The problem at the Governor's Mansion developed after major renovations undertaken in 2000 that ultimately cost some $7 million, according to Chris Drummond, the governor's communications director.

The state Budget and Control Board announced Monday that the mansion would be closed for an undetermined amount of time while workers remove stachybotrys chartarum, a slimy greenish-black mold, from the mansion's air handling and vent system.

Work begins today to correct the problem, and the potential cost is unknown. Budget and Control spokesman Mike Sponhour said the cost will be covered by Budget and Control's General Services Division.

The problem forced First Lady Jenny Sanford and her four sons to leave the mansion and return to Sullivan's Island until it is fixed, which could take weeks.

"Our clothes were covered with mold, and there was mold growing out of light sockets up the wall," she said.

She said she first reported the mold problem to the Budget and Control Board last August, after members of her family and staff began suffering from headaches, sinus problems and other ailments.

The Budget and Control Board, which oversees maintenance on the building, put in manual controls to reduce humidity.

"But they never went any further and never did any further investigative work," Jenny Sanford said. "They left that all to me, which did not sit right with me."

She said she hired a Charleston engineer to review how the air handling system in the building was put together. In March, the engineer concluded that the system hadn't been built properly, she said.

Sponhour said the agency has employed three different consultants to investigate. They discovered problems in the mansion's chilled water system, which led to higher-than-average temperatures and humidity, the perfect environment for mold growth.

In 2000, the mansion underwent a massive overhaul, overseen by Charleston architects Evans and Schmidt. The historic building, built in 1856, was expanded to more than 16,000 square feet. The renovations mixed old world with new -- allowing the elaborate moldings and fancy mantels to complement the new elevators, kitchen and heating and air conditioning units.

Gov. Mark Sanford was in Europe on an economic development mission with state Commerce Secretary Bob Faith on Monday. He is expected to stay in Columbia for work when he returns -- possibly in the Lace House, across the street from the mansion.

During his time in Congress, the governor frequently slept in his office. That is not likely to be the case this time around, Drummond said.

"If they end up renting out the Lace House, I wouldn't be surprised if the governor started asking staffers if he could bunk with them a few days," Drummond said. "He would probably camp out on their couch."

No federal or state standards dictate acceptable levels of mold in indoor air.

Stachybotrys, commonly called "stachy," is usually found on wood and paper products that have been wet for several days or more.

Work begins today to disassemble and clean the mansion's air handlers, ducts and other mechanical equipment in the facility. Consultants will test the system to ensure a permanent solution is found prior to reopening the mansion.

Meanwhile, the work required to fix the problem has forced Jenny Sanford to cancel tours and other events at the mansion.

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