Solution: Thoroughly waterproof the exterior of concrete walls before backfilling. Install 6 in. of gravel under concrete floors during construction to prevent moisture from wicking up through concrete floors and into floor coverings.

Problem #11

Yards that slope toward foundations invite water to enter basements and crawlspaces.

Solution: Regrade yard surrounding house so it slopes away at a rate of 1 in. per foot.

Problem #12

Improperly flashed or caulked windows (and those with large amounts of surface condensation) let moisture seep the surrounding wood, drywall and insulation.

Solution: Properly flash and caulk windows during installation; minimize condensation with good ventilation and airflow.

Problem #13

Leaky flashings and shingles allow rain to infiltraes and other areas that can trap moisture and be difficult to inspect.

Solution: Perform yearly roof inspections--even if you do it from the ground with binoculars.

Besides damaging your house, mold can cause severe health problems.

IT'S DOING THAT TO MY HEALTH?

One consultant we interviewed confessed he crawls around in moldy places day after day, month in and month out, and never suffers ill effects. Others--some estimate about 10 percent of the population--are severely allergic to mold. It's primarily the dinky reproductive spores that people react to. Twenty of them sitting side by side could fit across the period at the end of this sentence. That means they're hard to filter out. The spores also have an incredible "hang time" (as my teenage son would say); they're able to stay suspended in midair for hours on end. That means they're easily inhaled.

With even slight exposure to molds and spores, sensitive people may experience headaches, runny noses, skin rashes, nausea, sinus problems, memory loss and coughs. They may feel listless for long periods of time. In short, they feel as though they have a perpetual case of the flu. Newborns, the elderly, the sick, and those with compromised immune systems can be affected severely, even fatally. Babies and toddlers, who love to crawl around on possibly moldy carpets and stick possibly moldy things in their mouths, also are highly vulnerable to mold-induced illnesses. Super-sensitive people often go to extremes to rid their houses of the materials that harbor the dirt and dust that molds feed on. They'll replace soft, textured materials with smooth, hard surfaces that are easier to keep clean and less likely to trap debris and moisture. Out go the carpets and draperies; in come hardwood floors and metal window blinds. Out go the cushy couches; in come the vinyl chairs.

Tightly sealed newer houses may be better at holding in heat, but they're also more likely to trap moisture and spores. Mechanical ventilation, like an air-to-air heat exchanger, is critical for healthy air quality in tightly sealed new homes.

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