Mold – A Losing Battle?
By Marcia Mattson
Times-Union staff writer
November 2, 2002
The Mold
War is still raging as more Floridians turn to builders and contractors to
fix buildings and insurance companies look for protection from the rapidly
growing problem.
Berean Baptist Church is in the thick of it.
The church south of Orange Park opened a new
$1.3-million dormitory in December and moved in 86 of the students
attending its 5-year-old Bible college.
The dorm developed several leaks, and the
builder came out to make repairs, said Pastor Tom Neal. But in the summer,
students discovered mold growing on their shoes, sofas and bedspreads.
An inspection requested by the builder found
several areas for water to intrude, church attorney Barry Fuller said.
Meanwhile, students started going to the
doctor with respiratory problems and taking allergy medications. Tests in
July found mold levels so high that a toxicologist advised the students to
move out and leave their personal belongings behind because they likely
were contaminated, Neal said.
"Three girls have no families, and
everything they own is in here," Neal said, gesturing in the direction of
the dorm sealed off with blue tarps and warning signs.
The women are living in a nearby apartment
complex. The men are housed in a make-shift barracks on church property.
The dorm may be unsalvageable, Fuller said.
The church spent $250,000 in testing and remediation before halting all
work. It's still paying the mortgage and a $4,000 monthly electric bill to
keep blower equipment running.
The insurance company hasn't decided yet
whether to cover the problem. The church, unsure why the building got so
moldy so fast, is suing several companies that had a role in building the
structure.
"It's been an enormous financial struggle
for the church," Neal said.
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