Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> House Mold is Getting fixed!!! Update
        
(Message started by: Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 12:35pm)

Title: House Mold is Getting fixed!!! Update
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 12:35pm

My house is 3 1/2 year old.

Wed last week, we noticed that the mirror (40 inch) over our double vanity in the master bath started pulling away from the wall and slide behind the marble countertop. We called the builder out and they said that the counter was not installed correctly. So Friday they took the mirror down and Monday (the 10th) the guy came and reset the countertop. The other side of the wall is our master bedroom. Last night my husband walks into our closet and stepped in water. He pulled back the carpet along the wall and there is black mold about 6 inches into the padding. The tack boards along the wall are rotted out and black.

Hubby turned off the water main and they came out and sealed off my closet and bathroom saying that everything in my closet needs to be washed and that they will have to tear out all the vinyl flooring. Because it is bubbled and there is water under it. That they will have to tear out the walls and cabinets between the closet and bathroom. And they are hoping that it has not soaked into the floor and into the ceiling of the garage because that means that they have tear that apart as well.

I guess it is a good thing that Shaun is still out of work beacuse he is home so that they can fix this quickly.

The worst part is that I have 2 huge fans running in my closet and bathroom to dry them out with a tube hanging out of my window. It is Vegas in the middle of the hottest part of summer and my AC is just cranking. I am not looking forward to this next power bill. Right now I have the water main turned off with a dog, cat and 2 small kids in the house. This is sooooo much fun.

I told Shaun that a lawyer would have a hay day with this. I'm sure they could find a way to blame the mold on my kids asthma that has gotten worse since moving into the house and my HA that started 3 yrs ago. I dont want to deal with lawyers though, I just want my house fixed. :-/

Anyone have any suggestions on other things we should have them check out so we dont miss anything?

PF Blessings
-Tia

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by alchemy on Jul 12^th, 2006, 12:44pm

Tia, unfortunately out here in the west it seems mold is a huge problem. I know a family who's kids had asthma and it did get worse. you need to have the whole house checked including the ac ducts. Send the company your power bill. hope everything works out alright
jim

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by tanner on Jul 12^th, 2006, 12:44pm

Tia, Call the builder back and let him know that you need him to come fix it and then he needs to have it inspected and certified. DO NOT let Shaun do the cleanup!!!

Any mold, but black mold in particular can be very dangerous and toxic to breathe or to even come in contact with.

I'm serious! This is not something to screw around with!

....Tim

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Cathi04 on Jul 12^th, 2006, 12:52pm

Tia-
A "sick" house (The term for a house with a toxic mold issue) can most definitely exacerbate an asthmatic condition-and that is the tip of the iceberg! Please get the builder out there ASAP! However, in this case, it could very well be a broken pipe that is leaking. Is your crawlspace dry?
Please find the source of all that moisture!
Keep us posted, please!

Cathi
edited to add- Tim is soo right! Please get this corrected!

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 12:53pm

We have called the builder and they are starting the clean up but Shaun is home to watch them, because we dont want them to take any short cuts. I want Shaun to take dig pics of everything and make sure that we have it for future, in case they dont get it all cleaned up and 3 years from now we have the same issue.

They are going to open up the wall - closet side - and try and get the leak fixed. They think that they guy setting the counter knocked something lose to cause the big water leak. But they have to see what is in the wall. Then they start the R&R.

I really dont want to think about what issues this has cause (or might have cause) health wise. It honestly scares the crap out of me.

The nice thing is that I used to work for the builder (I worked there for 3 yrs). And if they start himming and hahing, I will email the Regional President, my old boss, and get him involved.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by JeffB on Jul 12^th, 2006, 12:54pm

I moved from Vegas 2 years ago and back then when there was such a housing boom many home owners got pretty screwed. Seems houses were going up so fast that contractors left out quality. When there was a backlash against builders the city pretty much sat quiet because the builders claimed they couldn't keep up with demand if they had to back track and fight every thing in court. When my condo was a year old and had settled, I had a crack in my ceiling that ran the length of the house. 4 guys 4 different times came out to repair it. It never looked the same as when I bought it.
Get legal help, mold can make you pretty ill.
Also, been to carrabbas yet on Eastern in Henderson?

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 12:58pm

We live in Henderson actually. Trying to think what Carrabbas is?

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Margi on Jul 12^th, 2006, 1:01pm

Agreed, Tia.... my hubby is a contractor AND a clusterhead, so I am fully aware of all the lovely little issues that mold brings to the table.

First of all - see if you can get out of that house until the mold is gone. Your builder should foot the bill for a hotel room (and all other expenses including higher utility bills) for you until they have fixed this mold problem. If they won't do that for you....can you move yourselves into your basement or something? At least don't sleep in or near that room.

And don't let them just clean the mold off the drywall - you can't. Drywall is porous and even though it can be cleaned off the surface, it's already inside the drywall, trust me. The drywall in the bathroom and your closet needs to be replaced - maybe even the K3 board on the floor in the area too. It all needs to be ripped out - the leak fixed, THEN rebuilt. You should probably have all the clothes in that closet professionally cleaned as well (and send your builder the bill!)

Mold IS toxic. It DOES increase asthma symptoms and, for my Mike, it has launched him into cluster cycles. He will not go into a house with mold - he's learned the hard way that it can be devastating for him. Tanner's right - don't you let your hubby fix this - this is the builder's responsibility.

Sorry, don't mean to be an alarmist - it's just that Mike has dealt with a lot of mold here and we've seen some pretty devastating effects from it.

Not sure if you've heard the story of King Tut's tomb...the people that found it all died shortly after their discovery. Folklore was that it was the curse of the tomb. Science has proved that it wasn't a curse. It was the mold that escaped when the tomb was opened after all those years that killed those people. Not immediately, mind you - it took awhile.

I know you say you don't want to deal with lawyers, but it might be worth it if your builder gives you any grief over this. You might want to show them this:

http://sacramento.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2000/10/02/daily19.html

And here's just some info on toxic mold:

http://www.toxictortlawfirm.com/information/

just type in toxic mold to your web browser and see what you find.

I'm betting you'll all start feeling better, Tia, once you get this taken care of.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by JeffB on Jul 12^th, 2006, 1:16pm

on 07/12/06 at 12:58:55, Tiannia wrote:

We live in Henderson actually. Trying to think what Carrabbas is?

Best steaks and great Italian food in Henderson.
S.Eastern Ave near W. Horizon Ridge.
But do look into the builders history, I know lawsuits were being filed fast and furious when I was there. Who was the buider anyway? D.R. Horton?

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Cathi04 on Jul 12^th, 2006, 1:26pm

Hmmm.Jeff..that is the secret word around here.....

Tia, please say it's NOT DR Horton...somehow, in my neck of the woods......a 60 unit subdivision was completed....city granted certs of occupancy, and 6 of the houses NEVER got connected to sewer! Yes, I blame the city as well, but holy stench, Batman! They had to tear down several houses!

Cathi

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 1:29pm

on 07/12/06 at 13:16:38, JeffB wrote:

OK I do know the place. Have not eaten there but yes I have heard it is very very good.

hehe no not DR Horton, but they are still a client of mine. I moved from the builder to the engineering side of the Home Builder industry. The builder is Beazer Homes. I know that in 2003 they where still fighting a crap load of const defect suits when I left there.

I am sure that before they do anything, that the VP of Customer Service will be out to see the damage because it will be a hell of a bill to fix it. No one has said anything about us moving out. We dont have basements here, and there is really no where esle to sleep. If we have to I will move my daughter to her top bunk and we will sleep on the full futon under her until it is cleaned up.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by JeffB on Jul 12^th, 2006, 1:55pm

When I went to RC Willey to purchase a washer and dryer for my new home, the guy who installed them had a hard time connecting the drainage hose to the pipe thingamajig. He was sweating and cursing over this stupid hose, turns out he didn't remove the plug to the drain pipe and my hallway from the laundry room flooded. Took awhile but my new carpet was replaced with newer carpet. ;)

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Bob P on Jul 12^th, 2006, 2:14pm

Mold is way over rated. Of the thousands of types of mold, only two are toxic and they are rarely found. Heck, most lumber used to build new houses already has black mold on it from sitting in the lumber yard.

The important thing is to get rid of the moisture problem.

Mold is just a form of fungi. Maybe if ya brew some into tea it will stop your clusters.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 2:27pm

Well the Area Manager for Beazer just came out and said that they are 99% sure that they will cover everything. But they can not open the seal on the closet until the water/mold remediation guy gets there about noon. Then they can open up the wall and go from there.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by jimmers on Jul 12^th, 2006, 2:38pm

Tia,

From reading your post, I would highly doubt that all of the mold and rot that you describe has occured in just a matter of 5 days. I am sure that this problem has been there for quite awhile. Especially in Vegas, where the humidity isn't real high. Have them check for leaks around roof vents, drain pipes from the sinks or a leak somewhere inside the wall (My guess). It sounds to me like there was a mistake made during the plumbing process (Leaky joint) or during the drywall phase when one of the drywall screws was driven slightly into the pipe which creates a superfine mist of water, which was aggravated when the counter top was moved.

I am not a contractor, but I know quite a bit about these type of things.

Good luck,

Jimmers

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by tanner on Jul 12^th, 2006, 3:28pm

Tia, I'm with jimmers on this, it didn't just happen over night.
and while I have never yet disagreed with Bob P on a thread yet. My GM in Malibu was nearly killed by respiratory infections attributed to black mold and then died of a massive heart attack 1 yr. later. Of course there is nothing to say that one had anything to do with the other but.....

Bob lives in Henderson too doesn't he? Maybe he will switch houses with ya ;;D

........Tim

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Pinkfloyd on Jul 12^th, 2006, 3:36pm

on 07/12/06 at 14:14:44, Bob P wrote:

After years of looking for a BobP post that I could agree with, regarding mold/fungi.....it's finally happened.
Who knows what will happen next, but I'm going to check to make sure the sky hasn't fallen outside ;-)

Mold remediation became a big thing only after all the buildings in the US had all the asbestos removed (which was then found to have caused more trouble than it solved) and the guys in white space suits needed a job.

Yes, high mold spore counts can be bad and can cause health problems. It's most dangerous to people with pre-existing conditions. Thats why they give mold counts on the local weather here.

It's everywhere. I could check every home within 500 miles of me and find mold and mildew visibly growing in each one, somewhere. I could take air samples and find it in just about every home. High spore counts could be more of a problem in a place like vegas where people keep their homes shut tight to try and keep cool. Then again, if you have a good filter system on your a/c unit, the air inside may have a lower count than outside.

The Tut's Tomb story is a great example. Spores can (and do) remain viable for thousands of years, in a dry location. The mold or mildew only grew in this closet, once it got wet. The spores weren't in the pipes or the water.....the spores were there all along and began growing only after adding water.

Let the mold guys do their thing and let the builder pay for it. They can control the spread of large amounts of the spores when the area is repaired. That way you won't get as much mildew growing in your shower/tub. (not that you have any).

Bobw
When we're all gone, all that will remain are the cockroaches and mold spores.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 3:49pm

Agree Pink. I understand and that is why I am letting Beazer do thier thing. I only lite a fire under their arse when they wanted to take a few days to get to it. It is amazing what mentioning calling cell numbers of the VP and Pres at 7pm at night will do to get people to get it fixed (the leak) sonner rather then later.

Thanks everyone. Id rather have them check everything out and we be sure that all the moisture is out. My hubby is an ex superintendant for Beazer Homes so he knows what needs to be done to fix it right, not half assed.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Bob P on Jul 12^th, 2006, 4:04pm

Geez Pink, sounds almost like we're in the same business.

My guys don't go a day without having to hassle asbestos, lead or mold. All of which are much more of a PIA to work with than they are dangerous.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 4:12pm

ok one of the guys from Beazer said that if it is a loose fitting in the wall that they will not cover anything. That our home owners insurance needs to cover it.

WTF? Thier contractor does not install it right and the drywall goes in and we are going to have to foot the bill to fix any damage 3 years later? >:(

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses? UPDATE
Post by tonymelvin on Jul 12^th, 2006, 4:32pm

dont forget the stink pipe!!!! this is the pipe that goes out of your roof. at 3 1/2 years old they would have used pvc witch the mold will grow on and IN. bleach will kil alot of molds and you need to ask them to check it so that there is not a seed for it to regrow. good luck

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses?
Post by BobG on Jul 12^th, 2006, 4:40pm

on 07/12/06 at 15:36:08, Pinkfloyd wrote:

High spore counts could be more of a problem in a place like vegas where people keep their homes shut tight to try and keep cool.

Yep. And because Vegas has been growing so fast the builders have been forced (thanks to the ecofreaks) to use green/wet lumber for the last 10 years. It has been play catch-up with the mold and cracked walls ever since.
Maybe we could use a spotted owl as a sponge to clean up the fungi.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses? UPDATE
Post by Cathi04 on Jul 12^th, 2006, 5:46pm

:oHeyyy! I will NOT send you our spotted owls to correct your mold issues....we need them here, where they belong, keeping the foresters from emtying our forests!

WHAT are ya thinkin, Bob??? Sheesh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;;DCathi

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses? UPDATE
Post by JeffB on Jul 12^th, 2006, 5:59pm

It's just beyond me how anything can grow in that dust bowl called Vegas. I don't miss it at all, except for a nice steak at Carrabbas, and the buffet at th Green Valley Ranch, and the seafood buffet at the Palms,and hooters at the Sunset Station Casino, and the drum machine in NY,NY,and red rock canyon,and camping on Mt.Charleston,skiing on the lake,and the strippers........I guess I do miss Vegas a little.

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses? UPDATE
Post by BobG on Jul 12^th, 2006, 6:16pm

Cathi, I’ll trade you our pigeons for your owls. Deal or No Deal.

Jeff, You didn’t mention Carol’s Midnight Bunny Patch Ranch over in Pahrump. They have limo service.
For Tiannia’s mold problem maybe we can get some fried chicken from the Circus Circus buffet. That shit’ll kill anything!
;)

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses? UPDATE
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 8:04pm

Well I stirred the shit. I sent an email to the VP of Warranty Beazer LV, the VP of Construction Beazer LV and the Regional President for Beazer LV. These where the guys that I worked with Daily for 3 years. and the Pres is who helped me to afford the house and get into it with $5.00 out of pocket in 2002.

____________________________________________
Hi guys remember me? From Beazer Land for 3 yrs?

OK Some history here.

My house is 3 1/2 year old.

Near the beginning of July, we noticed that the mirror (40 inch) over our double vanity in the master bath started pulling away from the wall and slide behind the marble countertop. We called Beazer Warranty and they said that the counter was not installed correctly. So Friday (the 7th) they took the mirror down and Monday (the 10th) the guy came and reset the countertop. The other side of the wall is our master walk in closet. Last night my husband walks into our closet and stepped in water. He pulled back the carpet along the wall and there is black mold about 6 inches into the padding. The tack boards along the wall are rotted out and black.

Shaun turned off the water main. I called customer service. A mold remediation guy came out and said that the recent leak would not have caused the damage to the baseboards and tack boards. Guys came out and sealed off my closet and bathroom saying that everything in my closet needs to be washed and that they will have to tear out all the vinyl flooring. Because it is bubbled in the small toilet room (again adjoining the master sink wall) and there is water under it. That they might have to tear out the walls and cabinets between the closet and bathroom. And they are hoping that it has not soaked into the floor and into the ceiling of the garage because that means that they have tear that apart as well. The had 2 big blowers running in my closet and bathroom. They put plastic over my bathroom window and have the blower blowing out the window. The workers at our house said that the reason that the mirror and the countertop came off the wall was because the wall was wet.

So today, someone, in Beazer Homes Warranty department, talked to Shaun and tells him that Bill Harrison said that if it is a loose fitting in the wall that has been leaking, that Beazer will not fix this. That our homeowners insurance policy will need to fix it. This is after Loren told Shaun that he was 99% sure that Beazer would cover everything. Can you explain to me why if the contractor installed a fitting loose and it has leaked behind the drywall for who knows how long, it would be my fault and my homeowners insurance will have to cover this?

I am extremely confused and frustrated because now I have had over 24 hours with no water in a house with 2 small children a dog and cat, beside Shaun and myself and I have no water on in the house. Besides having my AC running with windows open, and these fans running for 24 hours running my power bill up the wall. All I want is my house to not have damage from inside the wall or caused by whatever the worker did Monday to fix the countertop. This was not work done by us. If this damage is from inside the wall, then I don't see why someone could not be back charged for not installing it correctly.

Please explain this to me. I do not want someone to decide that it is our fault and have all the workers leave, and I have to leave mold in my house, until the homeowners insurance can get this done. Besides not having the money to do this at this time.

Thank you for your help. I just did not who who else to turn to.
____________________________________________

Well at the same time I sent this email, the mold redemtiation guy opened the wall even though he was told not to by the CS guy from Beazer. And they found a a 2 1/2 inch galvanized brad nail in the supply water line. . Shaun called to tell me that it was all good that beazer was goingto have to take care of it. And I said well to late I already sent an email to god and everyone at Beazer.

30 mins later there where about 30 people at my house and Loren the Area Manager that had siad they where 99% sure... Was getting a call from the office. Bill Harrison they guy that said they would not do anything was in a closed door meeting with the VP of Warranty and the VP of Construction.

The Finish trim guy just cane by and surveyed the damage. And said yep it was his companies fault.

So the Demo is about complete. The guy comes in Friday to do the air test to make sure that everything that is supposed to be out, at the earliest.

The floor did not seep thru the sub floor and the crawl spaces are dry. The cabinets are toast, the oack fronts are ok. The vynil is gone. So we go from here and when they can start rebuilding it all we get our house back.

We have water. Now I just need them to pay for our power.

Thanks for all the comments and support.

/huggs Tia

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses? UPDATE
Post by Tiannia on Jul 12^th, 2006, 8:25pm

on 07/12/06 at 18:16:58, BobG wrote:

Bob I have missed you. /hugg

I'll give away pigeons for free no trade just take them and get rid of the flaying rats.

And you are right Circus Circus chicken grease.... oh wait that is actually the chicken isn;t it? well that would probabaly work well for bug spray cause I dont think even roaches would eat it.

Title: Re: House Mold is Getting fixed!!! Update
Post by jimmers on Jul 13^th, 2006, 10:19am

I was right again as usual! ;;D

Glad your getting it fixed Tia.

Jimmers

Title: Re: House Mold is Getting fixed!!! Update
Post by JeffB on Jul 13^th, 2006, 3:28pm

Glad things worked out for you and yours! I hope the power bill doesn't make your head explode! ;)

Title: Re: Anyone know about mold in houses? UPDATE
Post by JeffB on Jul 13^th, 2006, 3:31pm

on 07/12/06 at 18:16:58, BobG wrote:

LOL
No hookers for me, but I did rent the condo out to a stripper who has been a great tenant. No free lap dances tho. [smiley=huh.gif] [smiley=huh.gif]