Decorative Concrete is the Alternative to Mold

Even if we are not aware of it, mold spores can reside anywhere that there is moisture, and can be breathed into the lungs compromising lung capacity, the immune system and creating health problems. As a result, it is essential when building out your basement, to find products and processes that either eliminate or substantially reduce mold growth.

One of the best products and processes available today is the use of decorative concrete. Mold can be virtually eliminated by staining the concrete floor or adding thin layers of concrete on the surface of the slab that is the floor of the basement, and then sealing the new floor, in a process called decorative concrete. Once this is complete, using area rugs and other decorative but portable and removable floor coverings will help combat mold.

I usually do not venture into personal or family aspects when providing information such as this article, however, in this piece I feel it is essential. My family and I moved into a great home on an acre of land in the mostly dry high desert. We were in the process of building out the basement into a family room, extra bedroom and small office.

One of my family members became so ill that in a four month period she went from working and being busy and active 24/7 to barely being able to get from the bed to the bathroom. She was wheezing and her skin was looking pale and gray. The rest of us were getting headaches and having throat problems, but our symptoms were not nearly as extreme. The doctors put her on antibiotics and declared that she had pneumonia. Even with medicine, the symptoms continued.

By sheer accident one afternoon, a friend suggested that the symptoms might be from mold. We had no experience with this, so we started researching and we had the house inspected. There was a tremendous amount of mold growth – under wood and parquet floors and into the walls. We were told to move immediately. Within a week of moving my family member was up and around, breathing better and working again.

Unfortunately, she had to stay on anti-fungal and anti-bacterial medicines and it will take some time for her lung capacity to get better. It may not get to 100% again.
I share this story because of how quickly and seriously a mold problem – particularly in the basement, which was directly under this individual’s bedroom – created a health problem, even though there was no mold to be seen. When the wood floors were pulled up, they were black and green on the under side in room after room.

The inspector who found the mold said that the best way to use a basement was to make sure the slab was clean and then use various colors or textures and seal the floor – in other words, decorative concrete.

My current home does not have a basement, however, I already know exactly what I will do if I purchase a house with one. I will use decorative concrete as an insurance policy to keep my family safe from mold.