Mold Removal - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

carlspackler · 10-25-2006, 02:39 PM

I was doing some small demo in a room in my basement as I wanted to do something different on the wall. Guess what I found...mold.

It's a lower basement room on the concrete wall side of a walkout. The wall is insulated with a thin foil type batt insulation then it is covered with drywall. The drywall is fine other than the bottom edge which is a little water/mold damaged. But when I pull the insulation back, the material that was in contact with the concrete wall has turned black and is flaking off.

Guess I need to find out why it was leaking, but I'd like to know if anyone has removed molding parts themselves? I have the time, just wondering if I'm ok doing it myself. Safety first, but I have heard that a lot of the mold issues have been overblown in this country in terms of deaths. Scare tactics?

Debookkeeper · 10-25-2006, 05:13 PM

Carl - I am no expert by all means, but I do know that black mold can be toxic. There is also black mold that isn't. One of the guys I bookkeep for (he runs a football league) also works for our state. For the last 1 1/2 years he has been in and out of the hospital, breathing problems, heart racing, sinus problems, tired all the time, bad acid reflux. He was told numerous times he was having a panic attack (which is funny, because he is a felony warrant arrest officer). He was finally referred to a specialist and they found black mold in his bloodstream - which causes a large number of health problems. He is on special meds, etc. (the mold is in the state building his office is in). So my point is - be cautious. It could be the toxic mold and the spores can get all over the place when you disturb the area.

Richard · 10-25-2006, 05:17 PM

I officially nominate Deb as the "mom" of Contractor talk! What a gal

*always has good answers and backs them up....

ron schenker · 10-25-2006, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paintguy26

I officially nominate Deb as the "mom" of Contractor talk! What a gal

*always has good answers and backs them up....

I second that emotion

dirt diggler · 10-25-2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlspackler

I was doing some small demo in a room in my basement as I wanted to do something different on the wall. Guess what I found...mold.

It's a lower basement room on the concrete wall side of a walkout. The wall is insulated with a thin foil type batt insulation then it is covered with drywall. The drywall is fine other than the bottom edge which is a little water/mold damaged. But when I pull the insulation back, the material that was in contact with the concrete wall has turned black and is flaking off.

Guess I need to find out why it was leaking, but I'd like to know if anyone has removed molding parts themselves? I have the time, just wondering if I'm ok doing it myself. Safety first, but I have heard that a lot of the mold issues have been overblown in this country in terms of deaths. Scare tactics?

sorry buddy --- there's a particular method there

you can try ... but it comes back....

usually best to also find the CAUSE and fix that as well

Debookkeeper · 10-25-2006, 05:37 PM

Okay - So I am flattered...

Thank you.

But this doesn't have anything to do with me turning 40 in two days... does it??? Like RUBBING SALT IN THE WOUND?

Nah - I know you guys wouldn't do that to me.

I am having SUCH a good day today!

Richard · 10-25-2006, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debookkeeper

Okay - So I am flattered...

Thank you.

But this doesn't have anything to do with me turning 40 in two days... does it??? Like RUBBING SALT IN THE WOUND?

Nah - I know you guys wouldn't do that to me.

I am having SUCH a good day today!

you mean "39" and next year..."39.....39"......"39

ron schenker · 10-25-2006, 05:58 PM

40 is the new 22

Zack · 10-25-2006, 07:35 PM

When you are moving the insulation you are releasing spores into the air which can cause problems. Go on my website so you can get some more information about what you are up against. www.iaqm.com Go to the education page. That will help you out alot. I will tell you that I had a guy get sick for two weeks and we wear all PPE. If you are going to do this yourself be prepared and wear all PPE. You can even bring it into your house after you have been working on the job. Be Careful.

copusbuilder · 10-25-2006, 08:00 PM

As a certified mold remediation specialist ( I have the card that says so) You will need to pull off the job and tell the customer they have a major problem which will likely cost tens of thousands or at least several?

Or now that the insurance money is gone and the overblown hype has dissipated you can remove it

It was big here in Houston and died a quick death when the money dried up.

I believe it is much like peanut butter, some can get sick and even die from exposure. I am still surprised they sell peanut butter

carlspackler · 10-26-2006, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copusbuilder

As a certified mold remediation specialist ( I have the card that says so) You will need to pull off the job and tell the customer they have a major problem which will likely cost tens of thousands or at least several?

Or now that the insurance money is gone and the overblown hype has dissipated you can remove it

It was big here in Houston and died a quick death when the money dried up.

I believe it is much like peanut butter, some can get sick and even die from exposure. I am still surprised they sell peanut butter

This is what I've been reading. Mold can be deadly to people who are allergic to it. Otherwise, it has been a big overblown issue.

I've also read it the other way around. But mold is in the air we breathe every day. The mold in this room doesn't smell and I think I've been living with it for 4 years now. I just don't want to be the next sucker that pays 3 grand to have a single room demoed.

carlspackler · 10-26-2006, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Debookkeeper

Carl - I am no expert by all means, but I do know that black mold can be toxic. There is also black mold that isn't. One of the guys I bookkeep for (he runs a football league) also works for our state. For the last 1 1/2 years he has been in and out of the hospital, breathing problems, heart racing, sinus problems, tired all the time, bad acid reflux. He was told numerous times he was having a panic attack (which is funny, because he is a felony warrant arrest officer). He was finally referred to a specialist and they found black mold in his bloodstream - which causes a large number of health problems. He is on special meds, etc. (the mold is in the state building his office is in). So my point is - be cautious. It could be the toxic mold and the spores can get all over the place when you disturb the area.

What do you mean by this statement?

Debookkeeper · 10-26-2006, 06:09 AM

http://www.moldetect.com/black-mold.htm

Here ya go...

copusbuilder · 10-26-2006, 07:03 AM

When I took the course there were many things that bothered me.

When a remediation was nearing completion and the inspector was due, they told us to keep the door sealed until he is on the porch. Open the door and close it behind him because those mold spores could come in from rotting vegetation/leaves and are outside in the air

The second item that bothered me was going throught the procedure they taled about removing sheetrock, treating areas with micrban, hepa vacuuming several time (every square inch).
I asked what happened to the mold trapped between the vapor barrier and studs?? He went a little sheepish and responded "well you can't get it all?"

It cost us all a lot of money and seemed to me to be primarily bunk. I am sure high concentrations can affect some but find it fascinating how it dominated newspapers and t.v. and as soon as the laws changed (money)...it went away. Maybe the out of work asbestos removal co.s have moved up North to start their new businesses??

copusbuilder · 10-26-2006, 07:13 AM

I should add. I was also told (over and over) "It is not the contractors resposibility to diagnose what type of mold is present. Have them call an environmental engineer (like us) when any type of mold is detected!"

Hmmmm.

They also explained about the "other" potentially deadly molds

It all boiled down to law suits.

We had our a/c guy we used for years. Nicknamed him Captain Mold.
Every tim we sent him out to service an a/c system he would shut it down and yell mold. Had a lot of pissed off homowners

carlspackler · 10-26-2006, 12:06 PM

I had a guy in to look at the mold. He was pulling up the carpet to see if there was mold underneath it. There were spots of black mold under the carpet on the edges. He looked in a few places.

What I don't get is why would he do this if he was worried about mold flying all over the place? Nothing was contained and it was dry in there. There must have been a lot of dust created by doing that. He didn't seem too worried. I just get the feeling that this whole setup and negative pressure thing is a scare tactic to rob people of their hard earned money.

uhg.

Gordo · 10-26-2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlspackler

I had a guy in to look at the mold. He was pulling up the carpet to see if there was mold underneath it. There were spots of black mold under the carpet on the edges. He looked in a few places.

What I don't get is why would he do this if he was worried about mold flying all over the place? Nothing was contained and it was dry in there. There must have been a lot of dust created by doing that. He didn't seem too worried. I just get the feeling that this whole setup and negative pressure thing is a scare tactic to rob people of their hard earned money.

uhg.

You should have listened to Copus.