Structural Damage
Mold infestations, if ignored, can eventually cause rotting wood or walls. Safety is the number one reason houses are condemned.
Health Factors
Some molds are extremely toxic and can cause serious health problems. Black mold, the most toxic of all of the molds, is one of the leading carcinogens in the world and also contributes to asthma, bronchitis, respiratory disease (especially in children), liver problems and much more.
Severity of the Problem
Small dots of mold in a kitchen or bathroom are normal, but infestation in wood, walls or carpeting is a red flag and authorities may become involved.
Preventing Mold
Exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms help take moisture out of the air, while hardwood floors (in place of carpeting) make mold less probable and easier to control.
Mold Laws in the United States
As of 2009, only five states (Texas, California, New Jersey, Maryland and New York) have laws concerning toxic mold, but they are geared towards educating the public. Because mold is often invisible to the untrained eye, usually the only way the authorities get wind of it is through a resident's sickness or structural damage to the home. All governments reserve the right to condemn a house if it is deemed hazardous.
The Drip Cap
- Besides the musty smell and the damage it can do to the walls of the house, mold is one of the most dangerous infestations to have.
- Mold infestations, if ignored, can eventually cause rotting wood or walls.
- Small dots of mold in a kitchen or bathroom are normal, but infestation in wood, walls or carpeting is a red flag and authorities may become involved.