Archive for May 2005
Homes, hearts still mired in storm damage
May 31, 2005, 12:18 pmI found an interesting series of articles published by the Palm Beach Post in Florida. This first one talks about the after effects of the three hurricanes that hit the state, explicitly the growth of mold in affected homes. To quote:
Three times Cheryl Hutchinson Paynter beat back cancer with an indomitable can-do attitude. But even the usually optimistic Paynter found her spirit crushed trying to repair her Palm Springs townhome after Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.
Nine months after Jeanne, tar paper haphazardly covers holes in her cedar shake roof. Like festering wounds, black mold drips from cracks in her exterior walls.
After the hurricanes, Paynter found herself trapped in a dispute between her homeowners association and the insurance company. She was victimized again when a roofer took off with her $3,300. She assumed he was trustworthy, she said, because a worker at the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommended him.
When a roofing crew finally showed up last month, a building inspector ordered repairs halted just as the shingles were removed. A red stop-work order remains tacked to Paynter’s gate. The roofer never pulled a permit. The workers tacked down tar paper and left.
The roofer was arrested May 19 for not having a license. Paynter is back to square one.
Source: Palm Beach Post
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(posted in the News category)
Insurers may cancel a homeowners policy, if you file a claim
May 27, 2005, 8:29 amThis is an unfortunate story, and a disturbing article from CNN. One purchases insurance in large part to use it, even though we all hope such needs never arise. Thus its rather ludicrous to learn that if you do use it, you’ll lose it! To quote the article, regarding the reasons behind non-renewals:
Property insurance has always been a loss leader for insurance companies. Over the last 20 years, according to Madelyn Flannagan, IIABA vice president of education and research, insurers paid out more in claims (119 percent) than they took in as premiums.
During the 1990s, insurers offset such losses with investments and profits from commercial accounts. When the market tanked and commercial losses grew, they could no longer do that.
Then came a series of large losses due to natural disasters, plus a new threat: mold. In 2001, a jury in Texas awarded $32 million to claimants who said they were harmed by toxic mold. Mold litigation spread.
“Insurance companies became gun shy,” says Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the III, an industry trade group. Even a single claim of water damage could jeopardize coverage.
The issue has alleviated somewhat, according to Gorman, because insurers have spelled out more clearly that policies do not cover mold.
Source: CNN
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(posted in the News category)
2 Evesham schools have mold
May 20, 2005, 1:05 pmMold found in two school buildings will require the district to spend $12 million to replace heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, but it does not pose an immediate threat to students, the district announced Thursday.
The problem stems from leaks in the schools’ roofs, which were poorly designed and constructed, according to a statement sent home with students at Rice Elementary School and the joint DeMasi Elementary and DeMasi Middle schools.
The district is the second in the tri-county region - the other being Washington Township, Gloucester County - to face significant mold problems.
The Evesham board became aware of the problem in 2003 and, although the public wasn’t notified, it took “immediate short term, corrective and controlling actions,” according to the letter. The work included replacing ceiling tiles, carpets and wallboard, and using dehumidifiers.
Source: South Jersey Courier Post
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(posted in the News category)
Award Winning Moisture & Mold Manual Available
May 18, 2005, 8:11 amORLANDO, FL — (MARKET WIRE) — 05/17/2005 — The manual, “Preventing Moisture and Mold Problems in Hot, Humid Climates: Design and Construction Guidelines,” provides a series of proven guidelines on ways to avoid moisture and mold problems. This manual has become one of the most respected design and construction manuals focused solely on preventing moisture and mold problems.
The manual takes a comprehensive look at why moisture and mold problems are so pervasive and provides proven solutions that do not substantially add to the cost of the construction. Since its original publication by CH2M HILL in 1990, it has been used to successfully avoid moisture and mold problems in more than $2 billion in new construction, including more than 50,000 hotel rooms.
Florida Architect’s book review:
“Building failures can be prevented and this manual tells you how.”
Florida Design Initiative stated:
“The lawyers who will be negatively impacted by this manual will need to find another niche.”
The manual is available from Liberty Building Diagnostics Group by calling Angie Felski at (407) 466-9175 or by email at a.felski@lpdg.net. The manual also can be obtained from CH2M HILL.
Liberty Building Diagnostics Group specializes in diagnosing and solving moisture and mold problems and in providing litigation support/expert witness services. The firm is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit the LBDG web site or call (407) 660-6630.
Source: Marketwire.com
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(posted in the Resources category)
Mold test done at WT school
May 17, 2005, 7:39 amSchools are generally considered to be the workplace for children. Given how much time kids spend at school, finding mold at a school is alarming, and can have dramatically negative health effects. To quote from an article that describes such an incident:
A Williamstown firm, Quality Environmental Concepts, has been hired by a group of parents who are suing the district. They claim that district administrators have improperly handled mold-related issues at Orchard Valley and Chestnut Ridge middle schools.
The case is in its discovery phase, according to Carol Cobb, attorney for the parents. She added that the tests performed Friday were standard for such litigation.
Edward Knorr, the firm’s president, said he performed air, soil and water tests at the facility as well as direct meter readings for carbon monoxide. Knorr expects the results to be ready in three weeks.
Source: Gloucester County Times
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(posted in the News category)
Detroit Metro Airport tower due for mold cleanup
May 16, 2005, 5:32 pmWhile Household mold is one problem, mold at the work place is another! The problem of course is as homeowners we tend to have greater ability to deal with mold on our own property, than we would as employees at the workplace. Here is an example from the Detroit Metro Airport. To quote:
During the past few months, Sugent said, air traffic controllers have been complaining about stuffy noses and dry and itchy eyes.
“The job before us now is for everyone to work together on an agreed-upon plan that fully ensures the health and safety of the workers in the Metro Airport control tower. Our air traffic controllers work hard to protect the flying public; they certainly deserve the same care,” said U.S. Rep. John Dingell. The Democrat from Dearborn was one of the nine members of Congress who signed a letter asking about the situation.
It has taken the FAA more than seven months to deal with the tower’s mold problem.
The January attempt to spray the mold prompted an evacuation of the tower after controllers complained of nausea, lightheadedness and headaches.
Source: Detroit Free Press
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(posted in the News category)
Residents flee toxic mold as buyer, sellers bicker
May 12, 2005, 5:26 pmThis is a rather scary story from Milwaukee. For many of us, investing in property can be the safest kind of investment. Unless of course there happens to be mold on the property! The lesson here is to do whatever you can ahead of time to try and detect it. Though that may not always be possible. To quote from the article:
Just before Christmas 2004, Rick Michalski, a pharmacist who bought the building at 3303-05 Marina Road for $2.1 million in October 2003, told all the tenants to get out because toxic mold permeated the structure. Although the last tenants didn’t leave until March, Michalski said he hasn’t collected any rent since November, had to return security deposits and pay property taxes on the building.
“I’m on the verge of bankruptcy, but I’m keeping afloat,” Michalski said. “If it only cost a nickel to go around the world, I couldn’t get out of town.”
The building can’t be safely occupied until the mold is removed and the conditions that permitted it to grow are corrected, a cost estimated at nearly $4 million, Michalski said.
Michalski filed a lawsuit against the former owners of the building and the real estate firm that sold him the property. He claims the owners, Henry Zeni and Eugene Bennett, were aware of the mold and did superficial repairs to hide it.
He also is suing West Bend Mutual Insurance for denying his claims regarding the property.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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(posted in the News category)
Cleaning Can Mean Relief For Allergy Sufferers
May 11, 2005, 7:08 amWhile this may seem obvious, it’s a good message to repeat, and repeat often. Sometimes people take for granted the positive health impacts of proper and thorough cleaning. To quote:
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America says something as simple as cleaning can eliminate allergens.
“For pet dander, that means keeping your pets off the furniture,” says Mike Tringale of the foundation. “For dust mites, that means washing your bed linens at least once a week in 130-degree hot water. And for common household mold, make sure you use a bleach-based cleaner to kill and remove the mold and mildew.”
The foundation also recommends that allergy sufferers maintain indoor relative humidity at 35 to 50 percent. Vacuum regularly with a double-bag or HEPA vacuum. Use exhaust fans to increase bathroom and kitchen circulation. And replace moldy soft surfaces immediately.
“If you see a small amount of mold in your house, it’s unlikely that that’s going to cause direct health effects,” says Dr. Jay Portnoy, a mold specialist. “But what it can do is it can get worse over time. This is one instance where an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.”
Source: NY1: Health
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(posted in the News category)
GOP chairman settles house dispute
May 4, 2005, 4:33 amEven amongst political allies household mold can become an issue that divides. This article may unfortunately be rather typical of how things go, with the only exception being that these are elected representatives. Nonetheless, goes to show how unpleasant it is to buy a home and find mold inside. To quote:
A lawsuit filed against Kansas Republican Party Chairman Tim Shallenburger by a high-ranking official in the attorney general’s office has been settled, both sides said Monday.
The dispute was over a house Shallenburger sold to Bryan Brown, who leads the consumer protection division for Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, also a Republican.
After defeat in the 2002 gubernatorial election, Shallenburger moved back to his hometown of Baxter Springs, selling his Topeka home to Brown, who had just arrived from Mississippi.
But after the sale, Brown said things started falling apart in the house and that his children became ill because of mold.
He filed a lawsuit in March, alleging Shallenburger misled him about the house’s condition.
Brown sought compensation for the repairs, which totaled more than $9,000, plus medical costs, exemplary damages and $100 per hour for the time he spent dealing with the problems, according to the lawsuit.
Source: Lawrence Journal-World: LJWorld.com
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(posted in the News category)