Consumer Protection

Murray, just how bad can mold be in our home if we leave it unchecked. John C. Birmingham, MI

John I thought it would be more interesting to read what happened to this family in Daniel Island, Washington.

Mold drives family from 'dream' home

Expert says repairs could cost more than $100,000

By Prentiss Findlay (Contact) The Post and Courier Sunday, July 6, 2008

Benjamin and Joy Allen's dream home in Etiwan Park on Daniel Island has turned into something of a nightmare. Above: Terrence Tully with Moisture Control Experts must wear a respirator in the house while he examines it for mold.

Benjamin and Joy Allen's dream home in Etiwan Park on Daniel Island has turned into something of a nightmare. Above: Terrence Tully with Moisture Control Experts must wear a respirator in the house while he examines it for mold.
Rotten wood is visible between the exterior and interior walls of the house.

Rotten wood is visible between the exterior and interior walls of the house.
Benjamin Allen moved his family to Daniel Island in 2005 from the Washington area, where he worked in national security for the Bush Administration.

Benjamin Allen moved his family to Daniel Island in 2005 from the Washington area, where he worked in national security for the Bush Administration.
The Allens had their home tested for mold after they noticed it growing on the home's exterior.

The Allens had their home tested for mold after they noticed it growing on the home's exterior.

Anyone entering the home of Benjamin and Joy Allen on Daniel Island must wear a protective mask.

At first it appears that a family lives there, like they just stepped out for a while. The kids' rocking horse and stuffed animals are there. The kitchen is well-stocked. But a large rectangular hole has been cut into a wall.

"This is the worst I've found on Daniel Island," said Terrence Tully, owner of Moisture Control Experts of Summerville. The wheezing respirator he wears muffles his voice as he talks about the family's mold problem.

The Allens paid Tully $2,280 to test their home for mold May 26 when they noticed it growing on the outside of the house. When the results came back, they abruptly left what they considered their dream home on the advice of their doctor. They have been living with friends since May 30.

Tully discovered mold, which essentially is a fungus, on the inside of walls of the Allen home. That was bad news because the walls are made of porous material that allows mold spores to spread to the rest of the house via the heating and cooling system.

Moisture seeped into the home's walls, creating a wet environment conducive to mold because, Tully thinks, window flashing was not properly installed. Flashing is material that fills the space between the edge of a window and vinyl siding that prevents wind-driven rain from getting inside walls.

Tully said fixing the mold problem could cost more than $100,000. He has done limited testing at the Allen home because of the expense, cutting into some walls to evaluate the situation. "You don't know what you have until you start opening it up," he said.

If the Allens move back home, Tully said that anything porous in the house must be removed. That includes furniture, bedding and carpeting. Insulation must be removed from the interior walls. Windows and doors must be fixed to prevent another moisture problem. And the area must be fogged with a chemical to kill mold, he said.

In the meantime, the Allens are living day-to-day. Their daughters, Madeleine, 3, and Ellie, 4, cry themselves to sleep because they don't understand why they left their home, and why they can't have their stuffed animals, Joy Allen said.

Because of their disrupted home life, the daughters become upset when their mother leaves for her job as a music therapist at Trident Regional Medical Center.

"They're normally not like that," she said. "They're scared. They're absolutely scared. They don't want to go to bed at night. They want their rooms."

A next-door neighbor of the Allens, David Pittman, said the Allens' apparent problems with their D.R. Horton-built house have caused him to be concerned about his D.R. Horton-built house.

"We need to determine if we have problems with the house. We've spoken with an attorney," Pittman said.

Another neighbor said she had problems with her D.R. Horton house but could not discuss them on the record because of a confidentiality agreement she signed with the company as part of a settlement.

Representing D.R. Horton, attorney Kyle Dillard of the Greenville office of the law firm of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart released a statement saying the builder was first notified of the Allens' concerns in a letter from their lawyer, Patrick McDonald.

Dillard's statement said the company has arranged for the Allen house to be inspected, at D.R. Horton's expense, by a third-party professional engineer.

"Once the engineer has provided us with his opinions and recommendations, we will discuss with Mr. Allen's lawyer how to most appropriately address Mr. Allen's concerns. Horton is hopeful that Mr. Allen's concerns can be resolved in a timely manner to the mutual satisfaction of both parties," he said in the e-mailed statement.

The Allens said they purchased the 1,580-square-foot home, their first, for $419,000 and moved here in August of 2005 from the Washington D.C. area.

Benjamin Allen, 33, who is disabled from multiple sclerosis, said he was a special assistant for national security in the Bush Administration.

The Allens live at 100 Jordan Court in the Etiwan Park neighborhood. The home was built eight years ago, and two other homeowners lived there before the Allens purchased it.

"This was going to be our dream home. We scraped together every penny we could for this home," Joy Allen said.

They owe about $390,000 on the mortgage, Benjamin Allen said.

Joy Allen, 32, provided a copy of a June 5 letter from their family physician, Lucy Davis, of Palmetto Primary Care Physicians on Daniel Island. In the letter, Davis said it was her medical opinion that the Allens should move out of the home until the source of a water leak is repaired and all current mold is removed.

"The possibility of this causing detriment to their health or worsening current health problems of Mr. Allen and his daughters is great," Davis wrote.

She described the levels of mold and mildew infestation uncovered as a result of a May 26 inspection of the house as "very concerning."

Hayes Microbial Consulting of Midlothian, Va., analyzed the mold spore samples that Tully collected May 26 in the Allen home.

Steve Hayes, owner of Hayes Microbial Consulting, said mold problems can happen because of moisture in walls. The heating and cooling system sucks mold spores from inside the porous walls and spreads them in the house, he said.

Hayes said that 99 percent of mold-related health problems are caused by allergies.

"It can be really debilitating. It's nothing to ignore. It's been proven that mold is an asthma trigger," he said.

The Allens said their youngest daughter has had serious respiratory problems. They have taken her to emergency rooms several times, including on Christmas Eve, and have been living from one doctor's appointment to another, they said.

"Her medical condition has been awful," Benjamin Allen said.

Rodney Whitehouse, owner of Cardinal Home Inspections of Summerville, said he inspected the Allen house on July 21, 2005, before they purchased it.

"Any type of moisture issue we had seen at the time we would have reported. There was no sign of mold or moisture at the time of the inspection," Whitehouse said.

In the high heat and humidity of the Lowcountry, a large outbreak of mold can develop in as little as 24 hours, Whitehouse said.

If you have a similar problem Contact the Home Improvement Team @ (800) 998-FIX IT (3494)

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Michigan Supreme Court Overturns Foreclosure, Rules Owner Not Given Proper Notice That Woman's Right to Due Process Violated

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an important victory for consumers, the Michigan Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that the Wayne County Treasurer violated a 75-year-old woman's constitutional right to due process by foreclosing on her house without notifying her first.

In overturning a lower court ruling, the justices noted that the county treasurer did not send a notice to Stella Sidun's Birmingham, Mich. home, despite having her address readily on hand on the deed to the property. Instead, the county sent notices to the old address of Sidun's late mother, who had been a co-owner of the property. Public Citizen and local counsel John Hermann had argued that the return of the certified-mail notices should have been a red flag that the notice had failed.

"Especially during the current foreclosure crisis, consumers should be able to trust that government agencies and banks will make a good faith effort to contact them before attempting to foreclose on their property," said Public Citizen attorney Deepak Gupta, who argued on Sidun's behalf before the Michigan Supreme Court. "The lack of effort to track down Ms. Sidun was appalling. We applaud the high court for sending a strong message to those who might take a homeowner's right to due process lightly."
Although the county also took other actions, such as publishing the notice in the newspaper and notifying the tenants, those steps did not excuse the county's failure to attempt to contact Sidun at her last known address, which was listed on county records, the justices wrote.

After she lost the property, which had provided her retirement income, Sidun sued the county. The trial court ruled against her, as did the appellate court. In reversing the lower court decision, the Michigan Supreme Court found that the lower court's ruling conflicted with the U.S. Supreme Court's 2006 decision in Jones v. Flowers, another case in which Public Citizen lawyers successfully challenged the lack of notice of a home foreclosure. Sidun's case now goes back to the circuit court, where she has the option of seeking compensation or reclaiming her home.

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Murray could you please give me some kind of spring checklist for my house. Val and Bill, Bloomfield Hills. Mi

Hi Val, what a great question. You can always add to the list as needed, one thing I recommend is you may want to make copies for your neighbors, doing this will make you a real winner and a very handy mama.

Indoors:
1. Wash windows
2. Turn on garden hose spigot
3. Remove storm windows and install screens
4. Test air-conditioning
5. Clean or replace air-conditioning filter
6. Turn off humidifier

Outdoors:
1. Remove storm windows and install screens
2. Wash windows
3. Check central-air unit for debris and clean
4. Caulk or fill any areas where insects may enter the house
5. Hook up garden hose, check for leaks
6. Wash siding
7. Clean gutters and downspouts, check for leaks and cracks
8. Trim bushes and trees away from house
9. Install window air-conditioning units
10. Clean and organize garage
11. Check house for peeling paint, cracks in brick/ masonry, future roof problems. Fix if needed
12. Dust perimeter of house for ants
13. Check decks and other free-standing structures for winter damage and settling/ heaving
14. Test outdoor lights and replace bulbs as needed

Good luck and have a wonderful summer. Murray

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I had a fire in my home and now the insurance company wants me to give them a complete list of all the contents in our home, Can you provide me with a company to help me with this task. Thanks, Bob and June, Royal Oak, MI

WOW.. Please call Premier Home Inventory at (586) 774-4057, I will give you more info later, Murray

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WANTED: Victims of Shoddy Home Remodeling/Improvements

Are you a victim of a shoddy home remodeling, or home improvement? Are you willing to expose the shoddy construction in the national media?

If you are, please contact me as soon as possible. We are looking for remoding or home improvement horror stories from across the United States to speak with our national reporter.

Thank You
Murray Gula (800) 998-3494

Contact me at murray@mgula.com for further information and contacts.

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I hired (NAME WITHHELD) Construction Co. from Livonia in June to build an addition onto my home. The job is not finished as yet and I have paid most of the money, now the contractors phone has been disconnected. I can't find him. What do I do? - Charles.

I hired (NAME WITHHELD) Construction Co. from Livonia back in June to build an addition onto my home and remodel a great deal of the rest of it. I have paid him about half of what we agreed on and a few weeks ago people he hired are coming to me asking for payment or they will be putting a lean on my home. He does not answer his cell, sounds like it has been disconnected today. He does not answer his office phone now either. It sounds also like it is now being transferred to a cell phone. I went by his office this weekend and the space he occupied is now for lease. I called the Better Business Bureau, where I found him, and they can't do anything without an address. I had also checked his license when we were considering hiring him and he had no complaints. I checked again this morning and his license has lapsed so they can't do anything.

I'm at a loss as to what to do and have nothing more than a nylon tarp separating my house from the outside (getting pretty cold too). Can you offer any advice? Thanks, Charles from Walled Lake

Hi Charles, I checked with the State of Michigan and found the contractors name listed and still licensed as of this date. http://www.michigan.gov/cis/0,1607,7-154-10557_14845_14856---,00.html Your problem is one I have heard for years on all my radio shows.

There are several things you should do first. Contact the Corporations office with the State of Michigan at http://www.cis.state.mi.us/bcs_corp/sr_corp.asp to see if the contractor is registered to do business in Michigan.

Send the contractor a registered letter stating all the facts as how and what the contractor has not completed, how they have harmed you and what you expect their company to do to finish your job. Next contact your building department to set up an inspection with you and the contractor. The city will list any violations on the city report if any, and make this report available to the State for the investigation.

Send your report to the State of Michigan and ask the city to send their report as well. You should be contacted within 14 days by mail. Your notification will inform you when and where to show for a hearing with the contractor. You have 18 months from date of completion to file this complaint. If you’re past the 18 months the State will not start the process. I will try to contact a contractor to help close your roof in for the winter. Please stay in touch. - Murray http://www.mcpanet.com

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What kind of equipment is used to clean the ducts in my house and who should I call? Bob, Berkley, MI

They use power vacuum trucks designed specifically for duct cleaning. I know because I had my own house ducts cleaned several years ago. Before we had the job done, everyone was complaining about not feeling good all the time, running eyes, coughing and sneezing. It is a proven fact that dirty ducts contribute to chronic respiratory problems caused by dirty ducts in our home. I recommend cleaning your homes ducts at least between 3 to 5 years, more frequently if you have pets in the home. Its best to have your ducts sanitized at the same time your ducts are cleaned. Thanks for the great question. - Murray http://blogs.scripps.com/wxyz/askmurray/air_duct_cleaning/

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My son has health problems with allergies and asthma. What insulation products do you recommend? Greg, Southfield, MI

Cellulose insulation is best, but only when it contains all borate blended fire retardants. It is EPA registered for mold resistance and passes all Healthy Home tests sponsored by the American Lung Association. - Murray

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How do I hire a contractor and what questions should I ask?

The first thing is to ask is for a trade license. http://www.mcpanet.com

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How does Water Damage

When water damages, it normally spreads t the dries, most absorbent material first. Carpet and the underlying “sponge like” padding are usually first. As the carpet and pad become saturated, the water then “wicks” up into the drywall (drywall, paneling, plaster) affecting base trim, wood stud framing and insulation. The flood water will spread to anything that will absorb water. Time is the most crucial element in preventing water damage. Moisture must be removed and the structure dried as quickly as possible to avoid secondary damage. Secondary damage includes un-restorable structural damage and microbial growth, (like mold) which may cause many adverse health effects.

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What are the factors I should look when hiring a waterproofing contractor?

1. Get more than 1 estimate.
2. Pricing with different companies is as different as night and day.
3. If you feel pressured, that’s not a good sign.
4. Are they licensed?
5. Proper insurance coverage Workman’s Comp, Liability & Auto.
6. Should provide a written estimate.
7. What organizations or certifications do they belong to or possess. For example look for a certified waterproofing and structural repair contractors through National Association & Waterproofing & Structural Repair Contractors and Basement Technologies. They are certified in concrete and structural repair through World of Concrete and Fortress Carbon Fiber Stabilization. I know Concrete and Waterproofing Solutions is also certified by Delta and Advance Coatings in exterior waterproofing and air gap technologies.

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Where do I purchase surge protectors on the internet.

Q: I had a whole house surge protection device installed in my home and it was recommended that I use a two-tiered approach for sensitive electronics. Where is a good place to buy the point of use devices?

A: the best surge protectors for all your needs are available at: ---- If you have any questions you can call on Murray800.998-4394 he will be happy to help you.

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How do I protect my house against a power surge?

Q: We had a power surge in our home last month and the result was that we lost a computer and our refrigerator. Is it possible to protect my home from these problems in the future?

A: Call Mr. Generators at 800,998-3494 and tell him you are interested in whole house surge protection. They can install a unit right inside your breaker panel that will protect all the circuits in your home. Good luck Murray

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