This recent article regarding mold ......by Joe Lstiburek is quite interesting

http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/insights/bsi-027-material-view-of-mold

Chris,
Just read it and a few other related articles. Sure makes metal skin panels look better and better! Now, just make them less $ and less $!
Rich

I was really supprised by the difference between the plywood and OSB

If anyone had asked, I would have voted for the OSB to be less likely to grow mold than the plywood.
That has been my personal experience. I would like to see the specifics of that test. Though I am not going to argue with Joe about the theory and validity of the test results.
I enjoy reading his articles. It hard to find a 'scientist' with that much common sense.

This article was a pleasure to read. This is a common argument from older contractors, that "houses don't breath anymore" and that "We are living in a germ infested plastic bag." I think the overall message is that we need to be conciously re-evaluating our construction practices as we introduce new material to ensure that the are being used appropriately.

On a side note, EPS has no nutritional value and does not support the growth of mold or mildew. Simply some food for thought.

You are correct. Over the last thirty years or so are house no longer breathe. If a toxin finds its way into your home, that's were it will likely stay. One of the primary culprits is mold. The last thing you want to do is to be breathing mold spores. If you have any doubts, I would recommend having a home mold inspection completed. Feel free to check out my site to learn more about indoor air pollution.
Brgds,

AirMD

But properly built tight houses DO breathe - but it is through a deliberate respiratory system, not through arbitrary leaks. Exactly how to design and build those breathing systems to be affordable, energy efficient and logical, is still in the development stage. I personally don't see ERV's and HRV's as the ultimate answer for every situation. I am sure more solutions will be forthcoming, and might even involve windows!

The article was written in a very amusing manner

-Rosalinda

Posted By Polycore on 01 Dec 2009 03:45 PM
This article was a pleasure to read. This is a common argument from older contractors, that "houses don't breath anymore" and that "We are living in a germ infested plastic bag." I think the overall message is that we need to be conciously re-evaluating our construction practices as we introduce new material to ensure that the are being used appropriately.

On a side note, EPS has no nutritional value and does not support the growth of mold or mildew. Simply some food for thought.

Don't that make ICF'S look good? Oops. not in the ICF forum anymore ;-) Having said that, this is not so much a "use to be wood" issue as the fact that people still don't understand ventilation. How many times on these forums hasn't someone said " I didn't run my HRV 'cause I don't have humidity? Maybe not but you still have got all those germs, toxin etc. Aim at at least 1/3 air exchange per hour for all occupied times. In cold climate (mid west and prairie provinces) hrv's are of dubious value if they are not sized at least a third larger than calc's would call for. They are in recir or defrost mode that much of the time when it is north of -20ºC

I have mold problems at home, too. They are on the floors even when the floor is dry and sometimes inside my drawers. I have read an article and that one of the reasons of having mold problems at home is by storing materials such as paper, books, clothes or other possible sources of food for mold in humid parts of your home which I think why there are molds inside my old drawers.