Does My Brand-New Home Have Mold?
One of the many advantages of buying something new is that it all works like it’s supposed to. There aren’t any hidden maintenance issues, no deterioration or neglect; it all functions as it should and allows you to have peace of mind moving forward.
Concerns regarding mold growth and a new home might seem unreasonable. Mold after all requires plumbing leaks or water damage. Right? How would your brand-new home already have mold? Unfortunately, mold is a very common problem with homes built in wet conditions and we inspect brand new homes with mold issues on a weekly basis. You can read in more detail about this problem here:
What typically occurs is that during the framing process, rain or snow enters the building envelope and although the main structure dries out eventually, the crawlspace will continue to have standing water on the vapor barrier that goes unnoticed. Often crawlspace ventilation is not functioning until the build is complete (especially true if your home has a conditioned crawlspace) and this moisture has nowhere to go as it evaporates. The evaporating moisture condensates on the subfloor and rim joist and provides a perfect environment for mold to grow.
The crawlspace is hidden out of site and these issues can continue for quite some time before (if ever) the problem is noticed.
Aren’t these issues found in the required inspection processes?
While new construction undergoes multiple inspections throughout the building process, the timing and parameters of these inspections allow for mold to go undetected much of the time. The framing underfloor inspection typically occurs after the crawlspace structure is framed in and immediately the subfloor is installed. This inspection takes place before mold has a chance to begin growing and then the crawlspace remains uninspected for multiple months following. Typically, the crawlspace will be inspected again to receive a Certificate of Occupancy, but many inspectors do not include inspecting behind subfloor insulation or rim joist insulation within their inspection parameters. Even if they do, it is nearly impossible to inspect behind every piece of insulation, making isolated mold issues hard to discover.
Who’s at fault?
Typically, the builder will be responsible for addressing any mold issues found within the structure during the building process. This responsibility normally only lasts during construction and during the included warranty provided by the builder. If the mold is discovered outside of this window the homeowner may be on the hook for a very expensive remediation bill.
How does a builder avoid these costly mistakes?
If you are a builder looking to avoid these problems from occurring in the first place, there are a few simple (but crucial) steps that will help prevent mold from growing in you new home.
Ventilation will help combat almost any microbial issues. If you have a moisture intrusion problem with your construction, establishing airflow and placing the structure under negative pressure will direct evaporating moisture out of the building while drying the wet materials.
Removing standing water will reduce the amount of water contributing to high humidity as it evaporates. Small areas of standing water (10 gallons or less) are likely fine and can evaporate without significantly elevating the humidity in the crawlspace. Large areas of water should be drained beneath the vapor barrier or removed from the structure with an extraction pump.
Addressing any issues quickly will save time and money. Noticing the problem before it spreads throughout the crawlspace or before insulation is installed will save thousands of dollars in remediation costs. One of the highest costs of a crawlspace remediation job is removing and replacing contaminated insulation.
Don’t be afraid of having a mold inspection performed. Mold is often seen as an invisible boogeyman that can give builders and contractors frustrating headaches. Find an inspector that you can establish a working relationship with and who can help you work through the process in an efficient and effective manner. The cost of a mold inspection may end up saving you thousands of dollars and will give your buyer peace of mind at the same time.
Inspections can save time and money
How do home buyers protect themselves from mold damage?
Buyers can help reduce the risk of purchasing a home with microbial damage by making sure proper steps are being taken during the building process and by requesting the needed inspections at the correct time.
If you can visit the site during construction, you can get a good feel for whether the builder is taking proper precautions to ensure that the structure is dried out properly and that they understand your concerns regarding mold growth.
Requesting inspections to be done prior to installation of insulation, prior to occupying the home, and prior to your builder warranty expiration will help ensure that your new house is not contaminated with mold growth and give you peace of mind living in your new home.
Building in wet conditions is a reality that must be dealt with and isn’t a problem if proper precautions are taken. Working with your builder in an understanding way that allows for both parties to get through the construction process successfully will help avoid conflict and lawsuits down the road.
