I just finished remodeling a house. The outside deck has sat without a
finish surface for about 2 years. A rubber membrane surface was painted on
the plywood deck and then an aggregate coat was floated on top. Well the
guy who did it did not tape the seams properly and it started to leak a few
weeks ago with the bad rains in southern california. I have been waiting
for the deck to dry out enough to bring someone else in to finish it. Well
the other day I noticed some discoloration under the deck on the plywood and
thought it was water stains but it is dark and probably is mold or fungus
and I am not sure what to do. I assume it would be a good idea to remove it
if possible prior to the topside of the deck being finished so that if there
is any mold between the joints of the plywood it can be treated if possible.
I have read that bleach doesn't really do a good job at removing or killing
this. It is now wet as it rained today. I don't want to infect myself with
the spores. Is there anything I can spray on it that is safe to use? I
have maybe a half of a dozen pathches or streaks. One area is maybe 2-3 ft
square the rest are smaller. But if I wait until the rains stop and things
dry out to deal with it it may have grown alot more. Is it better to deal
with it wet or dry? To tear the deck down and incur the cost of rebuilding
would be a financial nightmare for me right now. Once the mold is removed
or treated is it a pretty good bet that it will stop growing. I don't want
dryrot growing in a deck for obvious reasons? And I was considering govering
the underside of the deck with stucco at some point. I guess I should paint
and leave it open to observe it over time? Any adivice or help would be
greatly appreciated.

"Michael Roback" wrote in message
...

I just finished remodeling a house. The outside deck has sat without a
finish surface for about 2 years. A rubber membrane surface was painted
on
the plywood deck and then an aggregate coat was floated on top. Well the
guy who did it did not tape the seams properly and it started to leak a
few
weeks ago with the bad rains in southern california. I have been waiting
for the deck to dry out enough to bring someone else in to finish it.
Well
the other day I noticed some discoloration under the deck on the plywood
and
thought it was water stains but it is dark and probably is mold or fungus
and I am not sure what to do. I assume it would be a good idea to remove
it
if possible prior to the topside of the deck being finished so that if
there
is any mold between the joints of the plywood it can be treated if
possible.
I have read that bleach doesn't really do a good job at removing or
killing
this. It is now wet as it rained today. I don't want to infect myself
with
the spores. Is there anything I can spray on it that is safe to use? I
have maybe a half of a dozen pathches or streaks. One area is maybe 2-3
ft
square the rest are smaller. But if I wait until the rains stop and
things
dry out to deal with it it may have grown alot more. Is it better to
deal
with it wet or dry? To tear the deck down and incur the cost of
rebuilding
would be a financial nightmare for me right now. Once the mold is
removed
or treated is it a pretty good bet that it will stop growing. I don't
want
dryrot growing in a deck for obvious reasons? And I was considering
govering
the underside of the deck with stucco at some point. I guess I should
paint
and leave it open to observe it over time? Any adivice or help would be
greatly appreciated.


If it is mold, use and EPA registered fungicide....If you Google around, I
am sure you can find one....Or just head over to the local Lowes/Home Depot
and they will be glad to help.....Good Luck, Ross

Michael Roback wrote:
I just finished remodeling a house. The outside deck has sat without a
finish surface for about 2 years. A rubber membrane surface was painted on
the plywood deck and then an aggregate coat was floated on top. Well the
guy who did it did not tape the seams properly and it started to leak a few
weeks ago with the bad rains in southern california. I have been waiting
for the deck to dry out enough to bring someone else in to finish it. Well

Rubber coated plywood deck? Why? What is under it?

the other day I noticed some discoloration under the deck on the plywood and
thought it was water stains but it is dark and probably is mold or fungus
and I am not sure what to do. I assume it would be a good idea to remove it
if possible prior to the topside of the deck being finished so that if there
is any mold between the joints of the plywood it can be treated if possible.
I have read that bleach doesn't really do a good job at removing or killing
this. It is now wet as it rained today. I don't want to infect myself with

If it got to your deck, it got to you. Mold and mildew float around
everywhere.

the spores. Is there anything I can spray on it that is safe to use? I
have maybe a half of a dozen pathches or streaks. One area is maybe 2-3 ft
square the rest are smaller. But if I wait until the rains stop and things
dry out to deal with it it may have grown alot more. Is it better to deal
with it wet or dry? To tear the deck down and incur the cost of rebuilding
would be a financial nightmare for me right now. Once the mold is removed
or treated is it a pretty good bet that it will stop growing. I don't want
dryrot growing in a deck for obvious reasons? And I was considering govering
the underside of the deck with stucco at some point. I guess I should paint
and leave it open to observe it over time? Any adivice or help would be
greatly appreciated.


Is the area beneath the deck open to circulating air? That would
probably help it dry out once it stops raining. Don't worry about the
mold under the deck unless you are living there. Worry about falling
through the rotting wood when you walk on the deck )

"Michael Roback" wrote
but it is dark and probably is mold or fungus
and I am not sure what to do. ...
I have read that bleach doesn't really do a good job at removing or
killing
this. It is now wet as it rained today
I don't want to infect myself with
the spores. Is there anything I can spray on it that is safe to use? I
have maybe a half of a dozen pathches or streaks. One area is maybe 2-3
ft
square the rest are smaller. But if I wait until the rains stop and
things
dry out to deal with it it may have grown alot more. Is it better to
deal
with it wet or dry? To tear the deck down and incur the cost of
rebuilding
would be a financial nightmare for me right now. Once the mold is
removed
or treated is it a pretty good bet that it will stop growing. I don't
want
dryrot growing in a deck for obvious reasons? And I was considering
govering
the underside of the deck with stucco at some point. I guess I should
paint
and leave it open to observe it over time? Any adivice or help would be
greatly appreciated.

Well, if you are that concerned, you can have a laboratory examine a sample,
to indicate what you've got.
Not all molds are created equal. Read about stachybotrys
http://gcrc.meds.cwru.edu/stachy/default.htm

That you are "on it" tells me you won't have expensive damage to repair.

Bleach works just fine but the mold is there for a reason and unless you
change the conditions it will come right back, mold needs food and water
and shade to live. Did you use marine or treated wood if not in 3-10
years it will probably be half rotted away. Using ply wood for an
exterior deck is not a good idea, any trapped water will not dry out.