Cause of mold?

8 years ago

I have an unfinished basement with cinder block walls, built around mid-1970s. In two corners, where there are downspouts outside, we have mold forming.

About 12 years ago we noticed some pressure cracks on the straight walls, which we had seen to with a company that does fiberglass taping. So far that seems to have solved that problem. At that time they also installed drains around the perimeter of the floor, and that too seems to have done away with seepage. We've never had a flooding problem that wasn't to do with pipes. And we've secured the gutters and downspouts.

But this corner thing: Who do I call to come look at it and assess it? How would I avoid an unscrupulous person trying to sell me service that was not needed? We have a dehumidifier down there ; should I place it closer to that side of the basement?

Someday we are going to sell this house; and I want to head off deal-killer problems.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

worthy
8 years ago
Check the downspouts while it's raining heavily. Are any connections leaking? Where do the downspouts lead? to splashpads? If so, connect longer pipes and move the water at least ten feet from your home on a grade steep enough to carry the water off.
Eleanor Grant thanked worthy
Ron Natalie
8 years ago
If you have mold, you have moisture. You need to find where the moisture is and how it is getting there. As worthy points out, it could be something as obvious as defective downspouts or surface grading. It could be that your exterior waterproofing is deficient. It could be your house is really humid and things are condensing in the uninsulated basement walls (there are easy tests for this).
Eleanor Grant thanked Ron Natalie
Related Professionals
Jackson General Contractors · Philadelphia General Contractors · Albany General Contractors · Cheyenne General Contractors · Waycross Interior Designers & Decorators · Elk City Interior Designers & Decorators · South Sioux City Interior Designers & Decorators · Montgomery Cabinets & Cabinetry · Somerset Cabinets & Cabinetry · Spring Cabinets & Cabinetry · Fredericksburg Cabinets & Cabinetry · Pittsfield Cabinets & Cabinetry · Lansing Cabinets & Cabinetry · Denver Cabinets & Cabinetry · Roswell Cabinets & Cabinetry
Eleanor Grant
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Thanks! I did contact a foundation company, and will get a second opinion on this also. My guess is that the waterproofing is deficient. We've had to do a lot of remedial work on this house. The downspouts do not leak and have pipes on the mouths leading well away from the house.