MOLD SOURCES

Following are some moisture problems that cause indoor mold growth: 

Water Intrusion 
Rainwater can enter a building through leaks in walls, windows or the roof. Surface or ground water may enter when there is poor foundation drainage. Flooding can, of course, cause catastrophic intrusion. In buildings that have slab construction, water can seep or wick up through the cement floor causing mold to grow on carpet pads or carpet backing. The building envelope (walls, windows, floors , roof , etc.) must be well maintained to prevent water from coming in, both to prevent mold growth and to maintain the structural integrity of the building. 

Water Vapor 
When relative humidity (a temperature-dependent measure of water vapor in air) becomes elevated indoors, building materials and furnishings absorb the moisture. Those damp materials can then provide a good place for mold to grow. If there are no cold condensing surfaces and the relative humidity (RH) is maintained below 60 percent indoors, there will not be enough water in those materials for mold to grow. However, if the RH stays above 70 percent indoors for extended periods of time, mold will almost certainly grow. 

Damp Concrete
Wet or damp concrete slabs often contribute to indoor mold problems. Concrete absorbs water like a sponge. Wet concrete in and of itself, is not a problem. However, construction materials that are attached to wet concrete, such as wood framing, wood flooring, carpet, pad, tack strip, cabinets, etc., can all absorb the moisture from a concrete slab, causing those materials to deteriorate over time and establishing the ideal conditions and food sources for accelerated mold growth.

Q&A about wet concrete:

1. It never actually dried.
   Concrete is poured wet, but often times, building contractors are under pressure to meet deadlines and don't allow sufficient drying time for the concrete before construction begins. The result is, the slab stays wet for months, even years longer than it should have, and in some case may never really dry out. In recent years some builders have adopted minimum moisture requirements for concrete before construction can begin, meaning they will not start framing a structure until the concrete slab has reached a specific moisture level.
   
2. In sufficient moisture barrier.
   Before indoor mold conditions became the big issue it is today, little attention was paid to installing moisture barriers under poured concrete slabs. Inadequate or non-existent moisture barriers under concrete slabs is a serious problem, especially in places like California where subterranean conditions exist (meaning the land slopes toward the structure) because rain and irrigation water flows to the slab, often saturating the ground below.
   
3. Improper irrigation and /or drainage
   is a major contributor to excessive slab moisture. A high percentage of the indoor mold problems we encounter are the direct result of sprinklers hitting the house and saturating the walls or foundation. As a rule, people tend to over-water landscaping, and often times soaking shrubs, sod and flowers that make contact with exterior walls. In other instances, the landscape isn't necessarily over-watered, but the ground against the building stays wet due to insufficient drainage.
   
4. Plumbing issues.
   This includes under-slab water supply lines that break or leak, interior water supply lines to plumbing fixtures that break or leak onto the slab, habitual water spillage from over-flowing bath tubs and showers, dried out wax rings or improperly seated toilets, leaking icemaker supply lines, hot water tanks, dishwashers, washing machines, humidifiers, etc.
   
5. Caulk and grout.
   Bath tub and shower grout and caulk are things we don't often think about until we see mold growing. By the it's already a problem. Regular maintenance of tub and tile grout and caulking can't effectively reduce the potential for bathroom mold, and in some instance eliminate it. It should be noted that some builders do not seal tub and shower tile work. Even if they do, sealing is not a once in a life time event.

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