How long does it take mold to form in a house?

Question

My daughter bought a two story stucco house last year. We live in WI, so not humid year round. She was having her roof replaced, and the contractor tore all shingles off, and didnt get the rest done and rain came, causing it too leak into the living room on first floor and around a dormer on 2nd floor. There are of course stains in the ceilings and around the window. How does she know if the insulation got wet enough to cause mold further down the line. They have big fans into the attic and opened the roof to dry it out. Should she have a mold specialist come out, or is a ONE TIME rain, not enought to cause her to worry? What should the contractor be responsible for?

Answer 1

One time rain should not be enough to cause a serious mold problem if the areas were dried completely after the rain. Home depot sells an inexpensive mold kit under $20, where you sample the area, mail the sample to a lab and await the results via mail. If she has concerns this is the cheapest way short of hiring an environmental firm.

Answer 2

Sounds like there is good ventilation, which helps. But there are too many variables (in any house) to say for sure.

Check out the remarkable research on toxic mold removal done by environmental expert Dr Ed Close. Simply diffusing a therapeutic-grade essential oil regularly will likely result in an environment very hostile to mold.

http://www.secretofthieves.com/mold.cfm

Cost of the diffuser and a couple bottles of the Thieves oil that Dr Close recommends to his remediation clients: about $200. Might be worth it for a little peace-of-mind. Close the attic and diffuse a bottle. Then diffuse the other bottle downstairs. Unlike bleach (which the EPA now says not to use against mold) you actually WANT to breath Thieves.