Gallery 4: Miscellaneous & Strange

Unless otherwise indicated, all photographs are the property of envirochex.  Permission is required for use by others.

(Click on Thumbnail Picture to view enlarged photo in a new window)

Photos 3-4: Efflorescence is a phenomenon that some confuse with "mold growth" as it may reappear after it is cleaned up.  In actuality, it occurs as moisture moving through the cement carries salts to the surface.  As the water evaporates, it leaves the salts behind. 

Photos 5-6: Organic debris left in crawlspaces provides a great source of nutrients for mold growth.

Photo 7: Not all mold on the structure is the fault of the structure.  This photo shows what happens when the client confessed that someone put a wet cardboard box against a dry wall in the storeroom.

Photo 8: Droppings are evidence of pest problems that require attention for optimum building health (i.e. many rodents shed viruses when they defecate or urinate).

Photos 9-12: Fungi in the form of "fleshy mushrooms" can be found indoors - generally when substrates have very high moisture content for extended periods. 

Photos 13-14:  Myxomycete fungi (slime molds) can often be found in crawlspaces.  The tell-tale "vein pattern" (photo 14) shows evidence from the plasmodium stage and hanging "beard" (photo 15) depicts the fruiting body stage (possibly Stemonitis??). 

Photo 15:  Client phoned on a very cold day and said "black mold" suddenly appeared on the crown molding of her rental house.  I asked what kind of heating system she had and she said "little gas heaters you light with a match".  I advised her to shut them off and get out until I could arrive.  Upon investigation, the "mold" turned out to be soot-covered cobwebs from bad burners in the unvented heaters. Carbon monoxide levels exceeded 200 parts per million within 30 seconds of lighting the living room heater.

Photo 16: Commonly referred to as "tub & tile mold", fungal growth in these areas is generally caused by an inappropriate build-up of organic nutrients (dust/dirt/debris, body oils, soap scum, etc.).  Keeping these areas clean of organic matter is key to controlling growth. 

Photo 17: Fungal colonization of a petri-dish exposed to an indoor environment with no known problems.  Since airborne spores are present outdoors virtually all of the time, we expect to see some colonization on such plates virtually every time (which makes "settle plate testing" an unreliable method to determine if you have an indoor mold issue). 

Photo 18: White speck is a fungal organism that invades living softwoods but ceases to develop once the tree is cut.  Lumber grading generally considers it a "cosmetic defect" and it may be found in framing lumber.

Photos 19-23: One of the reasons for the statement "all houses have mold".  Finding evidence of fungal growth on framing lumber within a home is virtually guaranteed because framing is exposed to the elements during construction.  Once the structure gets a roof and exterior walls, drying of framing lumber commences and the organisms begin to go dormant.  It is not uncommon for lab results to state "trace spores with abundant hyphae" after the house is finished - all that hammering and banging around tends to knock the spores off the dried colonies. 

Photos 1-3: Examples of wood decay (wood rot) fungi.  Photos courtesy of Robert A. Blanchette, University of Minnesota [Link}
 

Photos 1-3: Crawlspaces can be homes to all kinds of critters and those of us who go "down there" are usually on the lookout for unwanted company.  The 'mummy' was the first time I've seen rat remains so well preserved in three dimensions.  And I consider snake skins as a good news/bad news scenario - it's no longer here; however, it's been here and is now bigger than it used to be!

Photos 4-5: Beer cans seem to show up in strange places.  I'm sure the roofers weren't drinking on the job - they just found one laying on the roof of this commercial building and it was the perfect size for the drain they were plugging, right?  The crawlspace beer can is puzzling - was it in the contractor's tool box when he went under this house or did his helper hand it down through a hole in the floor?
 

| Home | Services | Topics | Products | Photos | Resources | About | Contact |