Old Mold In Attic,need Advice

NHCharger

Just joined, great site.
A friend called me last winter, said his attic was drenched. I checked it out, told him to stop running the humidifier on high 24/7. Attic did dry out. Last week we replaced the entire roof. Previous contractor used 2x6 to span 15' with a 5/12 pitch, roof had a 8" belly on both sides, no collar ties either. The bottom of the plywood was black with mold, but it was dried up and flaked off. One of my guys noticed some dried up mold in a few spots on top of the sheetrock.
The question is. Is this mold a potential problem? Should I remove all the insulation, clean the mold up with some bleach, and install new insulation?
The roof does have soffit vents and two gable end vents which I think work better in a snowy climate (Rochester,NH). I have gotten conflicting opinions on this so any input would be appreciated.

mdshunk

On a very related note, if anyone can post a link to the so-called "New York Standard on Mold remediation", that would be a good thing. I had it on my hard drive, and maybe I still do, but I can't find it.

Tom R

First of all, welcome to the site.

Here's my opinion only, - - until some 'more-experienced-in-the-mold-department' answers come along.

Don't touch it, - - way too much liability with mold these days, - - once you touch it, you're 'married' to it, - - inform the homeowner and suggest (they call) a 'mold-remediation' crew.

If they don't want one, - - have them sign to that effect.

My two cents only.

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mdshunk

Ah-ha! I found it. This is perhaps the best document ever writtin on mold in the home. It gives a technical introduction and health effects in section 1.0 and 2.0. Section 3.0 is a step-by-step how to for prefessional mold remediators.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/epi/moldrpt1.shtml

Teetorbilt

I'm here in the humidity/ mold capital and Tom is correct, in for a penny, in for a pound.

Get someone whos ins. is geared to it. Here it is a specific clause. I don't have it and am not getting it.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

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ProWallGuy

I agree. I have gone to more mold seminars than I can count (due to the major mold problem with vinyl w/c in hotels, hospitals, etc.) and I keep hearing the same thing over and over:
If I come across more than 10 sq ft of mold, I am to advise the homeowner to contact a mold remediation specialist, or at very least, their local health dept. will have an 'industrial hygienest' available. This is supposed to keep me out of the 'lawsuit loop'.

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Digital Murals Installation

ProWallGuy

Great link!!! Thanks!!!

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

mighty anvil

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/molds.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/n...ory_27465.html

Grumpy

Ventilate and insulate. That is the answer to all attic problems including mold.

As a roofer who does a bit of mold remediation work in attics, I can tell you the #1 reason for attics to mold up is improper ventilation. What you described is condensation build up, as you said because the humidifier was too high. In addition improer ventilation will also cause this. If there is a kitchen or bathroom vent it should not be vented into the attic. It should be vented through the attic and out the roof or soffit.

IMO the only real way to remediate mold is to remove it. This is how I handle the problem:

Tear off the roof and all decking. Apply biocide bleach-water mixture to all framing with spray gun. Encourage customer to have insulation replaced by others (I'm considering adding this into the mix only for mold remediation). Replace decking and roofing. Properly Ventilate. Absolutely no warranty against mold returning.

I am not a mold specialist but I am willing to properly install your new roof system after the mold has destroyed the existing attic space.

slickshift

Welcome NHCharger
Greetings from the corner of river and ocean, the land of rust and mildew
This mold is a potential problem
It must be killed dead dead dead or it will come back
Just because it's dormant does not mean it's dead
Bleach or a pro UV mold killer machine is the only way
Your situation sounds bad, the flakyness does not mean it's dead
If you can hit every bit of it with bleach and replace any insulation that might have spores in it, you may be OK
You may want to hand it off to a specialist

K2

We did one last year where they ran a humidifier for 20 years. There was no doubt that the most mold was over the mstr bedroom where the humidifier was placed. We tore off most of the roof sheathing, (plywood), and bleached any trusses that showed signs of mold. Tripled the roof vents and told the owners to stick there head in the attic and see what is going on once in a while. >I am certain that -20 to -30 degree temps and penetration of the drywall lid by warm moist air is the culprit but the local inspectors don't seem to agree.> I personally don't think that mold in a reasonably vented attic is an immediate health issue but is something that should be dealt with. IMO mold under or around living space needs immediate attention.