|
|
Mold: This Damp House
A Long Beach Police post, Ed McMahon’s home and an Agoura Hills high school may all be polluted with toxic mold spores according to the Los Angeles Times. While the health risks are out of the scope of expertise of a structural engineer, an engineer can help you determine the source of the mold, and help keep it from forming. Moreover, the presence of mold suggests that serious moisture related structural problems may also exist.
The first step in eliminating moisture related problems from a structure is to find evidence of moisture. These include a musty odor, water stains or discoloration of wall or ceiling surfaces and mold growth on walls or carpet.
The location and circumstances surrounding the evidence of moisture can help determine the cause of the problem.
Example 1: Ceiling discoloration and a musty odor may be caused by a roof leak that has saturated attic insulation. A serious structural problem called dry rot can occur if the roof rafters absorb moisture from the damp insulation. (Dry rot is essentially a fungus that eats wood.) Roof rafters weakened by dry rot may not be capable of supporting the roof and should be repaired or replaced.
Example 2: Wall discoloration and carpet mold may be caused by improper window or door flashing, or by inadequate waterproofing on exterior walls. Stucco walls can absorb moisture from the ground or from poorly aimed sprinklers. Any ongoing moisture will provide a good environment for mold growth and may cause dry rot in wall studs or floor joists.
Example 3: Musty smells on ground floors, below grade floors or in bathrooms may be due to inadequate ventilation of damp areas. Any time an area retains moisture, mold and dry rot can form. For this reason, all bathrooms should have exterior windows or a working ventilation fan, and the Uniform Building Code requires all underfloor areas to have air vents.
If you are concerned about moisture or water intrusion, please contact a licensed civil or structural engineer. For more information about indoor air quality, consult the American Industrial Hygiene Association’s website at www.aiha.org or call (703) 849-8888.
| | | | | | | |
|
|
