L.Louise Lashambe on sat 13 feb 99
Hi All;
Could someone explain to me, why, after using my drywall boards to set up my
slabs, are they now growing mold on them? I've used them for the past year
or so and never had them grow mold. I dry them well after use, so that's not
the problem. Is there a time limit as too how long they can be useful for?
It's not like it costs a great deal to replace them it's just that it's a
pain to do them, tape all the edges and all that stuff! So if someone can
explain this me I would appreciate it.
Louise in cloudy but warmish Steveston Village B.C.
Frank Gaydos on sun 14 feb 99
Maybe your clay has more organic material in it or the humidity is higher in
your area. In any event you could give the drywall a shot of diluted bleach
which will kill the mold. Mold needs dark, moist areas to grow. Could be you
are not letting them dry out completely between use.
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Moldy Drywall Boards
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hi All;
Could someone explain to me, why, after using my drywall boards to set up my
slabs, are they now growing mold on them? I've used them for the past year
or so and never had them grow mold. I dry them well after use, so that's not
the problem. Is there a time limit as too how long they can be useful for?
It's not like it costs a great deal to replace them it's just that it's a
pain to do them, tape all the edges and all that stuff! So if someone can
explain this me I would appreciate it.
Louise in cloudy but warmish Steveston Village B.C.
Pat Colyar on sun 14 feb 99
Dear Louise,
I learned in Mycology 401 that to get good mold growth you need damp,
darkness, warmth, and a source of mold spores. If Steveston has had the
unbelievable rain that we've had down here in Wash., that would
aggravate the situation. If you never had the problem before, then
something or someone has brought a new culture into your studio!
Try repeatedly sponging the boards with a bleach solution, also let one
set of boards dry really thoroughly while you use a different set. When
and if the sun ever comes out around here, set the boards out to get
exposed to UV rays. I suppose you could also spray them with athletes
foot remedy!
I have to say I laughed hysterically at the query about humidifying
ones' studio...
Pat Colyar in soggy Gold Bar, WA BS in Botany, U. of Wash., 1973
Tracy Dotson on sun 14 feb 99
I think that all the moisture is not completely out of the boards or that just
stacking them togather over a period of time with out air space between them
may be the problem. Maybe a good coating of clorox will kill what is ther now
but stacking them with air space will work for the future. good luck
Tracy
Kate Smith on tue 16 feb 99
"I learned in Mycology 401 that to get good mold growth you need damp,
darkness, warmth, and a source of mold spores."
Not really so, for molds can easily grow in light. Leave an orange or
other fruit out long enough and you can prove this.
Mold spores are everywhere. The variety of molds is endless. I have
seen molds grow on glass given the right environment of temperature and
humidity. A micron thick layer of dust is enough to support growth.
Toss the drywall and replace it. Drywall is cheap. With out culturing
the mold you do not know what you are handling.
Molds serve as natures recycler and they will recycle us if we are not
careful around them. A recent paper in an international medical journal
tied "Stachy Altra" to SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Other health
effects abound and it is easy to sound like a fear monger in discussing
mold.
In my opinion unwanted Mold growth should be treated as seriously as one
would treat or address exposure Asbestos.
Molds simply turn on and off given changes in the environment. Simply
drying the environment will "shut down" mold growth, only for it to
resume once the environment varys to support mold growth again.
A bleach solution, 10% household bleach, will kill mold on the surface,
so that is good for metals glass...... In a material like drywall the
mold will grow into and through the material and as a result will easily
reemerge.
Phil & Kate Smith
PotterSmiths'
White Bear Lake, MN
Paul Lewing on tue 16 feb 99
Hi, Louise,
I, like Pat Colyar, had to laugh when you asked about the mold on your
drywall pieces. Could it be the almost 5 feet of rain we've had this
winter here on the Northwet Coast? Seriously, I've been using the
same sheets of sheet rock to dry tiles for about 15 years. They're
pretty black from mildew, which gets on the tiles. But it burns off in
the bisque. I store them in an old dish drainer, so they're standing
upright, with space between them.
Now, will these same suggestions about bleach and such work on the
mold that's growing on the carpet in my truck? It's about a half inch
high now, and I just stomp it down every time I get in. Maybe in
August I can get it to dry out if we have a sunny day. Last year
summer came on a Sunday, so I went fishing.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
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