| Mold in the Basement |
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For health reasons, you need to be alert to
whether or not you have mold in the basement.
Basements are prone to mold if steps are not
taken to prevent it. First you need to ensure that
your basement stays dry. Wet basements are the
perfect place for mold to grow. There are many
causes of moisture in basements; all of them can
be successfully addressed. Check the basement
systematically. That is, move furniture and boxes
or other items so you can see the floor and walls
in behind. Do not forget to check the items you
are moving. Mold can start on the wooden legs of
furniture if they happen to be damp. If you find
that you have a wet basement, this must be
addressed right away. This is step one in mold
mitigation.
Wet basements can be the result of many
different situations. If you have an older home, it
may be that there was no moisture barrier in
stalled at the time of construction. If perimeter
drain tile were placed around the basement they
possibly have settled collapsed or are plugged
with roots from the shrubs. Be aware of the soil
make-up around the foundation. If it happens to
be clay or other poor drainage soil, you definitely
need to ensure there is a storm drain to take
water away from the basement. Be sure to note if
there are any cracks in the concrete. If cracks are
found they should be sealed.
Musty basements are easily identified. You smell
the must as you enter the area. What you smell is
mildew that is growing somewhere in that area. If
you have carpeting in the basement, get it out of
there and take the under padding as well. These
are great things to grow mold or mildew in. Next
you need to wash concrete floors and walls with a
bleach and water solution of about 3/4 cup of
chlorine bleach to 1 gal. of water. After you let the
solution sit on the concrete surfaces for about 5
minutes rinse and dry. Now if you are sure you do
not have a wet basement, install flooring that will
not hold water. Ensure that there is no mold
growing in the walls and take all steps to keep the
basement dry.
whether or not you have mold in the basement.
Basements are prone to mold if steps are not
taken to prevent it. First you need to ensure that
your basement stays dry. Wet basements are the
perfect place for mold to grow. There are many
causes of moisture in basements; all of them can
be successfully addressed. Check the basement
systematically. That is, move furniture and boxes
or other items so you can see the floor and walls
in behind. Do not forget to check the items you
are moving. Mold can start on the wooden legs of
furniture if they happen to be damp. If you find
that you have a wet basement, this must be
addressed right away. This is step one in mold
mitigation.
Wet basements can be the result of many
different situations. If you have an older home, it
may be that there was no moisture barrier in
stalled at the time of construction. If perimeter
drain tile were placed around the basement they
possibly have settled collapsed or are plugged
with roots from the shrubs. Be aware of the soil
make-up around the foundation. If it happens to
be clay or other poor drainage soil, you definitely
need to ensure there is a storm drain to take
water away from the basement. Be sure to note if
there are any cracks in the concrete. If cracks are
found they should be sealed.
Musty basements are easily identified. You smell
the must as you enter the area. What you smell is
mildew that is growing somewhere in that area. If
you have carpeting in the basement, get it out of
there and take the under padding as well. These
are great things to grow mold or mildew in. Next
you need to wash concrete floors and walls with a
bleach and water solution of about 3/4 cup of
chlorine bleach to 1 gal. of water. After you let the
solution sit on the concrete surfaces for about 5
minutes rinse and dry. Now if you are sure you do
not have a wet basement, install flooring that will
not hold water. Ensure that there is no mold
growing in the walls and take all steps to keep the
basement dry.