Why does there seem to be an increase in mold related problems with newer homes?
There is an increase in mold problems with newer homes for two main reasons. First, manufactured wood products are increasingly being used in place of plywood or lumber. Manufactured wood products include wafer board, oriented strand board (OSB), particleboard (chipboard), and hardboard (fiberboard). These manufactured wood products are used for wall and roof sheathing, wall paneling, sub flooring, and joists. These manufactured or reconstituted woods are bonded together using a formaldehyde based glue. When damp they can become an excellent food source for mold. Secondly, energy costs have resulted in the construction of well-insulated highly energy-efficient homes, often having vapor barriers installed, but are poorly ventilated. This can create moisture problems that, if not corrected, will allow mold to grow. To prevent the mold growth, humidity levels should be below 50% and if water leakage occurs, it should be fixed immediately and the building material(s) dried out.
