This homeowner damage was due to water going behind the wood corner trim. This could had been prevented with $20.00 of caulking. Sadly, the insurance company refused to pay for the repairs. Estimate cost for a repair like this is in the thousands of dollars.
One of the biggest problems coming from moisture damage over time is, wood rot, and the second if not the first is, Mold Damage.
Water and Molds in Your Home Can Cause Health Problems and Structural Damage.
Homeowners insurance and liability involving water mold damage can run in problems with the agency. Most homeowner policies now include a clause that excludes or limits payments for water or mold-related issues. (You may want to check with your insurance company to find out if you are covered).While water and mold can be a problem, in most instances they can be prevented before causing excessive damage.
That is why it is important to have a home maintenance inspection showing detail pictures, written statements that you can send to your insurance company to be placed with your records. Check with your insurance company on what they call a time line prevention. Sample question to ask your insurance company, “If the washing machine water pipe drainage broke lose under the house, and the water is draining under the house, what would be the time line that would prevent the insurance company from paying for the repairs that occur“. Remember, this type of pipe damage would not take long to damage the wood and start the mold growing in your home.
What is Mold?
Molds reproduce by releasing tiny spores into the air. Spores that land on moist objects can start growing at a fast pace. There are thousands of different types of mold and we encounter many of them every day, in our homes and outdoors.
Toxic Mold.
Toxic mold is a type of mold that produces hazardous byproducts, called mycotoxins. While individuals with asthma and other respiratory problems may have reactions to many types of mold, it's thought that mycotoxins are more likely to trigger health problems in even healthy individuals. These toxins are believed to be linked to memory loss and to severe lung problems in infants and the elderly.
Floating particles of mold are invisible to the naked eye, so it's impossible to see where they might have landed until they begin to grow. Loose mold particles that accumulate on items within a house are easily inhaled and can be a constant irritation to the people and pets living there.
The toxic mold we hear most about is Stachybotrys chartarum, a slimy, greenish-black mold that grows on moisture materials, such as wood floors, vinyl, paper, drywall, and other similar products.
Many Insurance companies or building contractors will do a quick fix on a mold problem that is on the floor. They will insist that the floor be repaired using tile instead of wood or vinyl, that's because they know that mold does not grow on tile or cement.
Even if the mold in your home is not toxic mold, it can still be a problem, because any mold growing on material will in time destroy it.
Mold thrives in damp, humid conditions:
- Bathrooms with poor ventilation. Installing an exhaust fan helps.
- Leaky water pipes.
- Roof leaks.
- Water over run inside your house.
- Clothes dryers and exhaust fans that is vented under the house.
- Washing machine connections, inside and outside
Help Discourage Mold Growth:
- Install a dehumidifier in moist rooms.
- Keep carpet rooms dry.
- Insulate pipes and other cold surfaces to discourage condensation.
- Install plastic over window or storm windows to eliminate condensation on glass.
- Cover crawlspace dirt with plastic and ensure that the area is well ventilated.
