ST. CHARLES COUNTY (KMOV.com) — Ruth Ann Koch’s mother has lived in her West Alton home for decades.

READ: ‘This is just unacceptable;’ West Alton residents frustrated with low-lying roads covered with floodwaters

“Its home, she’s lived her most her life,” Koch says of her 94-year-old mother.

On Tuesday, Koch walked through her mom’s home with Jared Agee, the director of the St. Charles County Building and Code Enforcement.

Agee says they have done around 3,400 initial inspections, many by air, of the damage caused by the flooding from the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. But by law, they must complete detailed assessments before homeowners can start cleaning up and repairing. It is also required for any kind of FEMA aid.

While the water may be gone it’s left behind mold. Koch’s mother’s home is covered in mold, from the cabinets, to the furniture, to the walls.

The mold plus the fact that the electrical wiring is all wet caused the department to put an “unsafe” sticker on the home.

According to St. Charles County, if the building is deemed inhabitable, homeowners must obtain permits to make any repairs and those repairs must be inspected and approved before the county will deem it safe for occupancy.

Agee says they have done roughly 250 detailed inspections, and they know there are many more to be done but they need homeowners to call.

“We’ve got staff to come out and do these detailed assessments, but we need to know where to go, we need to know where the water is out of the property so we can safely enter it and get it done,” Agee said.

To schedule an inspection, please call 636-949-7345.

source https://www.kmov.com/news/st-charles-co-inspectors-must-do-damage-assessments-on-thousands/article_a696c558-a2c1-11e9-976f-a724b6332592.html

A kitchen fire at an apartment complex for seniors in Winter Haven, Florida recently caused the evacuation of over 200 residents as firefighters and the building’s sprinkler system put out the fire. While little damage was caused by the actual flames, water damage was reported in approximately 50 units.The senior residents of those units will be temporarily displaced until their homes are once again habitable. Making sure all the water and moisture is properly removed is essential as significant water damage in a multistory building can impact large areas of the structure as the water seeks its way to the lowest level. This type of water incursion can be visible, but may also occur in areas that are out of sight, such as behind walls, ceilings, cabinets and under floors. Moisture that remains for more than 48 hours often results in the growth of mold. Once mold begins to grow, even when it is in areas that are not visible, it can impact the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) of the building.“Exposure to elevated levels of mold can cause a host of health effects for people who live or work in a contaminated building,” said Jason Dobranic, Ph.D., Vice President of Microbiology and Life Sciences at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Senior citizens and others with a weakened or suppressed immune system are often at greater risk than others. Mold can cause allergies and be a trigger for some suffering from asthma. It also acts as an airborne irritant and can make it more difficult to manage conditions like COPD. Some species of mold, such as various types of Aspergillus, can even cause infections in vulnerable populations.”

source https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=243550

The problem — when we pump cold air through our home’s ducts — combined with warm, humid air on the outside — we create condensation and moisture that can lead to mold.

So what can you do to keep your home cool while at the same time fight off moisture and mold that can make you and your family sick?

The local mold experts at AdvantaClean, the leading national franchise of indoor air quality, can come to your newsroom with visual props and discuss how to protect their homes against mold and hazardous conditions during the humid season.

They have created a moisture and mold battle plan to share with your viewers — five tips to fight mold and humidity.

5 tips to fight mold and humidity

Monitor the humidity monitor: An indoor digital humidity monitor can give a quick and accurate measurement of the humidity within a home. For greatest comfort and to best reduce the bacteria and odors, humidity levels in the home should be kept between 40 and 55 percent. A humidity monitor can be purchased for less than $15.

Beware of your air: Run air conditioning systems running from May through the end of October and keep the fan setting on “Auto”. Leaving the fan setting on “On” runs the system continuously and can cause moisture condensed on the air conditioner coil to be blown back into the home.

Rein in rain: Add gutters to the roof of the house and downspouts at the base to redirect rainwater away from the house’s foundation.

Build a barrier: If your house has a crawlspace, make sure the floor has a vapor barrier, which is a plastic covering that lays on top of the dirt surface. This prevents moisture from the dirt floor from evaporating and seeping through into the air beneath the home. This also protects against problems caused by excess moisture like mold, odors, insects and wood rot.

Cover your crawlspace: Crawlspaces can be professionally encapsulated by sealing the walls and floor with a thick, plastic wrapping and installing a dehumidifier to set the appropriate humidity levels. The relative humidity in a house should not exceed 50 percent.

Move on mold: In many cases you can see or smell mold. It is most often green or black in color and has a “musty” or “earthy” smell, somewhat like the forest floor deep in the woods. In that case use an antimicrobial mixture made up of household items such as hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or baking soda to kill or prevent the growth of mold. Spray the mixture onto the mold area and remove with a scrub brush or disposable rag while wearing protective covering such as face masks, gloves and shoe covers.

Mold — The frightening fast facts

Mold grows quickly: It only takes 24 to 48 hours to grow and spread in wet, warm conditions.

Undetectable: Excessive moisture behind walls, under floors, or in cabinets or closets are perfect breeding grounds for mold. This is mold that you often can’t see or smell but it can make you and your family very sick.

Bleach can’t kill it: Applying bleach can actually promote more mold growth on porous surfaces. A more effective treatment is an antimicrobial mixture made up of household items such as hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or baking soda.

Mold claims: Damage can cost as much as $10,000, and most insurance carriers will not cover the cost of mold removal.

Symptoms of mold exposure: Severe body aches, joint pain, nausea, chronic and sometimes serious respiratory issues. These symptoms can develop quickly, or over time.

People at risk: The very young, the very old, people with compromised immune systems. Mold can be deadly among these groups of people.

source http://www.norwalkreflector.com/Health-Care/2019/07/09/Humid-weather-brings-threat-of-mold-in-local-homes.html

The Flood Co., a mold testing Layton Utah service provider, has announced that they have recently posted an article on their blog page, which warns that roof damage can lead to water damage. And when there is water damage, particularly on the roof and nearby areas, this will likely result also into mold damage. Thus, mold testing is also often recommended. This is to determine the type of mold that is present, the levels of mold spores already in the air, whether those levels are unhealthy, and how much the mold damage has spread to other areas in the home or property.

Daryl Olsen, president of The Flood Co., says, “We need to warn homeowners and property owners that trying to kill mold does not take care of the problem. Molds need to be physically removed. But before that can be done, mold inspection must be performed to find out the extent of the problem and determine the appropriate mold remediation measures that will need to be undertaken. Mold testing is also commonly used to document the levels of spores in the air before and after mold removal. Lab results confirming the cleanliness of a space after mold has been removed can give confidence and peace of mind to all parties.”

Daryl Olsen further explains that the mold removal process must be performed with containment, under negative pressure utilizing HEPA-filtered air scrubbers. All of the contaminated materials will need to be bagged and disposed of appropriately. The structural materials such as subfloor and framing will have to be HEPA-vacuumed, sanded, and then HEPA-vacuumed again. All of the surfaces in the containment area will have to be HEPA-vacuumed and cleaned before the containment is dismantled. And while performing the mold removal, the team from The Flood Co. will wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and HEPA-filtered respirators. Quantitative air sampling will be conducted before and after the mold removal to ensure the success of the remediation work.

Water damage services from The Flood Co. is subdivided into flooded basement cleanup, ice damming, pipe leak cleanup, and wet carpet cleanup. Mold damage services include mold testing and mold remediation.

The Flood Co. follows certain guidelines in post remediation evaluation criteria for mold contamination. First of all, they will not stop their remediation process until the area is visibly free of mold. Post sampling will only be done after a visual inspection indicates that all of the molds have been removed. After post sampling has been performed, the total mold spore concentration must be ascertained to be less than 2,000 c/m3, which is considered to be the spore concentration for a typical fungal ecology. If it is 2,000 or more, the remediation process must be continued.

Meanwhile, a comparison sample will need to be collected from out-of-doors or inside building but outside of the containment area. Here, the total spore concentration of the inside sample must be lower compared to that of the comparison sample. Next, it must be ascertained that the level of each fungal type recovered inside is less than 100 c/m3 above the level of the same fungal type in the comparison sample.

Furthermore, the Aspergillus/Penicillium on the inside sample must be lower than 200 c/m3 to be able to proceed to the next step. The next step is to ensure that the inside sample does have have the target fungal types, both counted and observed. If such is the case, the remediation has been successful.

The Flood Co. has been serving Northern Utah and South West Wyoming for more than 20 years. They specialize in water damage restoration, mold damage restoration, fire and smoke damage restoration, and air duct cleaning. People who require more information about mold testing or other services provided by The Flood Co. can visit their website, contact them on the phone or through email. The service areas covered by The Flood Co. include Box Elder County, Summit County, Davis County, Utah County, Tooele County, Salt Lake County, Wasatch County, Logan, Weber County, and Heber City.

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For more information about The Flood Co., contact the company here:

The Flood Co.
Daryl Olsen
801-294-7452
contact@thefloodco.com
1164 W 850 N Centerville, UT 84014

source http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4375301

The one-story community center will reopen, but no final decisions have been made on the facility’s future.

The Jack Amyette Recreation Center will partially reopen for use soon as the City of Jacksonville continues to examine long-term options for the future of the facility.

The recreation center located in the New River area of Jacksonville sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Florence and has remained closed since the September storm. The roof was lifted off the two-story gymnasium and landed on the one-story section used as a community center, causing extensive water damage from the rain to both sections.

Susan Baptist, director of recreation services for the city, said the Jack Amyette center is a well-used facility and they have had to accommodate the after-school and summer programs typically held there at other sites since the closure.

The reopening of the community center portion will allow them to continue those programs at Jack Amyette as well as other specialized programming, open-play, and other uses the nearby community has enjoyed.

“It’s an opportunity to continue to provide programs and have a presence there for the families and community,” Baptist said.

The gym section of the center, which was added on to the community center section, will be closed off and with the repairs to be done there will will not be any concerns about mold from the water damage, Bishop said.

The Jack Amyette Recreation Center is one of the city’s historic buildings and was built in 1959.

Baptist said it is a facility that holds a special place in the community’s heart and they saw that when the city conducted a community survey in April on what they’d like to see for the facility’s future.

“They spoke about the history of the facility and how that history was important to them,” she said of the comments about the residents’ memories growing up using the facility.

City Manager Richard Woodruff said work to reopen the front, one-story section of the building will begin soon but no final decisions have been made regarding the gym or the facility’s long-term future.

“The work will begin in the next several weeks and should allow the community center to be open by mid- to late September,” Woodruff said. “This does not mean the city council has made any long-term decision on the repair of the gymnasium; nor have the mayor and council made any decision on what should be the future of the facility. In the months ahead the city management will present to the mayor and council a series of options, ranging from the repair of the gym to the building of a complete new building.”

Woodruff said the plans for a partial reopening of the current building followed an analysis of the cost of renting a portable building put on site to continue programs at the center.

The low bid for renting a portable building for one year was $48,000.

In comparison, the city found the cost of repairing the one-story community center will be about $40,000.

Because of the amount of renting a portable facility and because it could be more than a year the city would need it, the city decided to proceed with repairing the one-story section of the Jack Amyette building, Woodruff said.

The partial reopening of the Jack Amyette building comes as the city nears a final settlement of the insurance claim for damage from the hurricane.

Woodruff said the city filed an insurance claim with the North Carolina League of Municipalities, its insurance carrier, and also had Sawyer Sherwood & Associates Architecture of Wilmington assess the damage.

Over the past two months the city has been negotiating with the League on an insurance settlement, Woodruff said, and both the League and the city’s consultant have agreed to a damage amount of approximately $760,000. The city council will be asked in August to consider a final settlement of the claim with the insurance carrier.

Reporter Jannette Pippin can be reached at 910-382-2557 or Jannette.Pippin@JDNews.com. For digital subscription information, click here.

source https://www.jdnews.com/news/20190709/jack-amyette-recreation-center-to-partially-reopen

After a flood, you probably had to get rid of a lot of excess moisture in your home, along with things like mold and other issues. In these events, using professional or excellent quality residential dehumidifiers are a must have in your home and in this guide, we’re going to explain briefly why you’ll want to invest in one, especially if your home has been compromised during a flood.

Preventing Mold

Many homes have mold damage after they end up getting ravaged with water damage after the flood waters have swept into your home according to the SuperDry San Diego Website. Because of this, they have an increased chance for mold, and most homes actually do end up getting mold. If you’re one of the lucky few that don’t get hit with mold damage, you’re lucky. Either way, using a dehumidifier, whether post-mold removal or before you can get mold is a great way to eliminate moisture that can end up causing mold in your house.

Should I Hire a Professional?

When it comes to flood damage, you may want to hire a professional when it comes to dehumidifying your home and removing excess moisture. Some homes are lucky enough that they only have a fine line of water that’s not outstanding in certain areas of their homes (like basements, or on linoleum areas), so in these cases you may need to just vacuum or pump, and then you can simply place a dehumidifier on a slightly elevated surface (to avoid them being in the water, as this can pose electrical hazards).

Check for Mold Frequently

When you have flood damage and use a dehumidifier, you need to continuously check for mold whenever and wherever possible, including in the dehumidifier itself. You’ll be emptying it a lot if you are using it post-flood, and every single time you’ll want to make sure that water doesn’t stand in it, and also be sure to check the filter repetitively (many of them allow you to take out the filter and rinse it as needed as well).

Can I Rely on Dehumidifiers Alone?

The real answer to this is no. Anytime you have a home that’s been invaded or damaged from a flood, no matter what kind it is. The best thing you can do is air out your house. Be sure you open your windows and doors as well. You don’t have to leave your outside doors open, but every door in the home should be open to allow the fresh air in and help dry your home faster while your dehumidifier is working.

Can a Dehumidifier Dry my Walls?

The good thing is that using a good dehumidifier in your home can in fact help pull moisture out of your walls. Even drywall and sheet rock can be healed with a good dehumidifier. However, you’ll need to probably have more than one. Don’t just expect your one dehumidifier to repair the whole house.

Conclusion

If you have flood damage in your home, getting a dehumidifier is an extreme necessity. Even when you hire a professional, they’re going to bring theirs in as well as a lot of industrial-sized fans. You can sometimes save a lot of time and money (even if you end up having to hire a professional team) by using a few dehumidifiers after a flood to help minimize the amount of moisture in your home, and then continue to use it afterwards to help keep the air in your home cleaner and purer.

source https://baltimorepostexaminer.com/why-dehumidifiers-are-needed-on-water-damage-restoration-projects-after-a-flood/2019/07/08

It’s one of those hidden dangers in our household that may be lurking around the corner without us even knowing it.

Jon Hartley, Marketing Director, Pure Air Environmental, explains the common locations of mold, the types, symptoms and how to correct it in your home. 

Common Mold Locations
•    Mold spores may enter your house from the outside through open doorways, windows, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
•    Spores in the air outside also attach themselves to people and animals, making clothing, shoes, bags, and pets convenient vehicles for carrying mold indoors. 
•    When mold spores drop on places where there is excessive moisture, such as where leakage may have occurred in roofs, pipes, walls, plant pots, or where there has been flooding, they will grow. 
•    Wet cellulose materials, including paper and paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, wood, and wood products, are particularly conducive for the growth of some molds. Other materials such as dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation materials, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery, commonly support mold growth.

Types of Mold Species
•    Alternaria – One of the more common molds found indoors and outdoors. Alternaria usually appears in areas that are damp like the sink, shower, or dark and dimly lit areas outside the home. Health problems associated with alternaria include asthma attacks and allergic reactions.
•    Aspergillus – This mold is incredibly common and does minor damage to those that inhale it. Severe reactions include respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and inflamed lungs.
•    Aureobasidium – The aureobasidium mold is most often found on wooden furniture, surfaces, painted walls and wallpaper as well as around windows and in caulk. If you notice a spotty substance that is pink and black in color in those areas, it’s probably this type of mold. Since aureobasidum is so common, most people do develop allergic reactions to it and it has been known to cause more severe reactions than other molds.
•    Chaetomium – Chaetomium mold is found in drywall that has experienced water damage. People typically identify its presence when they smell a musty or old odor in their home.
•    Cladosporium – Homeowners often find the cladosporium mold inside both cool and warm areas like carpet, wood floorboards, wooden cabinet and older fabrics. Being around this mold can leave homeowners with breathing problems and respiratory issues.
•    Fusarium – Fusarium tends to grow in colder, wetter areas. The typical homes for the fusarium mold are carpeted areas and similar fabrics. Can cause the standard allergic reaction as well as respiratory infections and inflammation.
•    Penicillium – Penicillium is a mold that can found indoors inside insulation, furnishings, water damaged furniture, carpeting and more. Penicillium is known for spreading quickly throughout the home and can cause homeowners to have sinus infections, lung inflammation, as well as allergic reactions.
•    Stachybotrys Chartarum – Black mold or stachysbotrys chartarum is also called toxic mold. This is due to the fact that this type of mold creates toxic compounds known as mycotoxins. The compounds cause those that breathe the mold in to develop breathing issues, sinus infections, depression, fatigue, asthma attacks and more. This is identified by its musty smell and is found in areas that stay damp, like air conditioning pipes and ducts.
•    Serpula Lacrymans – This is commonly found outside but can also grow inside on wooden surfaces. This mold leads to dry rot within wood as it feeds solely on wooden surfaces. It’s most noticeable by its yellow appearance.
•    Trichoderma – Homeowners often find this in damp carpeting, wallpaper and similar surfaces. The harm with trichoderma comes from the production of mycotoxins that can cause sinus infection, allergic reactions, and more.
•    Ulocladium – Can be found both outside and inside. Ulocladium is typically found in areas that have been severely damaged by water like in the floors and walls of homes that have experienced a flood. This kind of mold causes many homeowners to develop allergic reactions and infections.

Symptoms of Mold Exposure
•    People with allergies may be more sensitive to molds. People with immune suppression or underlying lung disease are more susceptible to fungal infections.
•    People may experience symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation when exposed to molds. Some people may have more severe reactions to molds.
•    Severe reactions may occur among workers exposed to large amounts of molds in occupational settings, such as farmers working around moldy hay. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.
•    Immunocompromised persons and persons with chronic lung diseases like COPD are at increased risk for opportunistic infections and may develop fungal infections in their lungs.

How to Correct Mold in Your Home
•    In most cases mold can be removed from hard surfaces by a thorough cleaning with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. 
•    Absorbent or porous materials like ceiling tiles, drywall, and carpet may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. 
•    If you have an extensive amount of mold and you do not think you can manage the cleanup on your own, you may want to contact PURE AIR ENVIRONMENTAL for an assessment and rely on their experience in cleaning mold in buildings and homes.
•    Open windows and doors to provide fresh air. Wear non-porous gloves and protective eye wear. If the area to be cleaned is more than 10 square feet, you should consider contacting PURE AIR ENVIRONMENTAL for assistance.

To learn more, visit https://pureairenvironmental.com/mold/ or call (317) 760-PURE / (317) 760-7873.

SEGMENT IS SPONSORED BY PURE AIR ENVIRONMENTAL 

source https://www.wishtv.com/indy-style/how-to-detect-prevent-and-eliminate-mold-in-your-home/

Patricia Sullivan

Reporter covering government, politics and other regional issues in Arlington County and Alexandria

July 8 at 4:04 PM

If your car was one of the many trapped by floodwaters on or below street level Monday, you should resist the urge to start it up once the waters recede.

“Have it towed out of the garage,” said John Townsend, director of public affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “You don’t want to drive it because the electrical system could short out — maybe not today, but down the road and in traffic.”

The best option, Townsend said, is to tow the vehicle to a reputable mechanic who can certify whether there is any damage to the many electronic components in modern cars and trucks.

The heavy rains that deluged much of the Washington area Monday morning flooded numerous parking lots, garages, buildings and homes.

[Washington region hammered by heavy rains, flooding]

The American Property Casualty Insurance Association, which represents almost 60 percent of the industry, advises insurance customers to report claims as soon as possible. Standard homeowner policies do not cover flooding, and those who buy policies through the National Flood Insurance Program typically must wait 30 days before they take effect.

Cars caught in flash flooding Monday off Glebe Road in Alexandria, Va. (Paul Duggan/The Washington Post)

If you think your policy will cover the damage to your property, file a claim and document the damage with photos before you start cleaning up. Keep receipts, and set aside any large, expensive items to show your adjuster. It helps to have a home inventory, which should include photographs or videos, receipts and descriptions, said Chris Hackett, ­APCIA’s senior director of personal lines policy.

“You may be really surprised to find out how much you own when you go room to room, closet to closet, drawer to drawer,” he said. If you had not created a home inventory before weather-related damage, you can do it afterward.

Hackett said flood victims should try to prevent or lessen further damage by covering holes in roofs with a tarp or clearing storm drains. Sweep or mop out standing water, and remove or vacuum carpeting to reduce the chance of mold.

Flood damage is typically included under the “comprehensive” portion of vehicle insurance policies and should cover towing and repair, Townsend said. Geico and State Farm spokeswomen said customers should contact their agents as soon as possible.

[Capital Weather Gang: Between 3 and 4 inches of rain fell in an hour]

Heavy rainfall flooded the intersection of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, stalling cars in the street. (Alex Brandon/AP)

State Farm’s website has tips on how to check a vehicle for flood damage: Avoid starting a flooded car because ignition will cause more damage if there’s water in the engine; start drying out your vehicle as soon as possible, using a wet-dry vacuum, fans or dehumidifiers and cloths to absorb moisture in the seats. A mechanic will know to check the oil dipstick for water droplets, look for water-damaged cylinders, and change the oil and transmission fluid, among other things.

Those who think they can skip the expense and hassle of towing should “use your . . . senses” to determine how much water got into the vehicle and whether it rose above the floor boards, AAA’s Townsend said. Look, smell and feel for damage, and check the floor mats and carpets for indications that water seeped in.

“If you suspect it was flooded, the best thing to do is have your mechanic inspect it,” Townsend said. “It probably will start, in all likelihood, but problems will show up in subsequent days.”

Read more:

Read the latest Capital Weather Gang Updates on Monday’s storm

Water rescues, snarled traffic as Washington region hammered by rain

Local newsletters: Local headlines (8 a.m.) | Afternoon Buzz (4 p.m.)

Like PostLocal on Facebook | Follow @postlocal on Twitter | Latest local news

source https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/take-care-with-trapped-or-flooded-vehicles-expert-warns/2019/07/08/4556e10a-a196-11e9-b732-41a79c2551bf_story.html

With all the hot humid weather and thunderstorms, you can be sure that all that moisture will result in mold. It’s a good thing that you have someone to trust when it comes to mold remediation.

That someone is Darlene Eager of DC Eager Emergency Services, LLC. She has been in the business of property damage restoration for 18 years, and she knows the ins and outs of mold, and how to get rid of it.

DC Eager Emergency Services, LLC is an IICRC firm certified company in mold remediation and removal. As Darlene points out, there is a lot of misinformation out there about mold. She makes it her mission to educate you on your situation, so that you can make a decision based upon the knowledge you have received.

That solution should not be based on the scare tactics and sales pitches of others. After all, there is no magical potion that you can spray on mold and it goes away. DC Eager follows certifications and physically removes it with NO chemicals, so that your home is safely restored to being healthy and mold-free.

DC Eager has an amazing team who share Darlene’s love of the business, as well as her passion for helping people. The company is known throughout the building and property damage world for their clean demolition, their expertise in the removal of mold, and their caring concern for people in hoarding situations.

One of the services that has been getting a lot of attention lately is hoarding situations. It is the well-being of the homeowner that Darlene and her team care most about. If hoarding is a concern for you, a friend, or family member, or if you just need someone to remove the clutter that may have accumulated over the years, DC Eager would love to help.

There are many reasons why it is important to declutter your home. If there is ever a fire, the homeowner may be trapped inside and emergency responders may be prevented from reaching the injured. There is a high risk of health issues caused by the mold and bacteria when living in unsanitary conditions. Many times, once the home is decluttered, other health hazards are uncovered such as mold.

If you or anyone you know needs the services of DC Eager Emergency Services, be sure to call Darlene at 717-989-5763 for a FREE assessment and estimate or check them out at www.dceager.com for more information.

business-review-070419

source http://www.ephratareview.com/business-review/dc-eager-emergency-services-llc-your-mold-specialists-2/

Finishing a basement is one of the most popular home improvement jobs in Canada, because it’s an effective way to increase living space in your house. The thing is, there are two drawbacks to finishing a basement in the usual way. First, it’s expensive. Not as expensive as building an addition onto your house, but it’s still easy to spend well into five figures finishing a basement as it’s typically done with insulation, drywall and floor coverings. And second, a typical finished basement is vulnerable to serious damage from water leaks and moisture. Mold growth and poor indoor air quality throughout your house is a very real threat if a finished basement gets wet. Creating a more economical, less vulnerable and more attractive basement is where something I call the “semi-finished” basement strategy can help.

If all you need is space for the kids to play, an area for hobbies or sewing and maybe a basic extra bathroom downstairs and some laundry space, you really don’t need to go all out with drywall, insulation and luxurious flooring right away. The thing about basements is they’re not either finished or non-finished. The semi-finished basement is an economical, low-stress, in-between option that too few people consider.

The key to a useful and inviting semi-finished basement is making the space look nicer, feel more comfortable and have better lighting – all without creating new finished wall surfaces, ceilings and floors. This approach saves money and also eliminates the risk of water damage and mold growth if your basement is not quite reliably dry every year. No basement should ever be finished with new floors and interior walls unless it’s 100 per cent reliably dry, 100 per cent of the time, as proven from at least a few years’ observation.

There are three main steps to the semi-finished basement strategy. First, coat the floor with a tough, thick, catalyzed floor coating, then lay down removable, interlocking rubber floor tiles in areas where people will stand or kids will play. It’s amazing how much better this approach makes any basement space look and feel. If you do nothing else but improve the floor, you’ll love your basement much more.

Second, clean and paint the walls with a bright colour. White is my favourite. 100 per cent acrylic latex paint sticks to brick, block or poured concrete walls very well. A shop vac is the best tool to get the bulk of dirt off basement walls.

Third, vacuum the floor joists, pipes and wires overhead, then paint that area a light colour, too. I’ll admit that painting areas like these is not easy because of all the obstructions you need to work around, but the results are very good-looking, in an informal and rustic way.

Low cost is the biggest benefit of the semi-finished approach to your basement. For less than $1,000 in materials and your own labour you can transform a dark, uninviting basement into the kind of place kids can play. In fact, I’d argue that it’s easier to enjoy a semi-finished basement compared with a fully finished one during the kid-rearing years because you won’t be as up-tight about damage and wear.

I recently helped a young couple transform their dark, 100-year-old basement into a play and hobby space and we used a catalyzed floor coating as the first part of the process. Rocksolid Garage Coat is like epoxy in that it hardens by chemical reaction after adding a hardener, but it’s a polycuramine formulation that’s thicker than epoxy and supposed to be 20 times tougher. Only time will tell, but the results look great. The thick coating made the century-old concrete look better than anyone expected, turning the space into the kind of place you want to be in.

Steve Maxwell specializes in helping Canadians make the most of their homes. Get free articles, videos and home improvement advice from Steve at BaileyLineRoad.com

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source https://ottawacitizen.com/life/homes/semi-finished-basement-an-economical-compromise