to the threats of violent weather and earthquakes. Steel is a "green" building material, because steel is the most recycled material in the world.
Delayed maintenance on correcting a building leak can be very costly. Repairing damage from mold can expensive to the structure itself and to the health of those who live or work in the structure. Protect your property by building with prefabricated steel-framed buildings.
Mold can hitch a ride indoors on you, or wafts in through openings around doors and windows. If it doesn't find moisture, mold won't be a problem. However, if there is the slightest leak or the humidity inside is high, the spore will sprout and spread. Mold is a fungus that flourishes on wet conditions and on organic material, spreading little by little, and filling the air you breathe with its spores.
Mold actually feeds on any organic material, as long as moisture and oxygen are present. Many molds thrive at average indoor temperatures, but cannot survive below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. When the spores land on a damp area, they start to grow and disperse, feeding on whatever substance they are on. If the moisture source is undetected or ignored, the mold will continue to spread, binging on wood, paper, carpet, insulation, or any other organic material it can use for sustenance. Eventually mold destroys anything on which it grows.
As many as half of all structures have moisture conditions able to support, spawn and spread mold, mildew or bacteria, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
It does not matter what type of mold is growing in your structure- get rid of it! Immediately repair the moisture source that allowed it to invade in the first place.
Excessive moisture breeds mold
Mold prevention in an existing building is accomplished by cleaning and drying all surfaces with soap and water wherever possible. Too much dampness and humidity breeds mold- and various other microorganisms- so control the moisture!
Periodically check your plumbing, especially around sinks and tubs. Fix any problems immediately. Use exhaust fans whenever cooking or washing dishes. Use air conditioners and dehumidifiers (especially in basements) and change the filters often. Prevent condensation by adding insulation or storm windows. If your building is constructed over a crawlspace, put plastic sheets on the ground under the house to prevent moisture from rising from the ground and make sure the crawlspace is well ventilated. Don't let water stand in air conditioning or refrigerator drip pans.
Once mold has invaded, the best remedy is to clean up the mold and reduce the moisture. Few insurance policies over mold damage, so it is prudent to protect your property— and possible your health— by taking precautions to prevent or eliminate mold. Get to the root problem and eliminate the water issue that allowed the mold in the first place.
After flood, tornado, hurricane, or other similar natural disasters, anything that's been wet for more than 48 hours and cannot be thoroughly cleaned— wood, carpet, drywall, ceiling tiles, insulation, paper, and other absorbent materials— will need to be discarded. Don't take chances with mold and bacteria. The EPA's best advice is: When in doubt, throw it out!
Serious health issues and mold
Most people seem to tolerate moderate levels of mold without much difficulty, but all molds could potentially cause adverse health problems- especially for those most vulnerable and sensitive because of allergies, asthma, or other existing lung or immune system diseases. These people can become very ill from being exposed to even small levels of mold. (Children under one year old may also experience adverse effects.)
Those most easily affected by mold may suffer with a stuffy nose, irritated eyes, throat irritation, wheezing, coughing, fevers, labored breathing, chest tightness, inflammation in the mucous membranes of the nose, worsening or increased frequency of asthma attacks, or rashes.
There are 36 million Americans suffering from allergy problems. Today 24.6 million in the U.S. have asthma, accounting for 8.2% of the population. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says 44,000 people have an asthma attack every day. Mold is a known trigger of asthma attacks.
Building to reduce the risk of mold
One of the most helpful approaches to eliminate mold difficulties is to minimize the chance of mold before you build. For example, start thinking about the framing material.
Since wood is organic, it actually encourages mold, acting as fodder for the furry menace. Molding wood leads to rot, weakening the structural integrity of the framing. Steel is man-made and inorganic. It cannot feed mold, nor any other microorganisms.
Most homes and structures built in recent decades are more energy-conscious and airtight. But that means less air exchange. Moisture builds up, and without sufficient ventilation, that dampness remains in the building, creating a humidity level ripe for planting mold spores.
Mold can't feed on steel like it does lumber. Steel doesn't hold moisture, so mold can't grow. Steel framing does not change, creep, warp, or sag, like lumber-built construction because steel is inorganic and unaffected by moisture. (Painted coatings on "red-iron" steel prevent rust.) Steel building connections are bolts and screws that won't work out like nails. Steel-framing creates deeper walls for thicker, more energy efficient insulation.
There are more advantages to building with a metal building kit. Steel is not only mold-resistant, but also termite-resistant, and fire-resistant. Steel is strong, designed to stand up better to the threats of violent weather and earthquakes. Steel is a "green" building material, because steel is the most recycled material in the world.
Delayed maintenance on correcting a building leak can be very costly. Repairing damage from mold can expensive to the structure itself and to the health of those who live or work in the structure. Protect your property by building with prefabricated steel-framed buildings.
Source...