[GSBN] A question about mold and insurance

[Joyce Coppinger]

> Wendy left a message for me on Friday and I sent her an email last night
> asking her if she knew anything more specific about why the insurance company
> and mortgage lender were raising mold as an issue. I¹ll share her response.
> 
> 
> Joyce
> --------------- 
> Joyce Coppinger
> Managing Editor/Publisher
> The Last Straw, the international journal
> of strawbale and natural building
> PO Box 22706, Lincoln NE 68542-2706
> 402.483.5135, fax 402.483.5161
> <thelaststraw at thelaststraw.org>
> web site: www.thelaststraw.org
> and our new blog at http://tls.buildearth.org





> 
> It's difficult to respond to this, since documenting the absence of mold is a
> somewhat like proving it doesn't snow in the Sahara: everyone knows it
> doesn't, but who's collecting data?
> 
> There are, in fact, rumors and suspicions about moldy straw, but I know of
> nothing that indicates problems are greater than for wood-frame construction. 
> 
> It would be entirely appropriate to ask the underwriter the hard data, if any,
> behind their assertion that strawbale buildings are prone to mold.  You can
> also go to a different underwriter.
> 
> John "Overwriter" Swearingen
> 
> 
> seems to me this could be approached from two directions: to document the
> absence of mold (a little like proving a negative)
> 
> don't know of any studies.  It would be very helpful (and interesting) to know
> if the underwriter themselves know of any studies and/or what is the basis of
> their judgment, 
> 
> On Fri, Oct 2, 2009 at 3:53 PM,  <strawnet at aol.com> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>> 
>> This came to us at DCAT and I wanted to share it here to see if anyone has
>> information that might help resolve this issue. Obviously the insurance
>> underwriter has the opinion that sb houses are prone to mold, so one question
>> is, based on what evidence or documentation or studies? Of course they are in
>> the driver's seat on this - they can make unsubstantiated claims and the
>> burden is then on us to disprove them if we can. It would be good to hear
>> from John Straube on this, as well as anyone else with information that could
>> help. 
>> 
>> I have told her about the GSBN archives but will try to pass along your
>> responses to her as well. And I have also copied my reply to her, asking if
>> it was OK with her that I post this here, to Joyce at The Last Straw. Thanks
>> for sharing what you all know...
>> David
>> 
>> ------------------
>> Question: Have you or do you know of anyone who has researched mold in
>> strawbale houses. I have just been denied insurance because the underwriter
>> states that sb houses are prone to mold. All my research over the past 10
>> years and during the building process is quite the oppisite, but i need facts
>> to persuade the ignorant. Also my motgage co would love to cancel my loan if
>> the insurance does not come thru. We have been with this company for 4 years
>> and 3 of it during the building process. Are you able to help?
>> Thank you Wendy
>> ------------------
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>> 
> 
> 


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