San Francisco is a historic city. It became a true hub of the west coast during the gold rush of 1849, and grew substantially during that time. However, in 1906 a tremendous earthquake struck the city and the ensuing fires left more than 3 quarters of the city in ruin. At that point, the city underwent an incredible stage of rebuilding itself; with nearly all construction being completed by 1915.
As a house gets older, it eventually starts to develop issues that require much more upkeep and care. Given that many of San Francisco’s houses are nearly one hundred years old, there are a number of problems common in the city. One of the most common building problems that can be found in San Francisco is mold. The combination of year-round high humidity and old buildings built densely together creates the perfect environment for rapid mold growth and contamination.
One thing many people aren’t aware of, however, is that mold can be found nearly everywhere. Spores float about inside, outside; they are tracked in on our floors, they float in the air or are collected in the fur of our pets. With over 400,000 different types of mold, the great majority are completely harmless. But there are still a handful that can cause adverse health effects in large quantities, such as allergies, asthma, brain damage, cancer, and very rarely, even death.
For this reason, San Francisco has created a law specifically dealing with mold growth in buildings. The law places mold growth in buildings as a public nuisance; on par with rodent infestations or extreme garbage accumulation. The city defines mold and mildew as “Any visible or otherwise demonstrable growth of microscopic organisms or fungi (mold or mildew) that feeds on damp conditions in the interior of a residential building, sufficiently chronic or severe to cause a health hazard or damage a residential structure or part thereof, excluding the presence of mold or mildew which is minor in nature caused by inappropriate housekeeping practices or the improper use of natural or mechanical ventilation.”
Most people discover mold in their home or place of business based on smell or visual confirmation. Mold can come in a variety of colors, from green to brown, black to white. It can be found on walls or the ceiling, around windows or in carpet, even in furniture. Mold is often described as having a strong musty, earthy, or even rotting smell.
Now, how you deal with mold growth depends largely on whether you are a renter or a building owner. If you rent, your first course of action should be to discuss the issue with your landlord. If your landlord doesn’t take the issue seriously, you may want to get in touch with the San Francisco Building Inspection Commission. If the San Francisco Building Inspection Commission fails to act quickly enough, or you feel the mold problem is egregious, you may want to consider contacting the SF Renters Board, or visit their website at http://www.sfrb.org/ to learn more about further steps you could take.
If you’re a building owner, you may want to consider contacting a professional mold remediation company, as trying to remove the mold yourself can easily spread the spores to other areas, extending the cleanup process and delaying the inevitable need for a professional team to come and remove the spores from your building.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that any contaminated areas that are larger than ten square feet be handled by a professional mold abatement company. A professional mold abatement company, such as Indoor-Restore Environmental Services, should be able to determine the source of the mold problem (a plumbing leak, for instance) and also determine the extent of the infestation and what steps will need to be taken in order to ensure a thorough cleanup.
Living in one of San Francisco’s historic buildings can be a dream-come-true for many of its residents. By keeping mold out of your home, not only are you abiding by the law set forth by the San Francisco Building Inspection Commission, you are also keeping yourself and your family safe, and ensuring the beauty that is historic San Francisco stays alive for years to come.
