If you have an unfinished basement that has yellow insulation against the concrete and white on the outside, many contractors are suggesting that this product should be removed. Home owners who have avoided taking theirs down have been very disappointed to discover areas with black mold. This is important information that no every home owners knows about, but it is important if you want to catch and fix the problem before it becomes a health hazard. This is one of the reasons why some home owners re installing basement and crawl space vapor barriers.
Hopefully, people who have these older products in their home basements will take it down immediately, even if they are not planning to finish their lowest level space any time soon. The owners who take care of removing this temporary building insulation are glad that they have avoided what can be both messy and dangerous problems in the future.
before we finished our basement this winter. So glad we did! Thanks for sharing many people leave it and finish their basements.
Home owners who are not the original owners can find that they inherit problems that the previous owner may not have even known existed. In fact, any house that has the same white outer barrier along the walls of a basement or lowest level utility room should remove these products. Even when the rest of the basement is finished, some home owners have this kind of product in non finished storage spaces. It is in your best interest to assume that all of the insulation along all concrete walls in any basement is suspect, and to at least visit with a contractor who can help you evaluate the situation. Waterproof basement specialists can help property owners discover the best course of action. And contractors who specialize in crawl space vapor barriers can serve a s a valuable resource as well.
Having a Dry Basement and Crawl Space Can Keep Your Whole Family Healthier
The best crawl space and basement waterproofing systems are important features in homes in many parts of the country. And while there is no system that can avoid the problems of a 100 year flood, you do not want a neglected space in your home to be making everyone sick. By checking under our stairs where the contractors did drywall and by cutting a hole out on a wall that has previously had mold, an experienced contractor can tell if a basement needs any more work. In addition, they can tell if a crawl space vapor barrier has been previously installed and needs to be replaced, or if that material has never been installed.
With the right combination of crawl space vapor barriers, insulation, and foam boards, it is possible to drywall larger crawl spaces. And if you are worried about work completed before you purchased your home, it may be in your best interest to have all of the questionable material taken down, even the drywall on the stairs leading to the compromised space. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
Another method that can keep both crawl spaces and basements safer is the use of a dehumidifier. Even emergency situations are much worse if you do not make sure that they frequently empty a dehumidifier. There are clean up methods with bleach and water to get rid of some kinds of mold, but the best approach is to not let any form in the first place.
The fact of the matter is of all homes with basements, more than 98% will experience some type of water damage at some point. When water damage does occur, it is important to clean up and dry out a home thoroughly and quickly, within 24 to 48 hours is recommended, after flooding to prevent mold growth. In many cases, this will require the help of a professional team. When you realize how dangerous any kind of mold can be you begin to realize the importance of dealing with these problems as soon and as efficiently as possible. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 100% of all types of mold have the potential to cause some health effects. These effects can be minor to severe and even lead to death in some rare cases.