Impact of Wet Moldy Basement on Other Building Areas
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Photographs show examples of a wet, moldy, rotted-framing sub basement that served as a moisture problem source for the whole building
How to inspect & test for mold in building basements
How to inspect & test for moldy basement insulation or basement contents & stored items
Questions & answers about the effect of wet basements and moldy basements on other building areas: movement of moisture and mold contamination through buildings
Wet moldy basement guide: this article describes the effects of a wet moldy basement on the rest of a building.
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This article includes photographs and text illustrating a very wet, moldy, rotted-framed sub-basement inspected by David Grudzinski, a Cranston RI professional home inspector and member of ASHI and NACHI. The wet conditions in this sub basement formed the principal moisture source in the building above, leading to a moldy attic that we describe at ATTIC MOLD CAUSES. Page top photo of a rotting, flooding, moldy sub basement, courtesy of Mr. Grudzinski.
This article is part of our series:
FIND MOLD in buildings, HOW TO which describes how to find mold and test for mold in buildings, including how and where to collect mold samples using adhesive tape - an easy,
inexpensive, low-tech but very effective mold testing method.
This procedure helps identify the presence of or locate the probable sources of mold reservoirs in buildings, and helps decide which of these need more
invasive, exhaustive inspection and testing.
Readers should also see ATTIC MOLD, see CRAWLSPACE MOLD, and BASEMENT MOLD.
BASEMENT WATER & MOLD IMPACT: how moisture & mold from a wet basement or crawl space travel up through the building living area and into the building attic or roof cavity
At BASEMENT MOLD we described visual clues that you can spot in a building basement or crawl space that show the leak history, water sources, and moisture sources in a building.
Mr. Grudzinski's photograph (left) shows severe rot and structural damage found in a building sub basement that had been exposed to periodic flooding. Moisture from this area traveled upwards through the rest of the building where it was also a key contributor to ATTIC MOLD.
Grudzinski's page top photo (above) shows more collapsing framing as well as mold growth. This sub basement was dangerous even to enter, and conditions there apparently indicated a threat of structural collapse of the floor above.
"In the basement of home, a small door in the floor was found. There was a sub basement. The form were still present. The rot and mold was extensive. This white mold was al over, and the room was very humid. " - D.G.
Grudzinski found the sub basement so wet, in fact, that his camera lens fogged up between photos, as he demonstrates in this photograph.
"Some of the forms used to pour the sub basement were still in place. Some rotted and fell. Notice the fog. In the time it took to take 2 pictures, the camera fogged again."
Careful examination of these clues, such as leak stain patterns, can also make clear whether water is entering a basement from the ground level (maybe bad gutters and downspouts?) or from a lower source such as ground water or a hidden spring.
"As you can see form the water mark, this sub basement has been subjected to flooding, [probably recurrent flooding.] "
More on basement or crawl space leak prevention and drying out procedures can be read at CRAWL SPACE DRYOUT PROCEDURES.
If there is visible mold on other basement, sub basement, or crawl space surfaces, don't forget to also check
the condition of the occupied spaces above for mold or other IAQ problems that may be caused or aggravated by wet building conditions - MOLD APPEARANCE - WHAT MOLD LOOKS LIKE
the conditions in the building attic or roof spaces where moisture may be trapped - see ATTIC MOLD CAUSES
the condition of building insulation in those areas that
during a mold remediation the insurance company, mold consultant, or mold remediator may want to leave in place because it "looks clean".
the overall condition of the building for evidence of rot, and insect damage, structural movement, or even risk of structural collapse
In the photograph shown
here, not only was there extensive Stachybotrys chartarum contamination visible as "black mold" on the
basement drywall, a special vacuum test of the fiberglass insulation in this basement ceiling disclosed high levels of Aspergillus versicolor, Aspergillus sp., & Penicillium sp..
Basements and crawl spaces that have been wet or exposed to high moisture are common reservoirs of hidden mold such as moldy insulation. Also see INSULATION MOLD.
Photo - Daniel Friedman.
Questions & Answers regarding this article
Questions & answers about the effect of wet basements and moldy basements on other building areas: movement of moisture and mold contamination through buildings.
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Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home",
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
Allergies, Allergens, Allergy Testing in buildings - References & Products
Allergen Tests in buildings advice about how to test, what to look for, in evaluating the level of dog, cat, or other animal allergens in a building
"IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA
http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
http://www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory.
Allergens: Testing for the level of exposure to animal allergens is discussed at http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/diagnosis.shtml (lab animal exposure study is interesting because it involves a higher exposure level in some cases
Allergens: WebMD discusses allergy tests for humans at webmd.com/allergies/allergy-tests
Animal Allergens: Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Cleanup & Prevention Information for Asthmatics and regarding Indoor Air Quality.
Recognizing Allergens: What various indoor allergens look like - identification photos to help identify pollen, dust mites, animal dander, toxic or allergenic mold - Common Mold and other Allergens, Irritants, Remedies & Advice
Rodent control issues, including dander, fecal, and urine contamination of buildings and Building insulation are discussed at our
Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon) - The Atlas of Clinical Fungi is also available on CD ROM
Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
Black Mold that is Harmless Photos of recognizable, usually harmless black mold on wood, bluestain, ceratocystis, ophistoma
Building Floods: quick steps after a building flood or plumbing leak can prevent costly mold contamination
Classes of Mold: what types of cosmetic, allergenic, or toxic mold are a problem? Can mold be cleaned-up successfully?
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
"Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
"Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens,"
Patricia Donald,
Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology,
Lewis Jett
Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold" remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Rot concerns in buildings-some building mold such as Meruliporia incrassata "Poria" risks serious rot and hidden structural damage
US EPA: Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
OTHER IAQ ISSUES: How To Find and Address Other Indoor Air or Indoor Environment Contaminants Besides Mold
Mold or allergens may not be the only or even the main indoor environmental contaminant. Don't let media attention to mold
cause so much enviro-scare fear that other, possibly more urgent hazards go un-addressed.
Ozone Warnings - Use of Ozone as a "mold"
remedy is ineffective and may be dangerous.
Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the
areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic
bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details
see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings,
and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating
the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing
rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some
help from a licensed pest control expert.
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