Bed bugs may be the new toxic mold, but as we've reported before, that doesn't mean mold is no longer a concern in both new and existing construction. Noting that NYC issued 14,290 violations for residential mold last year, the New York Times reports that the City Council may require mold-resistant drywall and other materials in areas prone to wetness.
"One defense against infestations is mold-resistant drywall, usually installed in places prone to water damage or leaks, like bathrooms and kitchens, or near heating and air-conditioning units," says the NYT story. "These products — trade names include DensArmor Plus from Georgia-Pacific, Gold Bond XP from National Gypsum and Fiberock from USG — typically include specially formulated paper or fiberglass coatings. They are not much more expensive than traditional drywall, which is paper-faced gypsum board. But using them during construction can save millions in remediation down the line."
Another area of concern we hadn't heard of before involves fiberglass insulation around heating and air conditioning. Apparently, it can get extraordinarily moldy after a decade or so.
(NY Times; previously)
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