This is one of the strangest things I have seen in home construction. I was doing an inspection for the purchase of a home and saw these large pillars in the corners of the basement. Then looking at the furnace, there is a large metal grate in the bottom for air intake. The pillars are the return air system into the furnace and the duct work is in (or under) the floor of the basement. The problems with indoor air quality for this type of system is quite apparent and mold was growing on the metal grate. The buyer is going to replace the furnace, install proper return air duct work, and abandon pillars and floor cavities. Who would have thought! Have situational awareness during your inspections.
A few pictures from the IAQA Conference Bob Bennett and Chris Harris attended in February from the 18th through the 20th. We attend conferences and classes to further our education so we can keep our clients informed.
A few pictures from the IAQA Conference Bob Bennett and Chris Harris attended in February from the 18th through the 20th. We attend conferences and classes to further our education so we can keep our clients informed.
Bob Bennett and Chris Harris are at the Indoor Air Quality Association Conference for 2020 in West Palm Beach, Florida. It started today and will go through Friday.
Lets talk about mold abatement in an attic during winter conditions. It is my company policy that you don't remove mold from the roof decking and trusses of an attic and have the moldy debris land on the insulation. The goal of mold abatement is to remove the contaminant, but if you don't place plastic over the insulation, the exposure potential remains and you have simply transferred the problem. So the two photographs are of plastic on the insulation from one of our projects. A problem develops from water vapor migrating from the home is condensing under the plastic. During the winter, you cannot leave plastic down for very long.
Another problem with winter conditions, contractors know that there are several methods of removing mold contamination. We most often use a Hydrogen Peroxide or a Sodium Hypo-chloride cleaning agent. Regardless of which you use, you cannot apply it to frozen wood; it doesn't work. Therefore, the outside temperatures should be above freezing because even if the attic itself is above freezing, the areas of the soffit wont be. You may be able to use some kind of space heaters, but the soffits still wont be above freezing. On this project, we suspended the work because of low temperatures, pull the plastic back to allow for the migration of moisture out through ridge vent, and then went back when the temperatures were higher for a few days. Even during the winter, the temperature in the attic will be higher than the outside, but the soffit will be the coldest in the work area. Be on guard that in Ohio there are no laws governing this business so there will be companies that will go into an attic and spray contaminated surfaces with a cleaning agent and walk away. That is not mold abatement in the eyes of any national mold abatement standard and not defensible in court.
This is what happens when you spray an antimicrobial coating without removing the mold growth and not fixing the ventilation problem. This abatement company gave a 10 year warranty, this was done 1 year ago, and now they will not return the homeowners phone calls. ALL national mold abatement standards state that removing mold contamination is the guiding principle of mold remediation (look on page 50 of the IICRC-S520 Standard). Not spraying a chemical and walking away, or spraying and then covering the surfaces with a coating. AND to not fix the ventilation issues that are causing the elevated humidity is shows a lack of interest in understanding cause and effect to help your client prevent a re-occurrence of growth.
My company does not do much real estate transaction work because we compete with companies like this. Sellers are just wanting to get out of the house cheap and there are no laws in Ohio requiring abatement companies to remove the mold in accordance with a national standards. Buyer beware!!
The Indoor Air Quality Association will be having their annual conference from February 15 to the 18th. It will be virtual this year so you can attend from your home or office. Go to IAQA.org to sign up. This will be my 18th consecutive conference that I have attended, and we change the way we do business every year as a result what we learn. It is important to occasionally take a break from chasing money and invest in your education; this conference is well worth your time.
