Window mold — in Colorado?

Yes, we have mold in our homes, walls, and window and door components in Denver and Colorado. Mold spores are present on moist surfaces, even in the dust in the air. If moisture is continuously present, or even if the humidity in the home is occasionally too high, mold will grow. It is a myth that chlorine bleach kills all molds – spores will remain, and if the water/moisture presence is not also eliminated, mold will grow again. The cure comes with the removal of the mold in its entirety, and the removal of the threat of moisture. See Mold Basics, an EPA publication, at http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.html for more remediation details, and information on health effects.

Where can I find mold?

At Egret, we frequently encounter mold on and around builder-grade half-sash wood windows, metal-framed windows, and even vinyl-framed windows.

The mold generally appears on:

• Interior frame and sash frame surfaces
• In mortised joints in frame corners.
• In severe cases, it can also be visible around glazing, or under failed exterior aluminum cladding.

Unless the moisture has consistently filtered lower, under the window frame, we don’t encounter mold that has destroyed rough sills or supporting cripple studs. If we do, our best advice to the homeowner is to remove and replace the affected sills or studs. The good news is that window replacement generally stops the mold problem at fenestrations, and we have yet to find an instance where the problem required employment of a mold extraction contractor.

How to get rid of mold

Replace the inefficient window or door, insulate, and rebuild the trim to eliminate possible contributions of excess moisture and schazam!, problem solved!