Toxic Intruder: Black Mold Panic Has Families Fleeing Their Homes

ABCNEWS.com ^ | 11/29/02

[sit-rep]

Well, before you get all bunched up, I was exagerating slightly on how much I charge if it is mildew vice black mold. It is a fact, that most home owners have their minds made up about certain things, long before I get there. If they want me to gut a bath room that only needs a coat of kilz, I'll gut the bath and charge them accordingly.

Don't lump me in with "Where have all the honest tradesman gone"...you don't even know me, the work I do, nor the quality behind it. There are some real hacks out there in the world. I am the direct opposite, and people pay for me to do their work whatever I charge. Most say, "I don't care what it costs...I want an l.e.d. lit glass block bar w/granite countertops, I want this, I want that".

Alike, I am not a rich man. I am raising a family of five, single income, and no plans on owning a Jag...ever. If an opportunity plops in my lap to make a good buck on a job, I'm jumpin' on it...your ol' man would do the same.

SR

[snopercod]

I forgot to mention.

I had the same sweating problem in my walk-in basement. Not only did the concrete walls sweat, but the cold water plumbing (copper), the toilet tank, and the pressure tank for the well. The "junk" I have stored down there was getting green mold (mildew?) all over it, and metal tools were rusting.

A small DeLonghi dehumidifier completely solved that problem. I ran it round the clock all summer at very little cost in electricity. It kept the basement at 60%RH.

When we had our annual pest inspection, the pest control company made a note: "Dehumidifier in Basement". I assume that's because they are liable for wood rot.

[A CA Guy]

Tort Reform......Tort Reform......Tort Reform

[Restorer]

www.thermastor.com

DEC International, Inc.
Therma-Stor Products
1919 S. Stoughton Road • P.O. Box 8050 • Madison, WI 53708
(608)222-5301 • (800)533-7533 • Fax (608)222-1447

The product is Ultra-Aire Air Purifying Dehumidifier.

[sit-rep]

Snippy about it, this is one I'm working on now. This is a view of the entertainment center shell, in the corner of an 1800 sq ft basement. I'm installing a glass block bar, bath w/shower. I do everything except carpet...everything. I walk in to four concrete walls with the hot wtr heater and furnace(s) in the corner, a month and a half later, I walk out with a check.

This one I show a pic of has a price tag of about $28,000.

I do very good work and folks pay me to do it...that includes gutting a bath and replacing it just because some mildew is starting to grow through the existing paint.

FYI...

Restorer, where's your home 20?

SR