An unfortunate Woodbridge family has had to vacate their home due to unliveable conditions that include a serious mold infestation. They are living at a local hotel while they wait to hear whether municipal officials will step in to help their situation as they wait for a knot of lawsuits to wind its way through the courts.
Sydney Walters lives at the home with his girlfriend and 13 year-old son, along with her sister and brother in-law. In 2004 when they bought the then 2-year old home for over $300,000, Sydney admits they were naïve rookies. They lived in the house for six years enduring suffocating heat in the summer and freezing cold in the winter.
Attic Insulation
The problem? There was little to no insulation in the attic, a fact they only discovered in 2011. The family had hired a series of contractors to try and get at the roots of the problem, but for whatever reason, the attic was only recently investigated.
He says they didn’t realize how high their utility bills were in comparison to anyone else’s. Most importantly, they didn’t hire an independent home inspector, reasoning that the home, being only 2 years old at the time, didn’t require it.
No Insulation = Moisture
In the winter, his roof has no snow on it – he turns up the heat and it passes right through the roof, melting the snow and causing leaks. In the summer, it’s uncomfortably hot even with the A/C on. The leaks and wild fluctuations in temperature have resulted in moisture build up and caused a significant mold infestation. He says his family doctor has told him the home is unsafe. In April 2011, the City ordered him to install the insulation to bring it up to code.
No one disputes the basic fact – but a number of parties are arguing who’s at fault, and it’s caused a cascade of legal actions. Mr. Walters is suing the city because an inspector in 2002 failed to catch the problem – in fact the report doesn’t say anything about the attic. So far, the city has responded only by saying their legal department is looking into the issue. He is also suing the builder. The city has subsequently sued the builder, and the builder is countersuing the city, along with suing the drywall subcontractor. The drywall subcontractor, in turn, has said that it hired yet another party to actually do the work.
Allegations in the lawsuits involve mention of health effects to the family, including asthma and serious allergies.
When it Comes to Your Home
The family’s nightmare underscores the importance of a thorough home inspection that includes a mold inspection and the kinds of issues like attic insulation which can lead to mold infestation. You don’t want to take chances or just keep your fingers crossed that your home is mold free.
Mold Inspections can help with Mold Detection Services. We can find the mold you can’t see with our cutting edge equipment and mold testing methods, combined with seasoned professionals who know how to get the job done right.
For Mold Testing and Detection Services in Toronto, Contact Moldinspections.ca
Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.
The availability of a bladder cancer drug globally is in question after a Toronto pharmaceutical company – Sanofi Pasteur – had to halt production due to mold issues at their manufacturing plant.
Health Canada confirmed in a media release that the sterile manufacturing plant temporarily ceased production of the drug ImmunoCyst until the extent of any mold contamination is determined. Testing will include all production batches of the drug before any of the existing inventory is released for sale, which essentially removes the drug from the market once the current on-the-shelf stock has run out.
Health Canada will be consulting with international authorities worldwide about the potential shortage. An alternative drug is available in Canada.
No ‘Small’ Flood
As the manufacturer of such an important cancer treatment drug, naturally the requirements for production conditions are very stringent in order to maintain a sterile environment. A small flood in their facility in October is believed to be the source of the persistent mold infestation.
The Lesson for Anyone
The subtext of the story is clear for any home- or property owner: it could happen to you. Even under the most sterile of conditions, all it can take is an unforeseen incident like a flood in heavy rainfall and mold can begin to take hold in walls and floors where you’ll never see it. You may think that you’ve dried everything out, but you can’t see everywhere that moisture can linger.
When it Comes to Your Home
You don’t want to take chances or just keep your fingers crossed that your home remains watertight. Leaks and mold growth are often interconnected, and that’s one important reason to inspect various areas of your home on a regular basis.
- Roof shingles – skimping and cutting corners often leaves you worse off than you were before
- Attic – this is where leaks can go undetected for long periods of time, leading to areas of constant moisture and mold growth that you don’t even know about
- Eavestroughing and siding – leaks can seep into the walls of your home where mold can flourish without you ever seeing the signs
- Windows – this is another common area for water to seep in via leaks in the window itself, flashing or other outside elements
Get Professional Help
Whether your basement is damp because of a flood or chronic seepage over time, the risks are clear. Mold Inspections can help http://www.moldinspections.ca/mold-detection/ with Mold Detection Services. We can find the mold you can’t see with our cutting edge equipment and mold testing methods, combined with seasoned professionals who know how to get the job done right.
For Mold Testing and Detection Services in Toronto, Contact Moldinspections.ca Please call us for a hassle-free quote today.
MoldInspections.ca is the trusted leader for mold-free homes and breathable indoor air spaces in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and beyond. Providing certified mold inspection, detection and testing since 2005, we service home owners, real-estate agents, landlords, property managers, insurance companies and businesses. Featured on CTV and recommended by contractors, we regularly serve as expert witnesses in court proceeding relating to Mold and Indoor Air Quality issues. Do you have mold? Call us today for a free quote at (416) 575-6111.