Protect your home from mold You can help protect your home and cut home maintenance costs by watching for mold in your house. In monetary terms, damage caused by mold can quickly add up. While mold on a floor can cost less than $500 to remedy, a more complicated problem that involves structural damage can run a tab from $5,000 up to tens of thousands of dollars. The best way to control mold growth is to control moisture. Try these tips: + Start low - According to the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), 60 percent of homes have wet basements and 38 percent run the risk of basement mold. Check your basement for any leaks and avoid drying laundry in the cellar. + Take it outside - A house with a 1,500-square-foot roof sheds 1,000 gallons of water for every inch of rain that falls, according to the ASHI. Keep that water out of your house. Clean gutters so they won't overflow and arrange the soil around your home's foundation so it slopes away from the house. + Watch wet walls - Look for cracked or bulging areas in your outdoor and indoor walls. They can be signs of a leak. Also, check for loose siding and metal trim. If parts are loose or missing a leak can develop. + Keep it covered - Paint walls and ceilings with mold-resistant paint. For example, DAP Kwik Seal Plus Basement Paint with Microban antimicrobial product protection safeguards concrete and masonry walls with a guaranteed waterproof seal. The paint continuously fights the growth of stain- and odor-causing bacteria and mold on the dried paint surface. + Clear the air - Consider using a dehumidifier in the basement, kitchen, bathroom or any other room that tends to get damp. + Seal the deal - Control mold growth in kitchens and bathrooms with mold-resistant caulking. DAP makes a Kwik Seal Plus kitchen and bath adhesive caulk with Microban protection to fight the growth of stain- and odor-causing mold and mildew. + Ditch drips - Insulate cold-water pipes with foam insulation. That can stop condensation from building up and dripping on floors or surrounding surfaces. In addition, turn up the heat in your basement during the cold months. That can keep pipes from freezing and bursting. + Wave goodbye to water - Install a sump pump with perimeter drains and provide floor drains by the washing machine. That can keep water from collecting in your basement. For more information, call (888) DAP-TIPS or visit www.dap.com.