Murray, just how bad can mold be in our home if we leave it unchecked. John C. Birmingham, MI

John I thought it would be more interesting to read what happened to this family in Daniel Island, Washington.

Mold drives family from 'dream' home

Expert says repairs could cost more than $100,000

By Prentiss Findlay (Contact) The Post and Courier Sunday, July 6, 2008

Benjamin and Joy Allen's dream home in Etiwan Park on Daniel Island has turned into something of a nightmare. Above: Terrence Tully with Moisture Control Experts must wear a respirator in the house while he examines it for mold.

Benjamin and Joy Allen's dream home in Etiwan Park on Daniel Island has turned into something of a nightmare. Above: Terrence Tully with Moisture Control Experts must wear a respirator in the house while he examines it for mold.
Rotten wood is visible between the exterior and interior walls of the house.

Rotten wood is visible between the exterior and interior walls of the house.
Benjamin Allen moved his family to Daniel Island in 2005 from the Washington area, where he worked in national security for the Bush Administration.

Benjamin Allen moved his family to Daniel Island in 2005 from the Washington area, where he worked in national security for the Bush Administration.
The Allens had their home tested for mold after they noticed it growing on the home's exterior.

The Allens had their home tested for mold after they noticed it growing on the home's exterior.

Anyone entering the home of Benjamin and Joy Allen on Daniel Island must wear a protective mask.

At first it appears that a family lives there, like they just stepped out for a while. The kids' rocking horse and stuffed animals are there. The kitchen is well-stocked. But a large rectangular hole has been cut into a wall.

"This is the worst I've found on Daniel Island," said Terrence Tully, owner of Moisture Control Experts of Summerville. The wheezing respirator he wears muffles his voice as he talks about the family's mold problem.

The Allens paid Tully $2,280 to test their home for mold May 26 when they noticed it growing on the outside of the house. When the results came back, they abruptly left what they considered their dream home on the advice of their doctor. They have been living with friends since May 30.

Tully discovered mold, which essentially is a fungus, on the inside of walls of the Allen home. That was bad news because the walls are made of porous material that allows mold spores to spread to the rest of the house via the heating and cooling system.

Moisture seeped into the home's walls, creating a wet environment conducive to mold because, Tully thinks, window flashing was not properly installed. Flashing is material that fills the space between the edge of a window and vinyl siding that prevents wind-driven rain from getting inside walls.

Tully said fixing the mold problem could cost more than $100,000. He has done limited testing at the Allen home because of the expense, cutting into some walls to evaluate the situation. "You don't know what you have until you start opening it up," he said.

If the Allens move back home, Tully said that anything porous in the house must be removed. That includes furniture, bedding and carpeting. Insulation must be removed from the interior walls. Windows and doors must be fixed to prevent another moisture problem. And the area must be fogged with a chemical to kill mold, he said.

In the meantime, the Allens are living day-to-day. Their daughters, Madeleine, 3, and Ellie, 4, cry themselves to sleep because they don't understand why they left their home, and why they can't have their stuffed animals, Joy Allen said.

Because of their disrupted home life, the daughters become upset when their mother leaves for her job as a music therapist at Trident Regional Medical Center.

"They're normally not like that," she said. "They're scared. They're absolutely scared. They don't want to go to bed at night. They want their rooms."

A next-door neighbor of the Allens, David Pittman, said the Allens' apparent problems with their D.R. Horton-built house have caused him to be concerned about his D.R. Horton-built house.

"We need to determine if we have problems with the house. We've spoken with an attorney," Pittman said.

Another neighbor said she had problems with her D.R. Horton house but could not discuss them on the record because of a confidentiality agreement she signed with the company as part of a settlement.

Representing D.R. Horton, attorney Kyle Dillard of the Greenville office of the law firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart released a statement saying the builder was first notified of the Allens' concerns in a letter from their lawyer, Patrick McDonald.

Dillard's statement said the company has arranged for the Allen house to be inspected, at D.R. Horton's expense, by a third-party professional engineer.

"Once the engineer has provided us with his opinions and recommendations, we will discuss with Mr. Allen's lawyer how to most appropriately address Mr. Allen's concerns. Horton is hopeful that Mr. Allen's concerns can be resolved in a timely manner to the mutual satisfaction of both parties," he said in the e-mailed statement.

The Allens said they purchased the 1,580-square-foot home, their first, for $419,000 and moved here in August of 2005 from the Washington D.C. area.

Benjamin Allen, 33, who is disabled from multiple sclerosis, said he was a special assistant for national security in the Bush Administration.

The Allens live at 100 Jordan Court in the Etiwan Park neighborhood. The home was built eight years ago, and two other homeowners lived there before the Allens purchased it.

"This was going to be our dream home. We scraped together every penny we could for this home," Joy Allen said.

They owe about $390,000 on the mortgage, Benjamin Allen said.

Joy Allen, 32, provided a copy of a June 5 letter from their family physician, Lucy Davis, of Palmetto Primary Care Physicians on Daniel Island. In the letter, Davis said it was her medical opinion that the Allens should move out of the home until the source of a water leak is repaired and all current mold is removed.

"The possibility of this causing detriment to their health or worsening current health problems of Mr. Allen and his daughters is great," Davis wrote.

She described the levels of mold and mildew infestation uncovered as a result of a May 26 inspection of the house as "very concerning."

Hayes Microbial Consulting of Midlothian, Va., analyzed the mold spore samples that Tully collected May 26 in the Allen home.

Steve Hayes, owner of Hayes Microbial Consulting, said mold problems can happen because of moisture in walls. The heating and cooling system sucks mold spores from inside the porous walls and spreads them in the house, he said.

Hayes said that 99 percent of mold-related health problems are caused by allergies.

"It can be really debilitating. It's nothing to ignore. It's been proven that mold is an asthma trigger," he said.

The Allens said their youngest daughter has had serious respiratory problems. They have taken her to emergency rooms several times, including on Christmas Eve, and have been living from one doctor's appointment to another, they said.

"Her medical condition has been awful," Benjamin Allen said.

Rodney Whitehouse, owner of Cardinal Home Inspections of Summerville, said he inspected the Allen house on July 21, 2005, before they purchased it.

"Any type of moisture issue we had seen at the time we would have reported. There was no sign of mold or moisture at the time of the inspection," Whitehouse said.

In the high heat and humidity of the Lowcountry, a large outbreak of mold can develop in as little as 24 hours, Whitehouse said.

If you have a similar problem Contact the Home Improvement Team @ (800) 998-FIX IT (3494)

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

I have a 1940 brick home. My walls have no insulation and are cold. Is it best to insulate them from the inside? David, Canton, MI

Insulating the home from the inside should only be done if the home is being remodeled for other reasons. Even then it's usually not the best method. The proper way is to drill small holes within the mortar joints between bricks. After the insulation is blow into the wall cavities the mortar is repaired to its prior condition. - Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

My basement is damp in the summer. I run a dehumidifier most of the time. I had all my foundation leaks and drainage repaired and the problem still exists. How can I stop the humidity other than dehumidify? Carol, Southfield, MI

Excessive humidity is commonly caused by excessive air changes of the building. As this cycle occurs, the warm moisture latent outdoor air is drawn into the cool basement increasing the relative humidity. The faster the air changes the harder it becomes to condition the space, as the same is true for heating and cooling. Insulating, sealing and proper venting of the building can resolve this problem. - Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

Will ice & water shield installed on my roof resolve my ice dam problems? Mark, Wayne, Mi

It may stop water intrusion caused by ice dams, however, the root cause is usually attic insulation and ventilation deficiencies. This problem left un-resolved can lead to water damage and an early roof replacement. - Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

I recently had a home inspection done on a home that I’m considering for purchase. The home inspector said that I needed more ventilation in my attic. What type of ventilation do you recommend? Joe, From Grandblanc, MI

Proper attic ventilation is critical to keep the insulation dry for peek performance as well as to prevent condensation and ice dams. Ventilation needs vary with ceiling, roof and eave design as well as other conditions. Vents also vary by style, type and CFM (cubic feet per minute) of free airflow. Your ventilation system should be designed by someone who has an excellent grasp of the different types of vents available and how they perform as well as quanity and location of these vents. One last thought, with proper ventilation your shingles will last longer and will help deter mold growth in the attic. - Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

What insulation R-values should we try to achieve in our home? John B. Bloomfield Hills, MI

R-values can be misleading. Most energy waste is due to excessive air leaks throughout the house, which result in a high rate of unnecessary air change. Some insulation types such as fiberglass has been proven to loose its R-value as the temperature differential from in-doors to outdoors increases. There for, it is best to use insulation products which provide stable effective R-values such as cellulose, while paying close attention to details to provide a good seal at all critical points within your home. - Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

Murray will cellulose insulation settle over time? Mary, Marine City, MI.

If blown in too fluffy in the attic or wall cavities the chances of settling are likely. I asked Ken at Kenco how they prevent this problem. Kenco uses only direct pressure industrial blowing machines allowing nominal settling of attic insulation while wall cavities and enclosed spaces are filled @ 2 times greater density than the weight of the insulation, making it impossible to settle without other causes such as direct water intrusion. - Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

I currently have fiberglass insulation in my attic. Should it be removed prior to re-insulating? Carol, Hills Dale

Unless your existing insulation contains unsafe levels of asbestos or is contaminated with mold, rodent feces, etc., it is not necessary or cost effect to remove all the existing insulation. However, removal is required at all critical points to achieve a healthy and effective air seal and thermo barrier. - Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

My son has health problems with allergies and asthma. What insulation products do you recommend? Greg, Southfield, MI

Cellulose insulation is best, but only when it contains all borate blended fire retardants. It is EPA registered for mold resistance and passes all Healthy Home tests sponsored by the American Lung Association. - Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)

What type of insulation do you recommend for my home? John, Thank You, Upland Hills, MI

Although they offer most leading products, in most cases they will recommend blown or sprayed cellulose insulation for new and existing homes. When cellulose is installed it fills stud & joist cavities 100% leaving no voids or gaps as most other insulations do. It is made from recycled paper. It’s stable unlike some foam products that break down over time. It’s healthy unlike mineral products like fiberglass, known as class one carcinogens. When installed correctly it substantially reduces air infiltration saving you energy and money.- Murray

Posted by Murray Gula, WXYZ.com | Permalink | Comments (0)