Exterior Maintenance:

Often, the source of moisture or flooding begins outside the home. Gutters collect and move mass amounts of water on a single home with just a few inches of rainfall. A quick inspection of your gutters, down spouts, and the grading surrounding your foundation can indicate a potential problem. Gutters should be clean and properly sized for your home. Down spouts should draw drainage away from the home, to the lowest portion of your lot. In other words, the water should be directed to where it would drain naturally. Some areas allow drainage systems to be connected to city storm sewers and retention basins. Check with the water and sewer department in your area before making any changes that involve public systems.

The surface grading around your home should provide a gentle slope away from your foundation, pulling any added rainfall or moisture back into your lawn. Most building codes state that the surface grading should, in the first ten feet from the house, slope down at least six inches. Check with your local building codes to find out the specifics for your area.

Interior Maintenance:

Some basic steps for keeping your basement moisture free are to provide proper ventilation for dryers, bathrooms or any other sources of moisture, and making certain that your sump pump is in proper working order. It is essential in dealing with moisture, and during a flood can save homeowners thousands of dollars. A dehumidifier can help remove moisture from the air, which can aid in the prevention of the formation of mold.

Applying a waterproof sealant can keep moisture at bay and is not only easy, but relatively inexpensive to apply. Walls and flooring must be prepared before the sealant is applied, by scraping away loose materials, filling in cracks, and creating the cleanest surface possible by vacuuming. Simply follow the instructions included with the sealant for application and drying processes. If a sealant has been used in the past, but is no longer effective, you may need to remove the old material from your flooring before applying a fresh coat. This can be time consuming, but a little bit of extra work in the beginning of the process will yield a dry, moisture free basement in the long run.

Flooring Solutions:

If your basement is mostly used for doing laundry and completing small projects, a fresh, bright coat of paint is often enough to improve the appearance and help keep moisture at bay. However, a finished basement may have carpeting, tiles, and even hardwood flooring in some cases. Moisture and flooding can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage on these types of materials.

A simple, attractive and cost-effective alternative to these typical flooring materials is water resistant carpet tiles. Not only do carpet tiles not require a carpet pad, which can become soaked with water, causing a nightmare for homeowners dealing with flooding, but the tiles themselves are often water resistant and can be individually removed, cleaned, dried, and replaced in their original position at no cost to the home owner.

With a little knowledge and preparation, you can have not only a dry basement, but an attractive and inviting space that will likely add to the ultimate resale value of your home.

This was a guest post written by Jason Capshaw. Jason Capshaw is a weekend warrior and former general contractor. He loves woodworking and spending time on home improvements.

Photo Credits: cafemama

Originally posted 2010-02-05 16:29:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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1. Bleach.

This is probably the best and easiest way to quickly get rid of existing mildew. While it does smell very strong, it will usually bust through even the worst patches of mildew and help keep the area very clean. This is a very effective method, but not everyone likes to deal with bleach.

2. Antibacterial cleaners.

Any household cleaner that has an antibacterial element is usually very successful at cleaning up a mildew situation. Pinesol works wonders and there are a few other cleaners that can get the job done. You may also be able to find a special cleaner that is specifically made to address a mildew problem quickly.

Now, let’s go over what you shouldn’t use.

First and foremost, steam cleaners are pretty popular for areas that are exposed to a lot of water and humidity. However, when you hit a patch of mildew with a blast of steam, you are actually releasing all of those nasty little spores into the air. You don’t want those in your lungs, and by spreading them around the room, you may actually make the mildew problem worse.

So you know what cleans up mildew – how do you prevent it from happening in the first place?

In bathrooms, or wherever there is a lot of water, you’re running the risk of creating the ideal environment for mildew. These rooms are often quite humid and mildew can happen within a few hours. After your shower, spray down the entire tub or shower surfaces with a spray and leave on cleaner. This should be done every day and it can dramatically reduce mildew.

Next, you’ll want to find someway to vent out that humidity. You can open a window or even get a fan to suck the steam out of the room. Either way, the longer you let humidity hang around in a room, the greater your chances are of fostering mildew. When you get out of the shower, leave the bathroom door open for a few hours to let all of that steam dissipate. That’s one very easy method of preventing mildew.

If you have a room that is particularly bad you may want to consider adding a dehumidifier. This can be very useful in drying up the air so that mildew no longer has a fertile breeding ground. Just remember, if you’re putting it in the bathroom, make sure that it is away from any sources of water to avoid the risk of electrocution. You may also want to consider a whole house dehumidifier if your situation with mildew is particularly bad.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-07-31 05:26:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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If you live in a humid area, or your area gets a lot of rain, you may notice a mildew smell in the house that you can’t get rid of. Chances are, your crawlspaces have become damp and the mildew is forming up there. It is important to get rid of this problem as quickly as possible, since mold could also be forming inside that crawlspace. Take this opportunity to check your crawlspace and see what is going on up there.

Once you’ve determined that your crawlspace is indeed a bit damp, there are a few things that you will need to do. First, it is important to ventilate the area. Most crawlspaces are closed up all year round and little air can circulate through there. This creates the ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew spores. If your home does not have a vent, you will need to install one.

You can find appropriate vents at your local hardware store, and the process of installing them is quite easy. Locate a spot on an exterior wall and cut a hole through to the outside. Place the vent in, and properly secure it. You now have a way to get rid of that moisture buildup!

This will help, but you may also need to see what is causing dampness in your crawlspace. If the mildew is not severe, it may just be the side effect of living in a moist climate. If it is severe, chances are you may have a leak. You will need to inspect all the walls inside that crawlspace and look for any leaks that may be occurring. If you do find a leak, repair it immediately. Overtime, this can lead to serious water damage on your ceilings and walls.

Lastly, it is a very good idea to completely clean out your crawlspace. If you are storing excess insulation or even household items up there, remove them and find a new storage space. Insulation is a particularly nasty culprit when it comes to mildew and can be the source of a lot of mildew odor problems. If your crawlspace is permanently smelly, get fiberglass insulation that has a vapor barrier. Install this throughout the crawlspace, with the vapor barrier facing the top of the crawlspace. This will help keep the odors inside the space instead of in your home. This is a great solution if the damage has already been done and you need to get rid of the smell of mildew in your home.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-12-04 20:30:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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This leads to ruined belongings, stained shower curtains and fixtures, or even ruined household structures if allowed to go untreated. If you want to be sure mildew does not take root in your home, then it is necessary to remove it on sight and prevent it from coming back. In this article, advice will be dispensed on how you can eradicate it, along with ways to remove the conditions needed to allow it to get a hold in the first place.

When certain types of fungi called molds find a food source, they take root and begin to grow. The black and/or white spots that begin to form are what are commonly known as mildew. Spores from mold are always in the air, but it takes specific conditions for mildew to occur.

Anywhere the temperature is between the range of 41 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit, food is plentiful, and the air is moist, mildew can and will abound. Sadly, the growths that follow come with more than a foul aroma. Many, many people are allergic to mildew, some so allergic that they cannot function normally. There exists a condition known as "Sick Building Syndrome" that develops in people who live in highly contaminated homes. Sinus and respiratory problems are very common for these people, commonly with other chronic but otherwise unexplainable problems.

To save yourself and your family from these troubles, and to protect your belongings, you have to make it nigh on impossible for mildew to grow in your house. The temperature issues will be hard to deal with since people generally cannot abide temperatures outside the range that mildew can grow in. This means you will have to focus on the two other factors you can change, moisture and food.

Basements tend to be perpetually damp, so mildew will grow rampant there. Proper insulation of walls and making sure that the drainage outside is adequate will help a lot. If drainage is not adequate, water will always manage to seep in, keeping surfaces dam and allowing mildew to return. Use a dehumidifier anywhere the air consistently feels moist to help keep the levels down. Do not let wet laundry sit for long, and wash dirty laundry quickly. Inspect every space in bathrooms including cabinets and drawers, bathrooms are notorious for mildew.

Photo Credits: anemoneprojectors

Originally posted 2009-11-24 03:59:53. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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There are numerous kinds of mold that can attack a house. Most are non-lethal, but black mold is a whole other story. This is a pernicious mold that not only destroys your home, but it can also destroy your health. If you are worried that you have black mold in your home, do not attempt to remove it on your own. Doing so will only loosen the spores which can cause more health problems. Always contact a professional to handle this kind of job. Black mold is so bad that in some cases the only way to get rid of it is to burn the entire structure.

But let’s talk about your average, everyday, non-lethal mold. There are some spots in your home that are going to be more likely to get it – usually the spots where there is a lot of water. Bathrooms, under the kitchen sink or anywhere that you might have a leak. Mold can even be a problem outside in some cases. We’ve had homeowners report mold appearing in dog water bowls and on other surfaces outside the home.

In order to prevent mold, you’ve got to make sure that the environment is not conducive to its growth. Mold needs moist and humid temperatures to thrive. In the case of the bathroom, this means installing a proper ventilation fan and keeping doors open after your shower. Your goal is to dry out any moist areas as quickly as possible before the mold has a chance to grow.

If you’re already dealing with mold, you’re going to need to remove it quickly. Even though it may not be as deadly as black mold, regular mold can be a health concern. You’re going to need to get some hot, soapy water, preferably filled with an antibacterial cleaner. It’s a good idea to wear a mask during the cleaning process just in case. Thoroughly wipe the area down that is affected with mold and then dry it off. It is important to make sure that it is completely dry or you’ll end up with the same problem again.

Phones and other places that can harbor mold can be cleaned easily by using a solution of water and mouthwash. This is very effective, especially with the stronger ones that are formulated to kill bacteria. Dip a rag in the solution and thoroughly wipe, then dry the surface. This should kill the mold and prevent its reoccurrence.

With careful management, mold doesn’t have to be a factor in your home. Just remember – keep it dry and keep it cool.

Photo Credits: 1

Originally posted 2008-11-27 18:51:21. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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