On occasion, homeowners may be stumped by the “fungus problem” - specifi-cally, the growth of mushrooms on the underside of the sheathing of their roof. According to U.S. Department of Energy consultant Michael Lamb, the cause of this problem is often starts with moisture leaking into the house through the basement floor and walls. It is particularly frustrating because the problem often becomes evident after the homeowner has replaced older windows and weather-stripped the doors, actions which usually improve the maintenance of a home.

Unfortunately, once a house is weatherized, moisture can no longer escape through air leaks. These leaks are shut tight - shutting in the moisture that is conducive to the growth of various molds.

To control moisture in the basement, cover the floor with 8-mil plastic from wall to wall. To assure coverage, the homeowner should overlap the sheets by 3 to 6 inches, then tape the seams. Place wooden planks where you need to walk. Any loose mortar between the foundation stones should be chipped out. The homeowner should repoint the stones with hydraulic cement, then parge (cement skim coat) the walls from the floor up to where the outside grade begins. Apply two or three coats of latex-based foundation waterproofing, which should help keep the basement dry.

If homeowners want added protection against mushroom growth, they can add roof vents, using aerosol foam caulk to plug any holes leaking air into the attic. This is just a secondary
measure, however; sealing the attic floor is much more effective.

If there’s already mold in the home, the homeowner can kill it by
spraying it with a one to ten mixture of chlorine bleach and
water. Use fans to ventilate the area to protect against breathing in chlorine fumes. Dress appropriately and wear a respirator.

To continue the prevention of mold growth, monitor the home’s humidity with several relative humidity (RH) gauges. The RH should never exceed 45 percent. The RH can be controlled with fans in warm weather and heat-recovery ventilators in cold.

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New Roof Needed?

One of the first things a potential home-owner inspects is the roof, so it’s best to replace it if necessary prior to selling the house. While there is no agreed-upon at which a roof should be replaced, there are several clues that will indicate if the
roof is passed its serviceable life.

The first, and perhaps most obvious, clue is numerous leaks. Unfortu-nately, once the leaks spring up, water damage is quick to follow, so a smart homeowner will replace a roof before the leaks start
dripping.

If numerous shingles on a roof are missing, loose, broken, split or curled, if the mineral surface of asphalt shingles has worn through to the backing, a new roof would be a wise investment.

Even if the aging isn’t as obvious, profes-sionals recommend that the health of asphalt shingles is checked routinely. do this, bend over a corner of one or two shingles on the sunniest side of the roof. The material should flex without crum-bling or breaking. If it doesn’t, it’s time replace the roof.