When a viewer called Fox59 to let us know she wasn't getting any help from her landlord in her mold-infested home, we took action to make sure her family has a healthy place to live.

It is in the wall, it is in the carpet, it is all behind my couch, the tenant said.

The concerned mom said she wanted to remain anonymous to protect her family, but felt contacting Fox59 was the only way to get help.

Mold a very big concern for me because I have a baby on a nebulizer. He was sick twice last week back to back in the hospital.

We brought in Brian Lester from Indiana Mold Remediation to check the apartment.

Thats a heavy, black, sooty mold growth and that's definitely something we don't want to allow to stay in the unit, Lester said about some of the mold.

Painting over the mold isn't enough, according to Lester. The apartment needs to stay dry.

Theres a problem; the tenant said every time it rains outside, her walls and carpet get wet, too.

It literally rains inside my apartment, she said.

The first thing you need to do is stop the source of moisture, Lester told Fox59. Then you remove porous building materials that are non-cleanable.

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Taking Action for You: Fox59 helps family with apartment mold problem

Room For Rent: The county still rents the Annex for $4,641 per month. After undergoing further remediation for water and mold problems in 2008-09, its again occupied by a team from the DAs office.

Beverly Forests lawyer wasnt sure Forest would be able to endure the hours of questioning.

In a June 6 email, plaintiffs attorney Gordon Stemple warned defending attorneys that Forest would be arriving for a deposition in a wheelchair, with an oxygen tank and a nurse attendant, and would require frequent bathroom breaks.

Forest has cancer. Shes been in and out of hospitals for six months, weighs 100 pounds and is dying. Her lawyers worry she wont survive long enough to see the conclusion of a two-year-old lawsuit that claims a moldy office environment at the District Attorneys office exacerbated her condition.

Forest is one of nine plaintiffs who worked in the Monterey County District Attorneys Fraud Investigation Unit, a group that was assigned to a boxy stucco building on West Gabilan Street known as the Annex.

The only thing my clients have in common is going into this building and coming out sick, says Monterey-based attorney David Churchill, also representing the plaintiffs.

In an October 2010 complaint, those nine staffers allege mold in the building gave them symptoms such as shortness of breath, recurring headaches, itchy eyes and bloody noses over several years.

Insurance adjusters and attorneys spent all day Sept. 27 in mediation in San Jose, where they tried and failed to reach an agreement. Now the case is headed toward a jury trial, set to begin in Monterey County Oct. 29.

The plaintiffs attorneys would not make their clients available to for interviews, but court documents tell a complex story about liability. The questions focus on whether mold is responsible for the illnesses, and if so, whos responsible for the damages and how much.

Though visitors and workers long noted a musty, offensive, foul smell in the Annex, a series of tests for mold spores show differing accounts of how toxic the building really was.

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Spore House

St Louis, MO (PRWEB) September 04, 2012

Due to mold, the opening date of two New Jersey schools was moved. As reported in phillyburbs.com, the start of their classes has been rescheduled to a week later than the original date. Meanwhile, to help school official safely solve the mold problem, Molderizer suggested the use of an organic mold remover.

Get a Sample of the Best Non-Toxic Mold Removal Product Today

According to the report, those two schools with re-scheduled opening were Holly Hills Elementary School and Westampton Middle School. It detailed that classes in them will start on September 11 instead of September 04.

Actually, mold was discovered only in Holly Hills, the report said. In seven of its classrooms, mold was confirmed present. However, to ensure the safety of the students the school district decided to temporarily shut down both schools.

To address the mold problem, the school district solicited quotes for the remediation process. However, Molderizer said that for a safe, effective and yet inexpensive mold treatment, authorities should opt the use of a non-toxic mold spray. More specifically, it recommended to the school officials the application of Molderizer.

Discover All the Benefits Molderizer Can Give

Unlike most of the conventional mold sprays, a company representative said the Molderizer contains no harsh chemical ingredients. And so, the use of it leaves no harmful gases that could jeopardize a person's health, he explained. Because of that, it asserted that it's best to use in the said mold-infested classrooms as it spares the students from health risks. Among those health risks are poisoning and breathing difficulties.

Given that Molderizer prevents many health risks, the rep added that it also saves its users from unnecessary medical finances. And to anybody, that is a big help as the amount could be used in other important expenses.

However, despite the fact that Molderizer is confident that its non-toxic mold solution can deliver a truly effective, safe and inexpensive mold removal process, it understands that some consumers might still doubt the product. So to prove its claims, it decided to give out samples of the solutions.

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Mold Delays Two Westampton Schools' Opening; Molderizer Urges School Officials to Use Organic Solutions for Safe Mold ...

Brevard County, Fla.

Titusville's police chief is demanding the city fix the leaky roof on the three decade old police headquarters before more police personell get sick from toxic mold. More than a year after the first repairs were ordered and after spending half a million dollars on repairs and mold remediation the roof still leaks.

In an email obtained by Eyewitness News the chief blasted the city manager, writing:"the craziness continues, who are we fooling here? The very same problem exists as it did years before, we need a new roof now!"

Police staff noted 20 different areas within the building where there are still leaks... from the patrol room to the chief's office.

An internal memo indicates those leaks are already damaging repaired drywall and replaced ceiling tiles.

City manager mark ryan asked staff to look into how much it would cost to lease the old K-mart building, which has it's own code enforcement problems, or the Patch Communications building on US Highway one.

The chief though wrote back saying the city would end up spending millions more to remodel, move and get a new police building certified to meet law enforcement standards.

Chief Tony Bolinger wrote "if you are serious, really big mistake. We are going backwards on many levels"

City staff say the roof is under warranty and a contractor is supposed to return to fix the leaks this week... The same contractor who has yet to fix the problem.

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Police chief blasts city manager over roof leaks

Boston, MA (PRWEB) July 27, 2012

Hiring a mold remediation contractor can balloon anybody's mold removal cost. But given that mold can make a place unsightly and a person sickly, mold sufferers are often left with no choice but to spend big for the sponges' removal process. However, with the presence of mold remediation products as that of Molderizer and MoldStat in the market and the cut down of their prices, anybody can now easily decrease his or her cleaning expenses.

Find the Best Mold Remediation Products

Nonetheless, Molderizer commented that a solution can minimize a person's mold removal spending only if the right product is picked. Otherwise, one can suffer more problems in terms of money and health. And so, it advised the public to examine carefully the mold remediation product before purchasing it.

The wrong choice of solution can basically add more money troubles as it can deliver an ineffective removal process. That will trigger the repeat of the cleaning task for up to several times. And needless to say that increases the money spent and even the time to finish the process.

In addition, the wrong choice of product can also bring someone several health problems. If the product picked contains harsh chemical ingredients, it could cause breathing difficulties, allergies and headaches to anybody exposed to it. That brings in medical expenses which in return add more financial problems.

Hence more than the money one can save, the choice for a mold removal product must also be based from the safety that a solution can give.

What Makes a Mold Removal Product Safe?

Among the mold removal companies offering big savings at the present, MoldStat and Molderizer are two of those that add safety to their advantages. With their price cuts, they promise a more affordable mold removal process and with their formulation, they also offer a safer mold remediation. However, they are in no way a copy of the other.

While MoldStat cuts its products' prices up to 20 percent, Molderizer offers its own with up to 10 percent discount and a free shipping. Apart from that difference, their safety claims also set one apart from the other. MoldStat declares its mold killer as a non-bleach formula. On the other hand, Molderizer asserts its mold removal products are made with natural ingredients and are signed off by an OCI chemist.

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Mold Remediation Products Cut Prices; Molderizer, MoldStat Giving Up to 20% Discount

A NewsChannel 3 investigation into moldy military housing first brought the dangers to light.

If mold is not cleaned up right the first time, families can get sick in their own homes.

But now, a new Virginia law that took effect over the weekend is making it harder for homeowners to find the right experts to help them.

A leaky roof, water damaged windows and wet drywall canalllead to mold problems.

And for the past year, mold inspectors and mold remediators, the professionals you turn to for help, have all been licensed by the state of Virginia.

The law was passed in 2009 to make sure that everyone who called themselves an expert in the field had some sort of education and training behind them.

But over the weekend, the entire mold remediation and inspector licensing program ended at the hands of Governor McDonnell in his mission to streamline state operations.

His commission on government reform and restructuring put the recommendation forward late last year. Everyone on the 31-member board voted to stop the licensing program.

Their reasoning? They say the environmental protection agency does not see a need to regulate mold remediation nationally, so Virginia was over-regulating where the EPA did not and they wanted to get rid of what they called a barrier to business.

Both the House of Delegates and the Senate then passed their own versions of the bill during the 2012 general assembly.

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Gov. McDonnell ends mold remediation and inspector licensing program

Officials in Dumont are testing the air quality in police headquarters and determining what steps need to be taken to address issues found during an inspection conducted by the Bergen County Health Department.

The levels of carbon monoxide are very high in the police department, which require the air quality test, and mold and lead paint are additional concerns in the environment, according to officials.

"We've been dealing with this for a number of months now," Borough Administrator John Perkins said at a recent meeting.

"There are some issues that need to be addressed as the result of the inspection done by the county health," he said.

The cost of the air testing is not to exceed $9,500, according to a resolution passed by the governing body at June 18 meeting.

The testing is being conducted by Birdsall Services Group, which Dumont used several years ago when the borough hall needed testing and remediation for asbestos.

Following the inspection by the Bergen County Health Department, officials learned of the high carbon monoxide levels and presence of mold in the police department's area.

"It's not black mold," said Perkins. "It's the mold that makes you kind of sneeze and feel like you have allergies."

There are also a couple of rooms including the evidence room and a back room in the department where the paint on the outside walls is peeling.

Perkins said that, based upon the length of time the paint has been there, it is likely it is lead-based and thus requires testing.

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Dumont officials authorize air testing in police department

PRINCETON N.J., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Vacation home owners and people buying homes that have been vacant for any period of time need to be alert to the possibility of an indoor mold problem, advised Jason Earle, founder of New Jersey mold inspection company 1-800-GOT-MOLD? .

Preventing mold problems in a home you're closing up, for any reason, is not difficult to do, Earle says. In an article on the company's website, http://www.1800gotmold.com, Earle offers instructions and advice on how to prepare a house for closure without inviting mold in as a guest.

"Nearly everyone can recall the distinctly musty odor of a vacation home left empty during the off season," Earle writes. "Few people give it much thought, but that specific odor is a surefire indicator of indoor mold growth, an unpleasant and unhealthy thing to have happening in a place where you intend to kick back and relax for a few days, weeks, or perhaps months.

"This is especially important if you or any of your fellow vacationers have asthma, allergies or sinus problems. While most people seem to think this simply comes with the territory, in reality it is completely avoidable."

Foreclosures

Adding to the importance of this issue is the current real estate market, which is flooded with foreclosures. A foreclosed home is highly likely to have been vacant for a long time before you as a bargain hunter find it. If you're lucky, the house won't have been gutted or vandalized and you can usually tell if this is the case by peeking in the windows.

However, you can't get a whiff of a mold problem from the outside. This requires at least a physical inspection and a good nose. It might also require a professional mold inspection and mold testing. Mold remediation is often a costly undertaking, and a house that's been closed up for a significant time can be so infested that it's cheaper to tear it down and build new than to remediate and repair it. This has a huge impact on your decision whether to risk buying it.

If you are seeking to buy a foreclosed home, find a way to get a thorough look at it, inside and out, before you make a deal.

It's important to know that it doesn't take much for a vacant house to develop a mold problem, Earle says. It doesn't require a roof or siding leak, a broken window or a plumbing failure. All it takes is humidity and condensation. So, a home that's left inadequately heated in winter or is not air-conditioned or dehumidified during warm weather can develop enough moisture to start the mold-growth cycle without any other defect.

In his blog at http://www.1800gotmold.com/blog, Earle writes: "When you close up a house, whether it's at the beach, in the mountains, or in a development, things start to happen that weren't happening when people were there. Humidity rises and falls with the weather, and when it rises it gives rise to mold growth in places you wouldn't expect in an occupied home.

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Beware of Mold Problems in Vacant Houses, Warns 1-800-GOT-MOLD? Founder

PRINCETON, N.J., June 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Finishing a basement is a popular way to add more living space to a home, but it's usually a mistake, says Jason Earle, CEO and founder of New Jersey mold inspection company 1-800-GOT-MOLD?.

"Many people think they have a dry basement, and that they can install carpeting and drywall and have a nice, cozy new living space," Earle said. "But it's a trap. There is no such thing as a dry basement. Concrete harbors massive amounts of moisture even when it looks dry. If you want that cozy new living space, there are some things you must know."

From his days in the basement waterproofing business to his entry into the mold inspection and mold remediation consulting business in 2003, through today, Earle has inspected thousands of homes in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and New York City. This region's homes are more likely to have basements than not.

Because a basement is below ground level, the water in the soil around the house and under the slab is exerting constant pressure on the foundation walls and the slab floor, Earle explained. And since concrete and block are porous, moisture gets through.

"A raw basement may seem dry because the incoming moisture is evaporating as it emerges. But as soon as you put anything organic and absorbent, such as carpeting, paper-backed sheetrock or wood in direct contact with the concrete, the water then transfers into that material," he said. "The result is mold growth, often leading to rot not what you had in mind for your TV lounge, recreation room or child's playroom."

In an article posted to the company website, http://www.1800gotmold.com, Earle explains in detail how to finish a basement without creating mold problems.

Mold growth occurs when a few specific factors are present. In fact, part of the problem is that these factors are very often present indoors because mold loves the same conditions we do, with fewexceptions.

Of all of the above factors, moisture is the most easily controlled. In fact, few of the other factors are easily or cost-effectively dealt with. So, control moisture you must. Moisture control is the mold-preventionmantra.

In the article, Earle details what to do and what not to do - when finishing a basement, starting with the reduction of moisture:

"If you have a damp basement or get water sometimes, you MUST do whatever is necessary to fix it before doing anything else. A dehumidifier is NOT the silver bullet, although they are necessary. If you can, you should do whatever you have to do to prevent the water from coming into the basement in the first place. This can sometimes mean excavating outside, fixing cracks and sealing the foundation properly (Big $$$$).

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Don't Finish Your Basement Until You Read This, Advises CEO of 1-800-GOT-MOLD?

A Bettendorf home with a history of mold problems and other alleged deficiencies was torn down Thursday, only seven years after it was built.

William and Shelly Wood took out a $400,000 mortgage in June 2005 to buy the home at 6275 Eagle Ridge Road, according to property records. The 2012 assessed value for the two-story home with 5,015 square feet of living space and the 0.59 acre lot was listed at $155,070, according to the Scott County Assessors Office.

The Woods subsequently filed two lawsuits in Scott County District Court against contractor Mark McManus and McManus Development.

One lawsuit claimed several problems with the homes construction, including doors, windows and flooring that were not properly installed, heating and cooling problems, granite that was cut incorrectly and excessive moisture levels in the interior walls and window areas on the west wall.

The second lawsuit claimed that excessive moisture in the home had resulted in a mold problem that caused or aggravated allergy problems for the Woods two sons.

McManus Development subsequently brought in several subcontractors as third-party defendants.

The Woods requested that both lawsuits be dismissed in May 2011.

McManus issued a statement Thursday that read: McManus Development has a long history of building quality homes for satisfied customers. We believe the house at 6275 Eagle Ridge Road, Bettendorf, Iowa, was built by our highly qualified employees and subcontractors in a manner that exceeded industry standards and building codes. We deny that anything we or our subcontractors did or allegedly failed to do caused any problems with the house.

Calls to William Wood and the Woods attorney were not returned Thursday.

Douglas Houston, owner of the Steamatic mold remediation business in Bettendorf, said that in his 15 years in the business, he has never heard of a home being torn down because of a mold problem, but there have been homes where the mold was so pervasive he had to strip the home down to just the wooden frame.

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Bettendorf home with mold problems torn down