[GSBN] A question about mold and insurance

Sat Oct 3 16:30:01 UTC 2009

 Hi all,

It strikes me that a joint letter from organizations like COSBA and CASBA and any others we might be able to come up with that requests documentation of the claim that this underwriter is making could be helpful. Just a quick thought as I run off to watch my grandson's soccer match...

David Eisenberg

-----Original Message-----
From: Kris Dick Biosystems <kjdick at ms.umanitoba.ca>
To: (private, with public archives) Global Straw Building Network <GSBN at greenbuilder.com>
Sent: Sat, Oct 3, 2009 9:15 am
Subject: Re: [GSBN] A question about mold and insurance

Dear Joyce,

Greetings, I trust this finds you well. I would agree with the comments from others about asking the insurance company for their proof. We have done a studies of temperature and moisture within bale systems in Manitoba. I would suggest that moisture content within the wall system can be used as an indicator of the potential for mould growth. It has been my experience that mould is not an issue as long as the building envelope has been done well, which would be the same for any building system.

Not sure if this helps.

All the best,

Kris

On 3-Oct-09, at 5:13 AM, Joyce Coppinger wrote:

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. I’ll 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 are20prone 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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Kris J. Dick, P
h.D., P.Eng.

Associate  Professor

Director - The Alternative Village

Dept. of Biosystems Engineering

Rm E1-344 EITC

University of Manitoba

R3T 5V6

T:204-474-6457

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Kris J. Dick, Ph.D.,P.Eng

Principal

Building Alternatives Inc.

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Anola,Manitoba, Canada R0E 0A0

F: 204-866-3287

kjdick at highspeedcrow.ca

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