How to break mold's grip on a home

A home’s walls may be alive, but not with music. Mold spores growing in a home can cause allergic reactions in adults, their pets and their kids. Fortunately, it can be easy to banish mold from houses.

The issue of mold continues to be an important topic to builders, homeowners and governmental agencies alike. Lately, it has reached an even higher level of awareness, as plans are made for rebuilding the Gulf Coast. Unfortunately, there is much confusion concerning mold, as well as effective solutions for preventing it.

Experts say the best way to avoid mold in a home is to control moisture. This often means running air conditioners or a dehumidifier during warm weather when humidity is highest. Here are some more things people can do to avoid mold in their homes:

• Keep kitchen and bathroom windows open, or use exhaust fans to move moisture outside.

• Make sure your clothes dryer is vented to the outdoors.

• Dehumidify the basement – the floor and walls can be a source of moisture buildup.

• Similarly, be sure the attic is ventilated.

• Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces by adding insulation around windows, piping, exterior walls, roofing and floors.

• Act quickly if the basement or crawl space floods, both in terms of cleaning up and preventing future flooding.

• Mold-resistant materials play an important role in minimizing mold growth. However, unless mold-resistant products are installed in homes and buildings that are designed, built and maintained properly, they offer little protection against mold.

To help fight mold, the Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition (RSMC) was launched recently through a grant by USG Corporation, a leading building products manufacturer. RSMC is an industry wide coalition formed to communicate accurate information to both the construction industry and homeowners about how to control moisture, and thereby control mold, in commercial and residential construction.

For additional tips on eliminating mold from your home, visit the RSMC Web site at http://www.responsiblemoldsolutions.org.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center