No easy fix for expensive problemBy Prentiss Findlay (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Mic Smith Melinda Ballard sits in her Orange Street home in downtown Charleston on Thursday. Ballard's home in Texas was demolished because of extensive mold problems. Mold Prevention TipsKeep humidity levels between 40 percent and 60 percent Promptly fix leaky roofs, windows and pipes Thoroughly clean and dry after flooding Ventilate shower, laundry and cooking areas Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Previous storiesVerdict: $125,000 in mold lawsuit, published 08/19/08 Family recounts mold ordeal; Couple suing builder say they faced hefty repair bill, illness, published 07/09/08 Mold contamination drives 2nd family from home, published 07/10/08 Homeowners file suit; mold tests planned, published 07/11/08 Mold caused health issues, family says, published 08/14/08 Melinda Ballard felt so bad that she wondered if she had cancer. Eventually, she learned her illness was related to mold in the leaky Dripping Springs, Texas, home where she lived before moving to Charleston. "You almost feel like you're dying because it's such chronic fatigue," Ballard said. Seven years ago, a Texas jury awarded her $32 million after hearing arguments in her mold-related suit. Her insurance company appealed the verdict to the Texas Supreme Court. Ballard decided to settle the suit for "a goose egg," in essence walking away from the situation because she feared her case would be remanded for a new trial. That would have meant she couldn't bulldoze the house because it would have to be preserved as evidence. She feared the home would become a tremendous liability. "I just wanted to get out of Texas," she said. She spent $2 million on the trial and lost $9 million on the house, she said. During her Texas legal battle, she had gotten to know Charleston as a frequent visitor to Renaissance Weekend. She purchased a home here and took up the cause of mold-related health and financial issues for homeowners through her locally-based non-profit organization, Policyholders of America. She said that she fields hundreds of e-mails and phone calls daily from homeowners with questions about mold. "It's serious business when you talk about people's assets," she said. Problems with mold in houses here are not unusual, experts say. "Everybody in the coastal region should run a dehumidifier in their house. Almost every house that we check on, all the levels seem to be elevated. It's rampant," David Swinea, president of Cleanx Corp. of West Ashley, said. Terrence Tully, owner of Moisture Control Experts of Summerville and Mount Pleasant, tested the homes of three Daniel Island families that left their residences recently after consulting doctors. Benjamin and Joy Allen said that for months they lived with health problems that affected a young daughter severely. When they noticed a moldy growth on the house exterior, they called in Tully, who opened up a wall and found extensive mold. They recently sued the builder, alleging that construction defects allowed water to seep inside walls, creating conditions for widespread mold. Tully said musty odors and cupped floors are signs of a possible mold problem. Some homeowners report headaches, a runny nose or flu-like symptoms. Pregnant women, kids and the elderly are most susceptible to problems. "It just depends on the person," he said. Odor is a good way to pick up on a mold problem, he said. However, it might not be apparent to a homeowner who has lived with the smell for a long time. "Get away for a day or two," he said. Eleven years ago, Tully re-located his business from Long Island, N.Y. He said homeowners initially were skeptical when he recommended mold control measures such as a dehumidifier in a crawl space. "We were told we were crazy Yankees," Tully said. Government standards or regulations for acceptable levels of residential indoor mold are non-existent, but federal and state agencies recommend actions that homeowners can take to prevent mold growth, which might lead to a health problem. Maintenance to reduce moisture is the key to preventing a serious mold infestation, experts say. Keeping humidity levels between 40 percent and 60 percent; promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows and pipes; thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding; and ventilating shower, laundry and cooking areas are recommended ways to control mold growth, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "If you can see or smell mold, a health risk may be present," according to the CDC. There is no practical way to eliminate all mold and mold spores indoors, but the way to control mold growth is to limit moisture, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. If a mold contamination problem is present, inhaling mold spores can produce health symptoms including irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs. Molds produce allergens, irritants and in some cases potentially toxic substances, the EPA says. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control does not perform mold tests or inspections in homes. It recommends consulting the yellow pages under "Environmental Consultants" for professional advice and assistance. The local phone book also has listings under mold and mildew services. Local mold inspectors said consumers should look for professional certification from the American Indoor Air Quality Council of the Indoor Air Quality Association Inc. Check that the business has environmental pollution insurance and is bonded, Swinea said. Jim Clark, an environmental consultant with Environmental Solutions and Service of Mount Pleasant, said Indoor Air Quality Association certification includes a four-year science degree, eight years of experience, a week-long class, testing and passing muster with a review board. Clark said some unqualified companies use a "shock treatment" method that bombards homeowners with bad news from mold test results. The recommended solution is highly-overpriced remediation for a problem that may be minor, he said. Acts of God, improper construction and lack of maintenance can cause a moisture problem that creates a place for mold to grow indoors, Clark said. Homes are built more air-tight these days which is a new factor in the creation of an indoor mold problem, he said. Ballard cautioned that there is a downside to testing for mold. "If you have to test, know that you may be destroying your own property value," she said. "Stealth testing" which does not directly connect mold test results to a property address is an option, she said. A homeowner can take an indoor sample using a Q-tip or scotch tape and send it to an EPA-accredited lab. The results are e-mailed, she said. Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com |
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Comments
This article has 14 comment(s)
Posted by paulc84 on August 31, 2008 at 2:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ought oh!!!! That Ballard lady got $32 million! I looked at that story with the three sick families that d.r. horton made sick with the mold.
d.r. horton is in for a spanking. I lost my job as a carpenter because of those Mexican workers d.r. horton used. I say it again, ought oh!!!! d.r. horton went south of the border for the workers--that company is going way, way down. I want to be a juror on those cases. d.r. horton sinking fast--maybe they will start hiring skilled workers instead of those Mexicans.
Ought oh!!!
Posted by watchdog on August 31, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mold has always been a problem, everywhere JOHNQ2. You think the mold decides where to go ? They have new HVAC systems that have built in dehumidifiers, I suggest getting one.
Posted by metallic on August 31, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Ballard thinks that "mold remediation" means one demolishes the building with mold?
EVERY historic home in Charleston has mold -- usually large amounts of it because the A/C systems have created condensation problems the old structures were never designed to handle.
Watch out Charleston! Wrecking ball Ballard is in town!
(And I'm still trying to figure out why Ms. Ballard would move to Charleston if she suffers from such severe allergies from mold? Most reasonable people would move to a more arid climate if they had such problems -- I've known people who have moved to Arizona because of such allergies.)
Posted by oldglory on August 31, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I never saw any mold as a child (back in the day, of course). Never even saw any until I was in my early 60s. Sort of curious, isn't it. Just have to assume it's what is used in construction these days, I guess.
Posted by oldglory on August 31, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ooops! Should mention that I've lived in SC for only a few years.
Posted by RTC on August 31, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She lived in a "leaky home" in a town called "Dripping Springs", Texas. Is this supposed to be some kind of joke?
Posted by buff_o_rilla on August 31, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Todays construction allows for a more air tight structure, when a home is not allowed to breath, mold is just one of the problems that happens.
Posted by GreenvilleGirl on August 31, 2008 at 1:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mold can be anywhere where there is moisture. What the woman in the article may not realize is that most normal, middle income people don't always have the resources to gut their home, replace their HVAC systems, or repair problems that occurred because of substandard workmanship or materials.
When national builders migrated to the South, many local builders where either bankrupted or forced to sell their business to the national companies in order to survive. Then came mass production. Local officials loved the growth, not realizing that tract builders were bringing a plague of problems. So, with the blessing of officials, they came in, they built, they got rich, they left.
Nothing is wrong with holding a builder accountable for building substandard housing. If I had a mold problem in my house that was making my family sick, my first priority would be my family, and my next priority would be my home....and holding those accountable if substandard construction was an issue. However, if I did not obtain an inspection before I bought the house, I should share some of that accountability.
I personally think older homes(even historic homes) may not have as many problems because
1) plaster was used, and it's not very porous,;
2) sheet rock(gypsum board) was much less porous than what is used today;
3) workmanship was much better - my daughter rents a home downtown that was built in 1852. It is a wonderful home, especially considering its age;
4) building codes and standards have been changed, and volume builders only build to the MINIMUM standards that are required by law.
FHA/HUD used to require 10 year warranties on new homes(less than 1 year old); now they only accept the builder's warranty which is only 2 years, I think. HUD changed it because the warranty companies were going bankrupt because of claims. What a red flag!
On the other hand, mold is like termite infestation. If you live in SC, you know you're going to get it. You do what is necessary to prevent it, and when it occurs you do what is necessary to get rid of it.
When you're purchasing a house, get an inspection that will cover radon and mold(this is NOT the appraisal required by the lender), and purchase a long term home warranty. The inspection and the warranty will be the best money you ever spend. You can even get a warranty when there's no Realtor involved.
Posted by GreenvilleGirl on August 31, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I googled Ms. Ballard's name to get more information the problems she had with her home in Texas. Interesting. She bought a 7400 sq. ft. house for $275,000 at a foreclosure sale in 1990. While she did have problems with the plumbing(which could have been replaced, given the claims initially paid by the insurance company)and she had buckling floors, it appeared to me that her insurance company was MORE than generous prior to her law suit.
Her insurance company paid out over $2,000,000 before the law suit was brought by Ms. Ballard and her husband, Mr. Allison. While $32M was awarded by a jury, the appellate court overturned the award and reduced it to $4M(less the $2M already paid.
Most of us would have gladly accepted the insurance company's settlement. If anyone would like to read about this case, google Mary Melinda Ballard and look for this link(sorry, I couldn't get it to link properly):
"Mold Isn’t Gold Texas Supreme Court Concludes Mold Claims Not Covered"
I'd love to hear anyone's comments about this case.
Posted by metallic on August 31, 2008 at 2:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It sounds like Ms. Ballard knows how to "milk the system."
If you think your homeowner's insurance rates are high, know that Ms. Ballard has been working hard to make them that way!
Posted by paulc84 on August 31, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I woke up and read metallics writing about milking the system. Those poor insurance companies--I feel so bad for them--they cant make enough money. So sad--I'm in tears for them.
I got to go to work, but I'll say it again to d.r. horton--ought oh!!
Also, Clemson needs to wake up and play some football.
Posted by Pro_Texana on August 31, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
These mold lawsuits forced insurance rates through the roof in Texas, and several national companies have left the state.
Posted by shamelshipman on September 1, 2008 at 11:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Ballard, and any other homeowners with mold concerns, should check out the remarkable research on toxic mold removal done by environmental expert Dr Ed Close. Simply diffusing a therapeutic-grade essential oil regularly will likely result in an environment very hostile to mold.
http://www.secretofthieves.com/mold.cfm/...
It seems like this would make traditional remediation projects easier, more effective and affordable, as well as creating a healthier environment in which to live.
In one instance, 10,667 stachybotrys mold spores were identified in a per cubic meter area. After diffusing Thieves essential oil for forty-eight hours, Dr Close retested. Only thirteen stachybotrys remained. Similarly, 75,000 stachybotrys mold spores were identified in a sample of sheetrock. After seventy-two hours of diffusing, no stachybotrys mold spores remained. (Stachybotrys has a reputation for being the most toxic mold.)
Posted by MrsKramer on September 2, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excellent article about the hazards from mold from both the physical and financial aspects if not properly identified and addressed. Ms. Ballard, who obviously had the means to settle with her lawsuit and - win or lose - walk away from the issue, is to be commended for her continued commitment. She volunteers countless hours toward solving a multi-facited, complex issue that is negatively impacting us all. Bravo, Ms. Ballard! You are genuinely helping to bring about change. Thank you for all your dedication and years of hard work.