Mold is everyone's problem—from the builder to the buyer. But a new industry coalition has been formed to help builder and buyer alike learn what they can do to deal with it.
The Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition, an association founded with a grant from USG Corp., which manufactures a variety of building products, has a message about mold. Control the moisture, and you will control the mold, says the coalition of 12 industry-related members.
The key word is control, not eradicate. Building scientist Paul Shipp, a coalition member, says mold is an essential part of life. “We would destroy the ecosystem if we got rid of mold,” he said.
The coalition's goal is to provide a good source of credible information to raise builders' and buyers' awareness of what they can do to control the problem. It does not endorse products. Shipp says many solutions for mold control are simply band-aids and make no real inroads in dealing with the problem.
“Anybody who would guarantee no mold is probably lying to you,” he says.
For example, some advise avoiding organic materials to prevent mold. But mold will grow on anything, according to the coalition, including glass, plastic, and steel. Dust alone provides nutrients to foster mold growth.
Mike Poellnger, co-chairman of the commission, says there is no “silver bullet” to prevent moisture and mold. “Moisture and mold control can only be achieved through better building and maintenance practices,” he says.
Although there are some common and fixable culprits that bring moisture into a house—plumbing leaks, air conditioning condensation, poor roof design, and leaky refrigerator hoses—builders can do their part by using a systems approach to Home building. For example, as a home is built and the finishing touches are put on it, builders should make sure the land around the foundation is graded away from it, not toward it. Crawl spaces with exposed dirt also should be covered with a plastic vapor barrier, whereas a six- to eight-inch clearance space between the finish grade and the siding should exist.
For more information, visit www.responsiblemoldsolutions.com
