Some recent news stories have pointed out the various advantages and disadvantages of construction methods when it comes to mold prevention. The recent trend towards ‘green’ construction methods has put the spotlight on mold reducing innovations and materials.

While your home is already in place, you may find the ideas useful when it comes to planning renovations, particularly if your house is older and has some of the structural issues often associated with leaks, moisture and mold growth.

Here’s a look at some of the current conversation.

Builders in Vancouver are touting the merits of concrete over wood when it comes to greener building practices.

• Wood is cheaper but has undeniable problems – it absorbs water, expanding when it’s wet and can hold moisture which leads to mold growth, it can crack when it’s too dry
• They’re promoting ‘allergen free ventilation’
• Concrete is easier maintenance and it’s more durable vs. deteriorating and rotting wood

A First Nations home manufacturer is making quick-build homes from panels of magnesium oxide – a material that’s mould, mildew, water and fire resistant. The deplorable state of First Nations housing in many areas – with rampant infestations of toxic black mold – have made the news often over the last year . It’s essential to find materials that aren’t as susceptible to moisture and inherent mold growth. Many First Nations communities exist in the North where Canada’s extreme weather conditions reach their peak.

• He’s touting the properties of quick-build houses made of magnesium oxide panels
• It’s a very hard, durable material
• It’s resistant to any water damage including mold and mildew
• It’s also fire resistant

A company recently endorsed by Mike Holmes uses ‘Durisol’ blocks for residential construction which do not require a vapour barrier.

• Durisol is a proprietary wood/concrete material made of cement bonded with wood fibre
• The walls ‘breathe’ so the indoor air quality is better and ventilation problems are minimized
• They claim better water resistance and insulation properties
• It’s also termite and fire resistant
• It never rots or decays

Mold in Your Home? We Can Help!
New construction methods may help in the case of new construction or renovations but it’s important to remember that even new homes can present with mold. All it takes is moisture that lingers and that can happen where you don’t even see it.

Mold exposure is an acknowledged threat to your well-being and you may not know that mold even exists in your home until it affects your health. If you suspect any leaks or lingering moisture in your home, or if you’re experiencing flu-like or respiratory symptoms you can’t explain, give yourself peace of mind.

For Mold Inspection & Removal Services in Toronto, 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 weather is finally tolerable, the birds are chirping away outside and you might notice tiny little buds on nearly every tree branch if you squint hard enough. That means spring has finally come back to Toronto, and homeowners are beginning their spring cleaning rituals – but it’s not a complete spring cleaning without a mold inspection.  

When spring rolls around, we tend to go through all of our closets and storage, ensure every surface sparkles and attempt to completely refresh our living spaces. The best way to top this off is to undergo a professional mold inspection. It’s vital for the health of your home, the indoor air you breathe and the heath of your family, much more so than a bit of Pledge here and there.   

While some species of mold may only irritate preexisting allergies or asthma, other varieties can be deadly. Those who have never experienced allergies before might develop a mold allergy from continuous exposure to indoor mold spores, and a mold infestation can cause serious damage to the structural integrity of a home by feasting away on drywall and wood.  Spring brings warmer temperatures and with that comes higher humidity, more rain and some serious thawing, which could result in water entering your home.

Mould thrives in moist areas and this usually includes basements with a tendency to leak, but moisture intrusion in a home might occur in hidden areas such as behind walls without you even knowing.   We spend much more of our time inside our homes than we realize. Because it’s impossible to discern between harmless, inconvenient mold and the mold that is harmful to your health without laboratory testing, a mould inspection is the best way to top off your spring cleaning for optimal indoor air quality and family health.

Know what you’re getting into. For professional Mold Inspsection Services in Toronto and Ontario, Contact Moldinspections.ca today.  We can help.

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