Mould Problem
Questions & Answers
If you have
any questions, please send your
email to:
moldconsultant@yahoo.com
March
30, 2005
Q.
I am trying to get rid of some black colored mould on my closet walls. Should
I paint the walls with oil based paint? If not what else will kill &
eliminate this nasty mold?
A.
Painting over the mould problem will NOT kill the mold, but simply hide the
problem temporarily until the mould eats through the paint, a favorite
mould food. You must first remove the mould growth, which might mean removing the
wall surface materials if the mould is growing into the materials [very
likely]. mould can be growing inside the drywall exterior and INSIDE the
wall, such as eating the wood timbers inside the wall. Learn the 25 steps
for safe and effective mould remediation at the
Mould Removal page.
March 04, 2005
Q.
I live in an apartment and we are on the ground level. On the east side of
the wall, we have black mould above the baseboard and up the walls. It is
now turning white and I was told that it was dust of the mould and that we
should get something done about it. I told the landlord 2 months ago and all
he said was to wash it with vinegar. When I noticed the mould, I washed it
with bleach. I had also put a protic called “stopz” – it is an oil based
paint which stops stains from bleeding through the paint I painted the wall
about the first week of November and I thought that the bleach would get rid
of it. About 3 weeks later, it came back even blacker and fuller than
before. About 2 weeks ago it had turned white. What should I do? Should I
call in a health inspector to get them to see what’s going on?
My landlord wants nothing
to do with the problem. I have told him and apparently there are other
problems in the building.
A.
Bleach will not kill mold. To know more, visit
http://www.bleach-mold-myth.com.
Painting over mould with a cover-up paint coating designed to hide water
stains is not going to kill molds either. Learn the 25 steps recommended for
safe and effective mould remediation
here.
Unless you take steps like
the Tenant Notice to Landlord About Mold, and doing your own documentation
of the mould problem using a do-it-yourself mould test kit, it is likely that your landlord, like
most landlords, will do nothing as to safe and effective mould inspection,
testing and remediation of your rental unit’s mould infestation problem. You
would be wise to move to a mold-safe place as soon as possible. Most moldlords will not spend money to protect their tenants against
mould health
threats. Learn about landlord mould liability. If temporarily during
mould remediation, you should carefully mould inspect and test your temporary or new living quarters prior to renting
or buying and moving to make sure you are not moving from one mould hell to
another.
As of your personal
property, you are wise to do mould decontamination by washing all items
outdoors by washing them thoroughly with Borax laundry detergent in warm
water. Use one-half pound of Borax per 1.5 gallons of warm water. Then spray
all items with one or two wet sprayings of
home-made
mould remedy recipes. Or use an enzyme-based Mould Cleaner and Odor
Remover.
To document your apartment
mould health threats, you can use a do-it-yourself mould test kit. Learn the mould remediation steps that
your landlord needs to take after you vacate the apartment. Note that doing
mould remediation process while you are in the apartment will make your
family even more ill.
February
24, 2005
Q.
I took your advice and had the bathroom
mould tested. Yesterday, I received the devastating news that one of the molds
discovered in the mould lab analysis was Stachybotrys mold.
What do I do next? I live
in a co-operative housing project in Northeastern Ontario. I do not know if
any local lawyers or even if they would take my mould problem seriously. The
mould lab has taken it very seriously, and the lab recommended that I see my
doctor. If I can avoid any drawn out court battle, that outcome would be
good. This Co-op has insurance for such things. I just do not know what
steps need to be taken first. I had contacted the City Building Standards
department a few weeks ago, and I was faxed a report to fill out. Should I
follow through with that first, or seek legal advice? This Co-op is
government run, and I just know that my unit is not alone here in having a
mould problem. Most residents are too afraid to complain.
A.
Yes, do file the complaint form with the city
building department, especially in view of the government ownership of your
co-op project. Do your complaint in great detail and attach your mould lab
reports to it. Your official written complaint might get co-op board results
and it will strengthen your prospective mould lawsuit. You would be
wise to move temporarily to a mold-safe place to live until your co-op
apartment has been mould remediated successfully and it tests as being mold-safe by an
independent Certified Mold Inspector
who was uninvolved in the mould remediation effort. Learn the 25 recommended
steps of mould remediation to make sure that the co-op does the
mould remediation thoroughly and completely.
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