Mold on Southern Yellow Pine

[bcoma]

Had a 30x50 Poll Barn built on 1/3/11, came out great couldn't have been more pleased. By the end of September mold became visible on the Southern Yellow Pine Trusses and Headers, not the Spruce. The Pole Barn Company said they never had a problem as severe as this. Had the Truss company come on site to look at the problem. Truss Company claims that mold is on everything, and most time it's dormant. In this situation the conditions where right for mold to grow and become visible. They claim that the dirt floor, not enough ventilation, rainy summer, warm weather and high humidity have contributed to the mold growth.

Anyone else have a similar problem?

Bart

 

[bcoma]

Had a 30x50 Poll Barn built on 1/3/11, came out great couldn't have been more pleased. By the end of September mold became visible on the Southern Yellow Pine Trusses and Headers, not the Spruce. The Pole Barn Company said they never had a problem as severe as this. Had the Truss company come on site to look at the problem. Truss Company claims that mold is on everything, and most time it's dormant. In this situation the conditions where right for mold to grow and become visible. They claim that the dirt floor, not enough ventilation, rainy summer, warm weather and high humidity have contributed to the mold growth.

Anyone else have a similar problem?

Bart
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[RaysnCayne]

Don't mean to hi-jack, but I've got a similar problem that I've kind of ignored it til I saw your post.

I ordered 14 trusses from a local company for my garage (currently under construction). When I was installing them, I noticed random spots of mold growth on some and nothing on others. I dug out the paper work and found the company put a page in there specifically saying they aren't liable for any mold issues. Lovely...

So the trusses are up, roof's on and so on. I'd like to know if there's anything I can do to clean the mold off? Or is it on there forever? If I can't clean it, can I put some Kilz on it or something before I start putting all my insulation in?

 

[bcoma]

Bleach and Water, White Vinegar, Hydrogen Peroxide and there are commercial products out there that will remove the mold.

I have tried vinegar and peroxide it seems to work, but I trying to get the either the Pole Barn/Truss Company to do the clean up.

It looks like from the photo's I have during construction is the mold was present and dormant at the time of construction and became more visible when the humidity and warm weather arrived in NJ.

Bart

 

[mypov]

You could treat the mold with bleach and water (or various other commercial treatments), then you can get special mold paint to block the mold in and stop it from spreading outside of the wood. This mold issue could also be related to the truss companies drying technique, or if they bought wood that was not kiln dried. If the pine was not allowed to sufficiently dry then (especially if there are ventilation issues in your shop) the moisture would not dissipate correctly and would result in mold.

 

[rlitman]

Mold is dormant and present everywhere. You cannot avoid spores outside of a sterile environment.

A solution of bleach and water (I'd add a LITTLE dawn to this, like 1 drop in a gallon) will kill the mold. Ideally, you want to wipe it off with a sponge, or carwash brush.
After it is dry, Kilz won't hurt.

There are anti-mold biocide chemicals you can get in your box store's paint aisle that are less likely to damage your skin and clothing than bleach, but the important thing is to kill the spores before you paint anything.

 

[bcoma]

I would of thought that I had enough ventilation with full Corbra ridge vent, with gable and soffit overhangs vented. Most the summer I had the 2 8X9 overhead door and a 10x10 split slider open.

Bart