Waterproofing in Milmay, New Jersey

Monday, September 19th, 2016 by Jesse Cecola

Challenge

This home built in 1966 in Milmay, New Jersey had both of its sump pumps fail in a horrible storm, causing the basement to fill with four feet of water (pictured). The crew went out on an emergency call to get the water pumped out of this home’s basement to prevent further damages, but it wasn’t until the water was out that the real problem started. The combination of drywalls and the sudden increase in moisture created the perfect conditions for Black Mold (Stachybotrys Chartarum) to begin to grow rapidly (pictured). The mold completely surrounded the perimeter of the basement and also grew on the ceiling tiles. The common excretion of mycotoxins from this mold severely damages air quality and can cause nasal and sinus congestion, eye irritation, and extreme respiratory problems.

Mycotoxins are the toxic chemical products produced by fungi. They are capable of causing disease and death in humans and other animals. When people are around toxic mold they are usually exposed to airborne mycotoxins by breathing them in. These mycotoxins end up in the lungs and cause breathing problems and other severe symptoms. This specific type of black mold (Stachybotrys chartarum) is a fungus that has become notorious as a mycotoxin producer. If this issue is not addressed quickly, it will contaminate the entire home with this highly toxic and dangerous mold.

Solution

In order to bring this basement back to its original state, the moldy drywall and ceiling tiles were completely removed and the flooring was replaced with our ThermalDry Insulated Floor Decking. The patented ThermalDry decking has many great features, among them, keeping the basement floor warm, saving money on the heating bill, and is completely mold-resistant (pictured). BrightWall, another patented product installed by the team, was used in place of the previous drywall (pictured). BrightWall is a 100% waterproof rigid plastic paneling for unfinished basement walls. It's durable, washable, and will not support the growth of mold or rot. These two products in combination with the Sanidry XP dehumidifier (pictured) will prevent mold growth and return this basement to a safe and usable living space.

Project Summary

Foreman: Jason Bowe

Salesman: Paul Taylor

The basement had flooded over 4ft after a storm after both of the homeowner's sump pumps had failed, completely destroying and submerging the power outlets as well.

In this photo, you can see where the water line had risen to and the toxic Black Mold forming below it.

The mold had completely surrounded the perimeter of the basement. People exposed to mold may experience symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation.