Wood Rot health risk?
Question:I have older woosd paneling in my basement, and in parts it is begning to rot. She thinks its a major health issue for our children, is it? If YES any good ideas for wall covering other then plain dry wall?
Answers:
You certainly have moisture problems, and you probably have mold problems as well. It is a major health concern. You need first to have the mold problem dealt with, removing all of the old wood paneling and any wood furring that might be behind it. There are many cleaning contractors out there who will do a decent job of mold removal. Then, you need to seal the walls with something like UGL block-sealing paint before applying another cover. There is a drywall substitute called "greenboard," and there is also a newer product, the name of which I cannot recall at the moment, and these products are made for installation in damp environments. Use something like this to replace the finish in your basement, to prevent mold problems in the future. You should probably also use a dehumidifier in the basement to lower the overall humidity.
Before completing any of this work, I would walk the perimeter of the house and look for the source of the water surrounding your basement. Are the downspouts from your gutters drained away from the house, or does the water just soak into the ground and enter your basement? Is your landscaping/grading such that it actually directs water toward the house? Things like this can be easy to repair, and might just solve your wet basement problem.
replace with new paneling
use a dehumidifier in moist weather
If it's rotting, then there is a water problem. Where there is water, there will probably be mold. Mold can be a very big health problem. Take care of the water problem before doing anything, especially drywall.
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