Cleaning a moldy basement

[AlanB]

I just purchased a new to me house, and will try and cover some of the projects we will be doing to make the house liveable again.

First project is to get rid of the Mold in the basement.

There are many views on this, everywhere from, OMG, demo the house, to ah, don't worry about it.

I feel I am somewhere in the middle. I believe it too be a problem, but a manageable one.

So, I will need to add picture later, but the short version is that after closing, loading the truck with tools etc, and getting to the house, I got there this afternoon about 2.

I opened it all up, started unloading. I borrowed my buddies tank spray unit with the little electric pump, mixed up 15 gallons of double strength mold and mildew cleaner, Epa registered etc. (a quat type cleaner) and commenced to soaking down the walls. Not like bleach, wont, turn it white, but the chem cocktail should kill off the growing / living mold after about a 10 minute soak.

So, saturated all visible mold very much like an asbestos remediation project so I would have little or no airborne particles. Then I started taking out the dividing walls, (non stuctrual) There were 3, and one work bench and a set of shelves and one wall was lined with some type of masonite that looked like brick.

In about 5 hours work, I got all the walls down, all the mold stuff soaking and a couple little other odds and ends started.

Last thing I changed chemicals and went to Moldex, another EPA registered Quat (same thing ServPro Uses I believe) and gave it another good hosing.

Tommorrow's agenda will be remove all the wood debris, burn moldy crud, save clean studs etc and pressure wash all the walls, get the big fans in there and some heaters and get it drying out.

Also hope my dozer guy shows up and starts the driveway projects.

Pictures later.

 

[roermo]

Sounds like a good project. Did you have the mold tested? Are you fixing this home up for you or for resale. In Missouri we have disclosure laws that state or ask the question did you or have you have mold or knowledge. It might be helpful to know. Good luck, wear a mask.

Roger

 

[john_bud]

I don't know the chemicals you used, but the bleach variants do a pretty good job, turn it white and smell's clean.

What caused the water (moist) condition that allowed the mold to grow?

jb

 

[EddieWalker]

Alan,

Did you have the stuff packed and ready at the signing? I bet you went straight from the signing to that besement and only stoped at half the traffic lights!!!!!

Sounds like you have a good handle on the mold. Since you are perfectly capable of handleing the mold, or maybe it's just an extreme case of mildew, I would not contact anybody about it. The second you bring in an outside source, you lose control over who knows about it and what is reported on it.

Mold and mildew are easy fixes. Nothing you can't handle yourself. I think you are wasting money with the mold removers and should use a hich concentrate of bleach, but it's your home and your call. The problem I have with chemicals available to consumers is they are all watered down. Unless you have access to commercial chemicals, you are just buying a label. It will probably work because it's so easy to kill mold and mildew, but swimming pool shok and other swimming pool chemicals are the highest bleach concentracions you can buy.

Like I said, killing it is easy, finding out where the moisture came from and preventing it from happening again is the real challenge.

Post lots of picks, it sounds like your in for allot of fun!!!

Eddie

 

[1bush2hog]

Sounds like you are gettin er done.

Did you have any mold/mildew on the basement ceiling or just the walls?

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Alan,
Both Roermo and John bring up a couple very good points ! First you need to know what type of mold your dealing with and second why was the mold forming downstairs to begin with ?

Any basement that has moisture issues, whether a small amount of moisture or actually has standing water during the wet season needs to be addressed ! If only a small amount, a dehumidifier will handle keeping the basement dry and mold free. If you actually have standing water issues then drainage tilles under the basement floor or on the exterior walls is the only way of solving that particular problem ! At my Ct home, during the spring if it is very wet I have a problem of water getting into the basement, I hope to address that problem within the next few weeks. On the side of the basement that water enters between the floor and wall point needs to be dug up. Then I plan on digging about 12 to 14" down put a layer of gravel and a drain pipe with sock covering and running this line to my sump pump. Its going to be a big job, but it needs to be done.

Post some pics and maybe we can add some additional info.

 

[AlanB]

Oh, come on Eddie, it was only 1/3 of the stop lights I ran

No outside agencies, it is identified on the appraisal though, so just have to deal with that if it ever comes up.

The mold and dampness is coming from several directions which I am working hard to remediate.

I might go to the bleach (Calcium Hypochlorite) but the right PPE for that in that basement is high.

I have pretty good access to chemicals.

The home is for me.

The block walls and the floor plates (that are now gone) had the mold. None in the joists, ceiling etc. etc. that I can find.

No, I am not testing for mold, One of those things where I am money ahead (IMO) to just treat it like mold, appropriate precautions taken, and clean it up.

I have ordered a basement dehumidifier (they work at a lower temp then standard ones) from Allergey buyers club. $350. It is on it's way. Have to plumb it into my condensate pump.

Lots of external forces causing the water problems over many years. I am going to do the easy fixes at the moment, interior seal, seal crack's holes joints etc. Replace gutters, move dirt away from windows, fix standing water issues, make dirt ramp away from house, remove flower beds directing water towards house etc.

I figure I can buy a year or two time that way. If we go to add on, or if I have a track hoe, back hoe around the house at some point, then I will pull the dirt away and seal the outside of the block and parge it etc.

I think I was so excited to be working, that I forgot about doing the pictures, but I did remember the camera, and will try and grab some shots today.

 

[teg]

I got a dehumidifier and it's great. You said "...Have to plumb it into my condensate pump..." Look to see where the output goes because that was one of my problems. The output just dumped outside on the *up* hill side of the house!?!? Now it's going out to the city sewer...

 

[AlanB]

I will check in the morning TEG, that would be too funny, but I bet I would have a hard time seeing the humor in it Unfortunately it would not suprise me much.

It is coming along. Never as fast as I would like though. BIG pressure washer and went and got the $60 rotator nozzle,,,, then at Lowes on the way home saw they had them for $30.... That was my day, they also had a basement dehumidifier (that they did not have last I looked) for only $220 and I just ordered one for $350... grrrrrr

And I dropped my camera off the seat of the truck onto the road this morning popping the case apart, now it is not working..... Wife took some pics with her camera but will require manipulation to make them fit.

Hanna unlocked the front door, and the door knob assembly disintegrated.

My pressure washer would not operate....

The Hose bibs on the clothes washer are siezed....

It poured rain all day.

The windows need to be custom ordered for the basement...

But I did get a bunch of cleaning done, and we are moving forward.. Just a bit worn down today.

As Harv would say, Life is good.

 

[AlanB]

I feel old this morning.
Going to go a bit slower.

FIXED the camera though took it apart, recentered all the little pins, popped it back together and it worked

Thats cool.