fbpx
  • Menu
  • Skip to left header navigation
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The Money Pit house logo

Home Improvement Tips & Ideas

  • Start Here
  • Money Pit Podcast
  • Media Kit
  • Posts
  • Search
  • Start Here
  • Money Pit Podcast
  • Media Kit
  • Posts
  • Search
  • Spaces
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Home Exteriors
    • Garages & Sheds
    • Outdoor Living
    • Basements & Crawlspaces
  • Reno/Repair
    • Heating
    • Floors
    • Windows
    • Roofs & Gutters
    • Lighting & Wiring
  • Popular Topics
    • Storage & Organization
    • Painting & Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Pests & Wildlife
    • Buying or Selling a Home
  • Features
    • DIY
    • Pet Friendly
    • Green Home
    • Quick Tips
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
    • The Money Pit Podcast
    • Your Calls, Our Answers Podcast
    • Money Pit Minute Podcast
    • Top Products Podcast
  • Spaces
    • Kitchens
    • Bathrooms
    • Home Exteriors
    • Garages & Sheds
    • Outdoor Living
    • Basements & Crawlspaces
  • Reno/Repair
    • Heating
    • Floors
    • Windows
    • Roofs & Gutters
    • Lighting & Wiring
  • Popular Topics
    • Storage & Organization
    • Painting & Decorating
    • Cleaning
    • Pests & Wildlife
    • Buying or Selling a Home
  • Features
    • DIY
    • Pet Friendly
    • Green Home
    • Quick Tips
  • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
    • The Money Pit Podcast
    • Your Calls, Our Answers Podcast
    • Money Pit Minute Podcast
    • Top Products Podcast
You are here: Home / Basements & Crawlspaces / Mold in Basement Walls
Basements & CrawlspacesMoldQ & A

Mold in Basement Walls

Facebook0Tweet0Pin0LinkedIn0Email0
Photo Credit: moldremediation101.com

John Rogers asks,

Hello, I live in Canada and we had mold in the basement. We had the exterior of the house graded away from the house, and had a spray foam insulation company come by and spray foamed our basement walls. I have since finished the basement to use as a rental property.

Last year, due to the gutters not being properly attached, we had some water fill up a window well during a heavy rain fall and come in through the basement window to the finished basement. This occurred in August — our tenants have stated that they smell mold in that room now (they didn’t smell anything before).

Upon inspection, there is no mold on the finished drywall and I personally don’t smell anything. I’m just wondering if it is possible that there could be mold behind the walls that they’re smelling — and if so, wouldn’t the mold make it’s way to the interior walls by now?

Any help would be appreciated. I know that the tenants never open the windows/blinds and kept the door closed for that specific room for awhile – so there was limited circulation.

Our Answer

<p>John, the answer to your question is yes — mold could be growing behind the drywall but I’m not hearing anything that tells me a major destructive investigation is warranted.  You could pull off some outlet covers, or registers or anywhere else you can get a peak behind but I would not recommend a major mold witch hunt.  First, a one-off leak like you’ve described doesn’t usually cause a major mold problem.  Sure, it can happen but if you have a leak, fix it and then move on, you often dont have the sustained moisture necessary for a major mold infestation.  Also, I’m always suspicious when people say the "smell" mold.  Its not like mold has a distinctive odor.  They could just as likely be sensing the dampness since they dont ever ventilate the space. </p>
<p>I will point out however, that drywall wasn’t the best choice for basement walls.  There’s a product called <a href="http://www.buildgp.com/densarmorplus-high-performance-gypsum-panels" target="_blank">DensArmor which is a wall board</a> with a fiberglass face, instead of paper.  Since the fiberglass is not organic, it can’t grow mold.</p>
<p>Before you go any further, I’d suggest that you install a <a href="http://www.santa-fe-products.com/product-solution/" target="_blank">good quality dehumidifier</a> in that area to really dry things out. Check out those from <a href="http://www.santa-fe-products.com" target="_blank">Santa Fe. Products</a>.  I have one on my basement and it makes a bug difference, even though we also have all the exterior drainage set up correctly.  I’m attaching the video I did with them recently.  Hope this helps!</p>
<p>Tom Kraeutler</p>

Facebook0Tweet0Pin0LinkedIn0Email0
Basements & CrawlspacesMoldQ & A

Reader Interactions

Community Answers

  1. John Rogers

    Thank you so much, really appreciate the response, Tom. 

    Reply

Offer An Answer... Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Footer

Favorite Posts

Best Heaters for a Garage: Forced Air, Infrared or Portable?

Basement Waterproofing Tips | How to Fix a Wet Basement

How to Make Natural Wood Stain Using Coffee, Berries & More!

How to Floor Your Attic Without Wrecking Your Roof

10 Easy Recipes for Natural Cleaning Products

Popular Podcasts

Episode # 2080: Stopping Noisy Plumbing | Fast Fix for Loose Wallpaper | Solutions for Smelly Water | Your Q & A

Episode #2079: Low-Voltage Landscape Lighting | Automatic Pet Doors | Kitchen Cabinet Organization | Your Q & A

Episode #2078: Quick Ideas for Curb Appeal | Top Home Repair Mistakes | Cleanups for Driveways & Walks | Your Q & A

Episode #2077: Paint Colors that say Wow | Top 5 Projects for ROI | Easy Fix for Noisy Radiators | Best Floors for Damp Places

Episode #2076: Kitchen Spruce Ups for Renters | Secret Code for Best Air Filters | Power Plan for Black Outs | Your Q & A

Newsletter

Get weekly updates with the latest tips and tricks to save money in your home.

No spam, ever.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Site Footer

  • Media Kit
  • Partners
  • Endorsement Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy and Cookie Solution
  • About
  • Affiliates
  • Cookie Policy (US)

Copyright © 1999–2021 The Money Pit · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!