MOLD - Need Info ASAP!

[Elmorton]

I just discovered mold around the windows in our upstairs bedroom - called our landlord immediately but we so far haven't gotten a hold of him.

We've pretty much NEVER raised the blinds in our bedroom, and recently, I noticed the paint was peeling. The windows are usually fogged over in the morning, which I didn't think was that strange because I've lived in several places that did that. Apparently, all that moisture caused the mold and thus, the paint has been peeling. There are spores (some furry ones) all over the bottom sill, the top of the sill, and all over the fixtures (the lock and the handle). The paint is also peeling on the inside of the frame. All three windows have mold - the front windows are bad, and the side window just has some visible spores on the bottom sill - no paint peeling. Luckily, I don't see anything in my closet window.

I am FREAKING OUT - this weekend is my birthday, and my parents are coming to stay with us and my grandparents are coming to see the house for the first time, too.

I hate to even ask...but anyone have experience with mold on the windows? Are they going to have to replace the windows or can this kind of mold be killed with spray or something? Is there any way we'll still be able to have guests this weekend? Any guesses how quickly this can be fixed? I'm absolutely terrified that we'll have to move...my BFF's apt got black mold in it, and they told her she needed to move out - I soooo don't want to move...

 

[sumbride]

It all depends on what kind of mold it is. Bleach can kill MOST kinds. You probably won''t have to replace the windows, but if it''s behind the drywall at all, that might need to be replaced.

As for the water, is your wall wet? Is the roof leaking? Is the window itself leaking? Or is it condensation?

 

[Elmorton]

Ohhhhh thank you for saying that...

The moisture must be from the condensation. There''s no visible moisture right now, but that''s my guess of how the mold got started.

We finally got in touch with the landlord and he''ll be over in about 30 mins... I hope it ends up being minor!!

 

[sumbride]

It might be condensation, but I''d check the roof too. We had some warping on our 2nd floor windowsills and it was a roof leak that was coming through the walls. We didn''t have mold, but we had to sand and paint the sills. If the condensation is that bad I''m guessing single-pane glass?

 

[Elmorton]

Okay, I''ll definitely ask him to check on that. Yupp, single pane - it''s an old house with all original windows.

 

[lisa1.01fvs1]

I think the black kind is called "stacchybotrus (sp)" and it''s the bad one.

I remember this from a learning channel episode.

These people had it all over their basement.

People in space suits were called in to remove it - definitely horror movie matierial.

They also mentioned that there are many types so don''t get freaked out totally just yet.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 4/2/2008 6:18:15 PM
Author: sumbride
It all depends on what kind of mold it is. Bleach can kill MOST kinds. You probably won''t have to replace the windows, but if it''s behind the drywall at all, that might need to be replaced.


As for the water, is your wall wet? Is the roof leaking? Is the window itself leaking? Or is it condensation?

Totally agreed...and don''t worry, mold from condensation on windows is very very unlikely to be dangerous (except to asthmatics). Likely as sumbride said you can wipe it away with bleach and it will go away at least for awhile.

 

[diamondfan]

mold is caused by moisture, I am not the sure if it is the same thing as mildew. It does not take long to occur in the right environment.

Mold is nasty, not sure if all molds are bad though. There are toxic spores and they can cause health issues, and a professional is usually needed to eradicate it properly.

 

[LegacyGirl]

The same thing happens on my front window when it rains. I don''t have the bad kind, or any kind that can make you sick. I just clean it with bleach and water and it looks good as new.

 

[Elmorton]

Whew! Thanks everyone for replying. My landlord came over yesterday and sprayed a bunch of bleach and then climbed up on the ladder to see the the caulking had dried out and that there was a hole where moisture was coming in. The mold was pretty much wiped away once he bleached everything (but ooooh did our bedroom and upstairs reek! DH and I slept on the air mattress in the living room last night), but he's coming back today to make sure that all of it is dead and it's not in the wood before he comes back to scrape off the old paint, re-caulk, prime, and re-paint the window frame. It's a giant PITA because he'll pretty much barely finish before my parents get here this weekend, but the good news is that (as you all explained!) it wasn't a major crisis. Thanks for the help and reassurance!!

 

[sumbride]

I''m so glad to hear it has been resolved! And yes, I know it will be a pain to have it in progress, but it''s better that he do it now!!!

 

[Octavia]

There''s an additive you can put in primer that encapsulates any remaining mold spores and blocks new ones from forming. If your landlord hasn''t started priming and painting yet, I''d definitely tell him to ask at the local hardware store to see if they have this -- it''s supposed to be really helpful in controlling mold moving forward.

 

[dancingqueen]

I haven''t been on much lately and I don''t have any good advice to offer on the mold issue, but happy birthday in advance! Hope the problem is resolved quickly so you can enjoy your weekend!

 

[Elmorton]

Hi Dancingqueen! Thanks for the birthday wishes. Now that it''s warmer, I think we need to resurrect our plans for a Q-C get together.

 

[dancingqueen]

Hi Elmorton,

I was out of town for the past 10 days with limited internet access... sorry for the delay in responding.

I''d love a QC get-together. Any ideas when/where?

 

[Elmorton]

Dancinqueen - I''m going to go post in Hangout to see if there''s still interest in the IL-IA g2g - but if that takes awhile, I''d love to meet up sometime sooner! Any time but weekends in May is good for me.