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)

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I am having a new roof put on I would like to know is it better or whats better to use light or dark. Thanks for your time. Carol, Mt Cllemens, MI

Q. I am having a new roof put on, and I hear a lot of opinions about the right color to use. Some say dark, others say light is the only way, because it reflects heat. Is there any hard and fast rule that applies to color? Carol, Mt Cllemens, MI

A. Color is a matter of taste, so no rules apply. In Southern climes, light or white is best because it does reflect the long, intense heat of summer there. This does not apply in Northern climates, especially if the attic is well vented.

So it boils down to aesthetics, at least in the North. And if you want my opinion, which you asked for, black is the color of my truly loved house. Black tends to settle a tall house down, fooling the eye to sort of hug the lot. And it does even more for a one-story ranch, making it look like a natural part of the landscape. Light roofs make a house look rather blah.Good Luck, Murray

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Murray, every year I have ice dams on my roof. Why does this happen and how do I stop it. It’s causing mold inside my home. I loved your radio show and I can't wait till you get back on. Thanks for all you help over the years. John, West Bloomfield, M

John, ice dams cause many thousands of dollars of damage for homeowners a year. To explain it simply, we must first understand when hot air rises it melts the snow on the roof and runs down to the eves and freezes, that’s when the problem starts with ice dames. I think it’s easier to show you on the PDF file I’ve posted. As you will see a lot of things are going on under your roofline. Good luck. Murray -- SEE HOW ICE DAMS FORM-- http://www.murraygula.com/IceDams.jpg

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I have a flat roof on my building and it constantly has leaks. What type of roof system should I consider? - Ann of Berkley, MI

Bobson Construction has their exclusive Polybond Roof System guaranteed for 12 years. I have this roof on my own building and I just coated it with the new Elastromeric Coating which I know will make it last longer because it will protect it from the damaging UV rays from the sun. - Murray

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I am considering having a new roof installed on my home. What should I look for in a Roofing Contractor? - Barbara of Detroit, MI

The first thing is hiring a licensed well-established company that specializes in roofing. A roof is perhaps the most important home improvement a homeowner must consider. The roofing contractor should not only give you a quote but should also show you the many new improved designs and materials available today. A new roof put on by the right company that knows how to install, for instance a dimensional shingle will make the house look great. Thanks, Murray

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My shingles are curling – Do I need a new roof? – Doris of Birmingham, MI

When shingles reach a certain age in their life the first sign of wear is curling or cupping. You should have a company inspect not only the shingles but the ventilation as well to see if the cause is the shingle or heat on the underside of the deck causing this to happen. If you call Bobson Construction at 248-357-1240 their inspectors would be more than glad to validate your problem and to give you a price on a new roof. –Murray

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I have a roof leak – What should I do?

Call an expert like Bobson Construction, to determine if a new roof is necessary or if it is possible to make a repair. (248) 357-1240. Good Luck. Murray

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Keeping gutters free of debris?

Q: I live in a wooded area and I’m sick and tired of climbing ladders to clean my gutters. I don’t feel safe doing it and it’s a really messy job that I don’t like. What options do I have to keep debris out of my gutters?

A: Budget Generators offers a few innovative, yet affordable solutions to your problem. Give them a call at 586-530-6118 or 248-722-5090 to set up an appointment so they can come out and explain which type of gutter protector is right for you. As a special bonus, when you have your gutter protection installed by Budget Generator they will thoroughly clean your gutter first at no extra charge. They can also repair any problem areas you may have while they are doing the installation. - Murray

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How to hiring a roofing contractor

Q: I am considering having a new roof installed on my home. What should I look for in a Roofing Contractor? -Barbara of Detroit, MI

A: The first thing is hiring a licensed well-established company that specializes in roofing. A roof is perhaps the most important home improvement a homeowner must consider. The roofing contractor should not only give you a quote but should also show you the many new improved designs and materials available today. A new roof put on by the right company that knows how to install, for instance a dimensional shingle will make the house look great. Thanks, Murray

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Curling Shingles

Q: My shingles are curling – Do I need a new roof? –Doris of Birmingham, MI

A: When shingles reach a certain age in their life the first sign of wear is curling or cupping. You should have a company inspect not only the shingles but the ventilation as well to see if the cause is the shingle or heat on the underside of the deck causing this to happen. If you call Bobson Construction at 248-357-1240 their inspectors would be more than glad to validate your problem and to give you a price on a new roof. –Murray

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Roof leak

Q: I have a very bad roof leak – What should I do? Joy. Detroit

A: Call an expert to determine if a new roof is necessary or if it is possible to make a repair. Be sure to contact your insurance company to see if the damage under the roof is covered under you insurance policy. I hope this helps. Murray Gula

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