Mold / mildew behind plasterboard of cabin in Canada

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I am renovating a small cabin - trying to get it down to the frame and outer wall to insulate. Took off a layer of panelling, then a layer of plaster board to discover that there is no frame - just a wall of layered timber - and, mold and mildew at the top of wall.

Is there anything I can do to get rid of it? Someone said if it's black mold (I think its green and white, need to drive out tomorrow and check) that everything that it's on will have to be removed. Is that true?

What can I do that is environment and lung friendly?

Thanks!

Fifi in Canada

-- Fifi Heard (fifi67@telusplanet.net), August 31, 2001

Answers

Just remember tha tmold isn't very lung friendly!!!! I would suggest some major bleach treatments. We used to put it in a spray bottle and spray it on the ceiling, be sure and use good ventilation.

-- Susan n' Emily, in Tn (animalcrackers55@hotmail.com), August 31, 2001.

Sounds like you hav more problems then mold. The top of your wall is getting and staying wet somehow. Do you think it is roof leak or condensation from no insulation - vapor barrier?

-- ed (edfrhes@aol.com), September 01, 2001.

Thanks for your responses - I don't think there is a roof leak - when I had the place inspected there was no indication of a leak in that area.

It's on the west wall and that's the wall that recieves the blasts from the wind.

Fifi

-- Fifi Heard (fifi67@telusplanet.net), September 01, 2001.


Does your cabin have attic? Insulation up there? Perhaps you have moisture build up and need to vent it. If warm moist air gets up there and can not get out you will get water when it touches something cold. Now that you have the wall open you will be able to see if it comes in with the rain.

-- ed (edfrhes@aol.com), September 01, 2001.

Ed it stressing an important point. Take measures to keep the area dry, so that it doesn't recur.

-- rick K (rick_122@hotmail.com), September 01, 2001.


could be a leaky roof,poor building,excessive humidity,all of the above or something else. You mentioned it the west side where the wind blows which means that when it rains hard with the wind blowing rain could be getting up under the soffitt and then sitting there on top of the timbers. check to see if properly chaulk or loose boards or shingles.

To clean any type of mold,you will have to wear gloves and mask when cleaning. use a non-ammonia soap or detergent mixed with hot water,thoroughly scrub all contamianated surfaces of the timber wall (using alot of cleaner) with a stiff brush,rinse all surfaces with clean water. Then after cleaning apply a disinfectant or a mixture of water & bleach.(2 cups bleach to 1 gallon of water)then again thoroughly clean everywhere the mold was and surrounding area,do not rinse off leave it on and let dry for 6 to 8 hrs or overnight. You should put new dry wall up and also new paneling if your redoing it the same.And maybe a studs for better ventilation against a timber wall like that.

-- TomK(mich) (tjk@cac.net), September 01, 2001.


Thanks, everybody.

There is an attic, but no insulation as of yet. The inspector said he could see no leaks anywhere in the attic except for an old one over the kitchen wall from a tree rubbing on the roof. (Good Grief! What am I going to find when I open that wall?!)

I am going to go up today to see what color the mold is - and I'm going to check the other 2 outer walls in that room. I am hoping it is just a west wall problem. I'll see if it goes up behind the ceiling.

I'm assuming that if there is no black mold then it is safe to clean and carry on. (Will purchase a mask ventilator and good rubber gloves on my way up.)

There is siding on the outside - that is why I didn't know that it was just timber underneath.

Aach!

Thanks again for your responses.

Fifi

-- Fifi Heard (fifi67@telusplanet.net), September 01, 2001.


If it proves to be an ongoing problem, I would suggest making a permanent access into the space (leave a panel un-nailed, but rather just velcro into place, or what have you), then stuff a couple of those basement drying bags of whatever it is that sucks up moisture in the space back there. Take them out regularly and "recharge" them according to directions, then replace. This would at least keep it from recurring, even if you can't eliminate the source of the problem.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 01, 2001.

Well! Went up today - found that there wasn't as much mold as appeared to be. Most of the white streaks were paper from the back of the plaster board. The mold that there was was green and white.

The log has a split in it in which the moisture got in (no leak in attic - phew!)

I followed instructions and washed it with detergent first - almost everything came right off with little scrubbing. Then I scrubbed it down with the bleach/water solution. Need to take a spray bottle with me next time and spray bleach in the crack.

I am very relieved!!

I have discovered, tho, that this is a log cabin under all the siding, and plasterboard. Have to figure out how to patch the crack and insulate - but that's another topic thread!

Thanks again for all your advice - MUCH appreciated!

Fifi

-- Fifi Heard (fifi67@telusplanet.net), September 02, 2001.


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