06 Dec Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
I was recently contracted by a home seller’s realtor to investigate a potential mold problem in the owner’s crawl space (“possible mold” was noted on the home inspector’s report).
When entering the crawl space, I noticed a small amount of mold near the entrance, but I investigated the crawl space thoroughly. In the far northern corner beneath the fireplace I discovered rotting structural wood and mold infestation from water leakage down the exterior of the chimney. The realtor and home owner lost a sale.
This story is presented as an example. One of the most important ways to increase the equity in your home is to ensure that your home structure is well-maintained. Over 70 percent of all leaks through the structure occur from the roof. The second most important problem for leakage is the outer walls.
Chimneys are a special problem. Since chimneys have no eaves, all rain water is allowed to run the total vertical distance of the chimney. The water runs through poorly maintained sealants and flashing and into the home’s structure and crawl space, resulting in rotting walls, joists and studs, and mold infestation.
Be proactive; maintain your home, and have your home inspected prior to putting the residence on the market. The label “mold infested home” can continue to harm your investment long after the problem is remedied.