Since the 1970’s many Builders and Architects utilizing composition building materials and their building science challenged construction practices have essentially created giant, “compost heaps with street addresses.

 

Composting is the natural process of breaking down organic material such as kitchen and yard wastes under controlled conditions to produce a nutrient-rich soil-like material.

The process begins with moisture, fungi, bacteria, worms and insects. Carbon and nitrogen compounds from the cells of dead plants and dead microbes fuel this activity.

 

The microorganisms use the carbon in leaves or woodier wastes as an energy source.  Nitrogen provides the microbes with the raw material for proteins to build their bodies.

 

Nitrogen comprises nearly 79% of the earth’s atmosphere and reacts chemically only under certain unique conditions.  Only organisms capable of making their own food such as molds and fungi can use nitrates to generate proteins, nucleic acids, and other nitrogen compounds. 

 

Apart from certain inorganic compounds such as adhesives, steel beams and nails, today’s composition building materials are primarily basic organic compounds. The composting process begins as moisture, molds, nitrogen and other microbes readily permeate these materials and ignite the same chemical reactions present in your backyard compost heap.

Consequently, moisture and mold spores entering the building’s shell through infiltration pathways and porous building materials facilitate mold colonies such as “Dry Rot” and other toxic molds, and they multiply and flourish.

The bad news is that your home built with composition building materials with multiple air and moisture infiltration paths is destined by simple compost chemistry to be reduced to a nutrient-rich soil-like material too.   Without proper intervention the only good news is that you’ll have an almost infinite supply of compost for your garden . 

At AIRBRAINS we will endeavor to provide you with the practical techniques necessary to save your home and your health.  Please consider taking advantage of Our IAQ Forum to ask questions about your particular home's ailments so that we can give you the ammunition you need to direct contractors toward the right cure.

Rick Kupecki ©
HQS, WZN, LEAD RISK ASSESSOR/INSPECTOR
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