Old vs. New Homes and Mold in Shady Side

11/17/2017 (Permalink)

Preservation is important to our team.

SERVPRO of Edgewater/Deale-Churchton/Lothian recently worked with the City of Annapolis and its KEEPING HISTORY ABOVE WATER conference in October and continues to support the City of Annapolis and its Weather It Together initiative.

Part of SERVPRO’s involvement with Weather It Together (and I urge you to visit their website) is because, of course, we love the history and community that is Anne Arundel County but mostly, as a SERVPRO owner, I am keenly aware of preservation and restoration.  After all, our motto is, “Like it never even happened.” ... not tear it down and start over. 

 As we got more involved in the conference, my staff and I learned a few things.  My team researched building materials and recreated structural samples spanning from pre-Civil war to the present day and how they have changed.  A question presented itself.   Why, for example, is mold so much more of a problem now with assumingly better modern-day materials?

In the 1920’s, indoor plumbing was introduced (great source of moisture).  Builders moved from plaster and lath to drywall and from solid lumber to composites.  In the 50’s, along comes air conditioning and the 60’s brought us updated HVAC systems.  Buildings became more comfortable and energy consumption increased and we end up with an energy crisis in the 70’s!  Energy efficiency became a priority and building design changed to reduce energy consumption.  Construction became “tighter” reducing heat flow and air movement and more importantly, reducing drying potential of a commercial building or home.  In the early 80’s, energy efficient structures were being built in quantity and by the late 80’s, health complaints start being connected to tight buildings and interest in mold problems began to grow.

So, for those of you who love vintage and historical properties, commercial or residential, you will be happy to know that older structures typically dry out better with less demolition than modern structures.

Calling SERVPRO of Edgewater/Deale-Churchton/Lothian when your commercial or residential structure needs attention is your best bet!