Posted By 1mind on 29 Mar 2013 05:57 PM
So I am trying to help a friend with serious mold problems in her straw bale house, which has been unoccupied for over a year now. The basement is bare dirt, and there is now a layer of white mold many inches thick in certain sections of it. The concern is that the mold has gotten into the walls, which have been tested to have a humidity of up to 45%. She has a mold specialist testing it right now, and so far, he is not thinking it looks good. If she isn't able to figure something out, she might just have to walk away from the house, despite having a buyer who is interested (pending the resolution of the mold problem.) Any suggestions would be welcome.
It is possible that the basement being bare dirt is the issue. It is introducing to much moisture and related to that you need to check to make sure that it is mould and not alkali or sulphate efflorescence on the floor. As the moist comes up, it will carry the salts to the surface and they than crystallize as the water evaporates. You did not give a location for the house.