Did You Know? Fall 2005

Preventing Toxic Mold in your Home

Fall Checklist

Toxic mold, dangerous to humans in large amounts, has plagued builders and home owners for years.

If you have not had your house inspected for such things, be on the lookout for the following changes in your home: swollen and crumbling boards, musty smells, or oddly colored speckling (brown, orange, pink) on walls or grout.

Many times there is nothing you could have done to prevent your home from developing toxic mold. Lumber that was not treated with fungicides or was stored outside for long periods of time before use in your home could he the culprit.

For these reasons, homes built during dry and hot seasons may have less chance of developing toxic mold. The wood had less chance of absorbing moisture before being used in the structure.

However, toxic mold can be an issue anywhere that moisture can rest on untreated wood. As a preventative measure, check for windows and doors that need to be resealed. Be sure if you have vinyl siding that it is fit securely to your home and no unwanted fungi are lurking behind.

A simple rule of thumb is that any moisture that lands on, under, over, or in your house must have a way for it to dry out quickly.

Mold is attracted to moisture that stays for long periods of time, giving it something to survive in and on. This is why many people find relatively harmless molds growing in their showers from time to time. They arc attracted to moisture that doesn't always evaporate as quickly as it should.

But toxic mold is dangerous.

If one or more of your family members has begun to develop specific symptoms you think are related to toxic mold, contact a doctor immediately.

Excessive exposure to the mold can have lasting health related
consequences. Look for memory loss, respiratory issues, difficulty swallowing, vision problems, headaches, and chronic fatigue.

If you have reason to believe that your home is growing toxic mold, contact a specialist immediately. They will present you with several options, one of which is new to the market. Foster, a company who produces construction coatings, have developed a new mold-resistant sealer.

The product is sprayed all over the home and has a 10 year warranty. It is able to kill some already existent mold and prevent the growth of mold, even in areas that are prone to flooding. Prices vary by area and contractor.

Source: www.realitytimes.com

Early Fall

Water, water, water. Give all plants a good drink, especially your trees.
Amend your soil. Get the ground ready for next year's beds and your fall bulbs
Plant shrubs and evergreens. Early fall planting gives new plants enough time to establish roots before winter. Plant fall annuals. As summer blooms fade, add color with fall annuals like mums, pansies, and ornamental kale.

Mid Fall

Lower the height on your mower. Grass grows more slowly in the fall, but it still should be trimmed to prepare for winter. A lower cutting height helps the soil dry out more quickly in spring.
Feed the birds. Don't forget your feathered friends their food supply grows scarce in the fall.
Divide and cut back perennials. Try rearranging plants if they haven't been working in their current location.

Late Fall

Get bulbs in the ground before the big freeze. Plant your favorite bulbs now for colorful springtime blooms.
Force bulbs indoors for winter color. Bulbs such as narcissus and hyacinth work well.
Feed your lawn. Don't let your lawn go into winter without the nutrients it needs to battle the long sleep.
Empty hoses, fountains, and drip-irrigation systems.
Bring tender container plants indoors.

Source: www.bhg.corn