Whether you build it or buy it, a brand new home holds so much promise. That newly constructed house is your castle. Your first walk through the front door should be a dream come true, but something is obviously wrong.
You can smell it, and you might even see it. How does a new house develop mold problems before you move in?
When a new home turns into a fungus-infested nightmare, you want to know what went wrong. Our teams handle mold removal from new construction, so we understand why it happens and how to take care of it.
Mold in New Construction: A Residential Headache
Everything in your new house is supposed to be fresh and clean. You don’t think about mold hiding in the basement and spreading through the walls. When our teams address the problem through our post-construction cleaning services, these three questions always come up.
1. How Can Mold Grow in New Homes?
Of all the causes for mold in new construction, the basement is most often the culprit. Pouring a foundation requires industry experience, but even the best builders can run into trouble.
- Insulating studs and installing vapor barriers before a poured foundation dries can trap condensation inside walls.
- A foundation capped during construction downtime often develops moisture buildup on boards over flooring joists.
- These boards pose even more new house mold problems if they’re reused when construction resumes.
- Basements with no insulation below first story subflooring can create a moist environment that feeds mold.
There are other structural issues with new homes that can result in mold infestations.
- Early home building phases leave framing and subflooring exposed to weather and fluctuating humidity.
- Modern houses are built for energy efficiency, but tight construction doesn’t allow interiors to breathe.
- Additional bathrooms, hot tubs and even sprinkler systems increase the risk of plumbing mishaps.
2. What Can Be Done to Prevent the Problem?
If you plan on building a home, ask potential contractors how they address mold problems during the building process. Listen for answers that align with these construction strategies.
- A foundation pour should always be completed in one fill to prevent cold joint cracks and leaks.
- Proper ventilation and heating techniques greatly reduce the risk of mold in a capped foundation.
- Antimicrobial coatings and sealers play an important part in preventing on-site fungal growth.
If you’re buying a newly constructed house, invest in a professional home inspection. The service identifies problems like hidden mold growth before you sign closing papers. DIY solutions to moldy basements and interiors can be effective when you follow up with other strategies.
- Install additional roof vents and wind turbines.
- Keep blinds and drapes open, and remove window screens.
- Run an adequately sized dehumidifier in the basement.
- Maintain mold-free air ducts with professional cleaning.
3. When Should You Call a Mold Remediation Service?
Without a home inspection, you might not realize the scope of mold growth in your new house right away. By the time you notice musty smells in the walls, the fungus is already firmly established in sheetrock and framing. A professional mold remediation service can confirm the problem and solve it with industry proven techniques.
- A full-service cleaning contractor identifies all sources of mold-causing moisture and addresses necessary repairs.
- Professional teams shorten the job of drying out a newly built house from weeks to just a few days.
- Using state-of-the-art equipment, technicians locate mold inside walls, crawl spaces and even ceilings.
- Cleanup crews remove all mold and follow up with proven remediation products and techniques.
If you suspect mold is growing anywhere in your new house, contact a certified mold removal service right away. Your home’s safety and structural health depend on professional mold remediation.
Taking Care of Your Dream Home
The situation can be frustrating, but we hope our overview helps you understand your options for mold removal from new construction. The issue affects more and more new homes these days, and we want to know what you think. We look forward to your input through our Comments Section.
Our teams are ready to tackle all types of residential mold problems in Chicago and across the suburbs. Our services include industry certified mold removal in new construction and older houses too. ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba stands ready to help make sure your dream home stays safe and healthy.