When we fixed up my dad's house for sale, there was mold in several attractive colors. We had mold remediation, and I don't remember having to replace much.

First you need to have it tested to be sure it's really black mold or some other harmless variety. Other harmless molds can mimic black mold. If the wood is solid without rot you can usually treat it rather than replace it. But before you panic have it tested. You can get test kits or your contractor should.

You need to have it treated at the very least. Replacement would depend on how deeply the mold has penetrated the wood. Typically it is just a surface issue.

Mold requires a moisture source, as well as an organic matter food source like wood or cardboard, to grow. Mold is a symptom of a greater problem, that being moisture intrusion. Along with getting the mold properly remediated by an expert licensed to do that work, you also need to have the moisture source identified and stopped. Otherwise, mold will return.

Good luck.

Elmer I had a leak last Fall from the bathroom, so I know where it came from. The mold is just on the surface of the wood and small spots.

Well, some dumb@ss forgot the floor was gone, ran in to get her Winter coat and fell through the floor. Arms, legs and right rib cage are scrapped up and painful. Probably bruised my ribs. Yes, it was me. Glad I didn't have my phone in my hand because it would now be in the crawlspace. I didn't think I'd get myself up out of there because I was in pain and hanging by my arms. I guess I have more upper arm strength than I thought. Glad I decided to do laundry today because about half my clothes are in my closet in that room. The other half are in the dryer and washer still.

Oh no Kath. I'm glad you were able to lift yourself up.

Good that you know the moisture source.

OH MY GOSH! Kaths, it was an accident, anyone could have done that and it could have ended worse. Bet it scared you too.

Schoolhouse, yes, panicked a little at first. I'll laugh about it in a week or so when the pain subsides. I just feel really stupid at the moment.

Yikes. Be prepared to do little in the next couple of days. Do have the mold tested but since is it also a crawlspace have it checked for any obvious water incursions.

Oh NO! You take care of yourself and be gentle for the next few days. You are going to be sore tomorrow. May be get started on that pain reliever now.

How scary and awful, and to be by yourself. As you know, you will probably feel worse tomorrow. Just too serious.

Oh no! I hope your injuries are not anything too serious.

Can you put a board or 2 across the opening?

Ouch! Can relate. Not too long after we moved into our brand new house, I was in the attic space over the garage. Not paying attention, I stepped off of the flooring onto the sheetrock that was the garage ceiling. Thankfully I didn't fall through to the floor , but I was a bit stuck. DH was way down in the basement. I got myself up, but felt it for several days.

Maybe some police crime scene tape around the area?

I did that too aok. I was in the space above the dropped ceiling of the bedroom. Sort of like an attic. I glanced out the opening that is used as a door and noticed down below my little dog (at the time) in another room having a snack from the cat's litter box. Without thinking, I ran to the opening to shout at her, stepped off a ceiling beam and fell right through the insulation and old drywall, grabbed the edge of the door opening and hung suspended for a second or two before lowering myself down into the bedroom!

Like Kaths, I was shook up at first but then I started to laugh at myself thinking it was just like a scene from a sitcom. No bumps or bruises.

Ugh. I'm sorry that happened. It may be funny later, after you heal, but...ugh.

I think you are a little younger than I am, but please start being more careful. You may not feel well enough for this to be funny tomorrow. I'm laughing a little now, how do you forget the trauma of the workers in your house the last couple of days. They would be foremost on my mind. I'm so grateful to have a project done and partly to have my privacy back, routine reestablished.

I did make a stupid fall but a few years ago. I'd been helping friends on their commercial salmon boat. Arrived at the boat early AM in dense wet fog, bag of supplies under one arm and thought I'd swing myself expertly onto the deck putting just one hand on the fiberglass boat side. Hand slipped in the cold wet. I fell off the dock into the boat and was seeing stars from hitting my head on the raised panel for door into the cabin.

My friend was in the berth in the bow and yelled, Is that you?

Yes.

Did you fall?

Yes.

Off the bridge?

No, the dock.

When he then must have been convinced that wasn't far enough to be concerned and never did come and check on me.

I can see how that happened and I hope you don't feel too sore tomorrow. It could have been worse.

Sorry you had such an awful fall.

I would definitely cordon in that area off with chairs and rope etc. I hope you heal fast.

Wow Morz I would be upset with any friend who didn't even check on me.

Glad you all didn't get injured from your falls! Everytime I go in the room across from the bedroom they're working on, I get the creeps. I wonder why? lol. I ended up putting a sign on the door so I don't forget again and go run in there for something. I went to bed at almost 7:30 last night after taking some old Flexeril I had. I slept almost 10 hours. I didn't want to get up but my back was hurting from laying in the bed so long. Can only sleep on my back because of the pain. ) : I'm a side sleeper. Thank goodness for the flexeril.

Going to take another hot shower and hope it helps with the pain for a bit. I woke at 3:00 something and took another dose of Tylenol so not due yet for that. Not that I think it's going to help much.

Kath, I’m so sorry to hear about your accident. Do you have a recliner? My sister cracked a rib and found it more comfortable to sleep in a recliner than in her bed.

bbstx, no recliner. It hurts the worst getting up from the bed or chair. Dug out one of my pain patches and it's helping some.

Oh dear, I hope it's not a fracture!

While I appreciate your sense of humor over this accident, I doubt you're finding it all that funny now. Sorry for ALL the aggravation --mold, accident, pain. Sure you didn't fracture anything? Get better soon.

Don't know if I fractured anything. I didn't get an xray. If I had trouble breathing I would've gone in but it just hurts. They can't really do anything for a rib fracture, unless it's causing other problems.