Can Mold Grow Behind Siding

How Mold Gets Under Siding

There are a number of ways mold spores, along with moisture, can seep under your siding. For example, cracks or tears in the butt-joints are the perfect entryway for all types of fungi, along with critters looking for a warm place to stay. Window headers are another area where water and mold spores can enter your siding. As water flows off the roof, it is important that it is channeled away from the headers using flashing. However, if the flashing is broke or not properly attached, water can seep behind the siding allowing mold to grow.

Why Does It Matter If My Home Siding Has Algae Or Mildew On It Wont My Siding Resist It

Unfortunately, no. These growths can occur in many places you wouldnt expect them to be, even on vinyl siding. And they can cause homeowners a number of headaches:

Its unsightly. Homeowners naturally want a beautiful home that looks great from the curb. Algae and mildew create stains that look unattractive.Its unhealthy. Algae can produce toxins, which is why an algae-covered lake may be closed to the public. And mildew can cause allergic reactions and skin irritations.Its a warning sign. While the growth of algae and mildew doesnt automatically mean theres a problem, it can mean that your home is trapping moisture underneath the siding. This is an issue with homes that dont have a proper weather barrier installed underneath the siding which is common in older homes as well as homes where the siding was not properly installed.

Siding Contractor Woodbridge Va

Knowing how to prevent mildew on vinyl siding is important information for every homeowner. Lets face it, no one wants their beautiful siding to be damaged by mildew! When it comes to mildewy siding, prevention is the best solution. Evaluate your gutters, ventilation ducts, and sprinklers. Follow the steps we discussed above and your siding will be well on its way to being safe and dry!

If your siding has already been damaged by mold, your best bet is a siding replacement or siding installation. During a siding replacement, our specialists will remove your old, mildewy siding and replace it with brand new vinyl siding in your choice of color and design. MidAtlantic Contracting, Inc. has been the go-to siding contractor Woodbridge VA since 1979. As a family-owned business thats fully licensed, insured, and bonded, you can expect high-quality craftsmanship with a down-to-earth approach to customer service.

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How Do You Know If Your House Is Toxic

Common Symptoms:

Respiratory Symptoms congestion, aggravated asthma or allergies, sinus infections. Cognitive Issues foggy thinking, sleep disturbance, frequent headaches. Emotional Changes feeling agitated or depressed. Physical Symptoms stomach discomfort, muscle aches, fatigue, rashes, sore throat.

Environmentally Friendly Cleaner For Vinyl Moldremoval

If youre looking for an environmentally friendly cleaning product to help you clean your siding, then you can simply make one at home. A simple blend of common cleaning products will help eliminate mold and mildew from your home.

You need to start off with a 5 gallon bucket half-filled with warm water. Thereafter, add 1 gallon of liquid bleach. Keep stirring the bleach into the water and add 2 cups of trisodium phosphate.

You will usually find this at your local hardware or pool store in the paint section. Mix all the ingredients in the water and while still stirring, add one cup of borax.

Combine this mixture well and lastly add a quarter cup of liquid dishwashing soap and full the rest of the bucket with water. If you need more soap, then you can gradually add more until you receive the desired effect. So this mixture makes 5 gallons of an exterior house wash.

If youre looking for a mixer thats even more simple and environmentally friendly, then you can try this one. All of these ingredients are natural products that are found in your cupboard right now.

You will need baking soda, vinegar, warm water, and a container to make this mixture. Start by adding 2 cups of warm water to the container, thereafter add a cup of vinegar and sprinkle a tablespoon of baking soda into the container.

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How To Get Rid Of Mold On Siding

Luckily, if you have mold on your siding, its not the end of the world at least not if you get it taken care of as soon as you can. Unless your whole house is covered with patches of mold, its usually a fairly easy process to remove it.

As with any other aspect of your home, cleaning is something you should make a routine for your siding. However, if you have wood siding with mold on it, it might get damaged and have to be replaced.

In order to remove mold from siding, all you need to do is perform a thorough cleaning. Depending on how much mold build-up there is, you can choose to hand-wash it or use a pressure washer. You can read a detailed guide on cleaning siding in this article.

You might also be wondering what to clean your siding with. A very common method is to use a mixture of 30% vinegar and 70% water, or you can use a quart of bleach for each gallon of water you use. We break down the best siding cleaners here.

In short, to remove mold from you siding, you should scrub the moldy area with your cleaning solution and let it soak for a few minutes before rinsing thoroughly. Depending on the severity of the mold, you may need to repeat the process until the area is free of mold.

Materials You Will Need To Clean And Remove Mold From Vinyl Siding

Cleaning and removing mold from vinyl siding is simple as long as you have the right tools and cleaning products. The following are some of the essential products you will need to remove mold from your siding.

• Soft-bristled brush/broom â a brush with soft bristles is the best to use as it will effectively remove stains and debris from the siding without damaging it. A small brush will be perfect for the lower sections of the siding, while a broom will be convenient for reaching the higher parts.
• Soft cloth â microfiber cloths are recommended because they will not scratch the vinyl siding.
• Commercial vinyl siding cleaner â commercial siding cleaning products such as Wet and Forget are specially formulated for heavy-duty cleaning of the roof or siding material. Avoid using harsh products such as undiluted bleach as they may corrode and damage the siding.
• Garden hose â a garden hose is suitable for rinsing the siding after cleaning it with detergent and siding cleaner. The garden hose you use should be long enough to reach the highest part of the siding.
• Bucket â buy a large bucket to mix your siding cleaner or detergent with water. The bucket will also be convenient to carry around the house.

Read Also: How To Get Mold Out Of Crawl Space

Allow For Direct Sunlight

Mold grows in dark, damp places. Combat its survival by allowing as much direct sunlight to shine on the exterior of your home as possible. Trim trees and keep shrubs and surrounding foliage tidy in order to help that natural remedy shine through. This will also promote air circulation to keep your Northern Virginia or Southern Maryland home siding dry.

Mold Can Infiltrate And Affect Your Homes Hvac System

Mold often finds its way into your homes HVAC system. This causes two main concerns. First, the mold can make it harder for air to make its way through the HVAC unit, which can affect the energy efficiency of your home and raise energy costs each month. Secondly, and more importantly, mold that infiltrates your homes HVAC system can allow mold spores to be released throughout your home. This jeopardizes the quality of the air and can contribute to certain health problems .

Also Check: What Health Problems Can Mold Cause

How Can You Tell If Mold Is Under Siding

As you walk around the home be sure to inspect the windows, siding as well as the roof where it is close to the siding checking for any mold growing on the surface or along the bottom edge of the siding panel. If you see mold at the bottom edge of the siding, there is a pretty good chance mold is growing underneath.

How Moisture Enters Your Home

Old and outdated exterior products can make it easy for moisture to enter your home. Limiting moisture is one of the best ways to prevent mold growth in the home. An array of exterior remodeling products can keep moisture from resulting in mold growth.

These are a few examples of how moisture can enter your home from outdated products:

Scenario 1: Old and Leaky Roof

When a roof begins to age, shingles can fall off the roof and blow away in the wind. This exposes your home to rain which can trickle inside to the attic. In extreme cases, exposure over long periods of time can even rot out the roof deck.

Once moisture is in the attic, it collects on areas such as the wood walls, floors, and rafter beams. After being exposed to humidity and rain, mold forms in various areas of the attic.

How to Prevent Mold with New Roof Replacement

Another important aspect is leak barrier protection and ventilation. A leak barrier creates a seal so water cannot get into some of the most vulnerable areas of your home.

Lastly, ventilation is a big factor in preventing mold growth. Your home needs to be able to breathe so pockets of moist air dont become trapped for long periods of time. This can lead to mold growth over time.

Example of Roof Ventilation

Scenario 2: Window Condensation

The video below explains more about window condensation.

Once window condensation forms on areas such as the walls and wooden sills, it can begin to grow within 24-48 hours.

Scenario 3: Moldy Wood Siding

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How To Maintain Your Siding So It Doesnt Get Moldy

A mold infestation can cause structural damage and health problems, so its important to know how to prevent mold on vinyl siding and take measures to prevent it. Mold can appear fuzzy or slimy and come in many colors, from dark green to black.

Its easy to detect mold once you see it, but it can grow unnoticed for some time if its in a moist area. If you smell a musty or foul odor in a moist area, inspect it thoroughly for signs of mold growth.

Luckily, vinyl siding is not high maintenance, and its simple to prevent mold growth. Heres what you need to know to prevent growth and how Thompson Creek can help you.

Too Much Shade Around Your Home

Shade created by the trees in your yard keeps the sun from accessing your siding, hindering its ability to dry off after it rains or snows. In humid, damp climateslike Daytonsmold can thrive as a result.

• Your soffits arent exposed to direct sunlight and can attract mold growth.
• Dense bushes bordering your home create just what mold needs to thrivedark, wet spaces.
• Ivy and other vines on your siding allow water to penetrate it and foster mold growth.

Note: Pay special attention to the north side of your home exterior because that is usually where the most mold or mildew builds up. The reason for this is because the north side gets the least amount of direct sun, making it an ideal place for mold to grow. When moisture doesnt have the opportunity to evaporate, it just sits on your siding, giving mold the perfect conditions to thrive in.

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How To Clean Vinyl Siding With A Pressure Washer

If you have a large home, then youll get tired of the long process of cleaning vinyl siding by hand. In this case, its far better to opt to pressure wash your home. Heres how to clean vinyl siding with a pressure washer or power washer.

Youll notice that this man isnt cleaning vinyl siding with a cloth or a long-handled brush. Instead, hes using a pressure washer to clean vinyl siding. His job will undoubtedly be easier and take less time. If you can afford to do so, why not get a pressure washer similar to the one hes using? Its lightweight and can save you time and energy. Building pressure washer by Leo Reynolds / CC by 2.0

If you dont have a pressure washer or power washer, you can buy or rent one. Youll save energy and time. Plus, youll get great results. Start at the bottom and work your way up.

The downside is that if you dont know what youre doing you can damage your siding. If the vinyl manufacturer doesnt recommend that you pressure wash the siding, then dont.

Otherwise, if its okay to pressure wash your home, then its time to get cracking. Just make sure you follow the recommendations regarding the amount of pressure to use to clean vinyl siding.

Invest In Good Insulation

If your Northern Virginia or Southern Maryland home siding is properly insulated, youll greatly reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth on the exterior of your home.

Achieve Northern Virginia or Southern Maryland home siding that neighbors will envy with these growth-stunting tips. Youll want to focus on what type of environment youre creating for your home siding. The dryer and more ventilated, the less likely youll need to battle mold. Adding routine checks to the exterior of your home will ensure that you catch mold growth right away and using anti-mold cleaners will help to keep it away.

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Mold Behind Building Wrap

GC-ing house ourselves. Siding company came today to do siding on new modular home, removed old building wrap which was falling off due to wind storms, found mold behind. Remediation, or remove all plywood . Probably the worst area is in the last pic. What would you do?? Advice please!

Apply Bleach Or Vinegar

With the use of bleach, though, you can get away with less cleaning. If you use one pint of bleach with 5 gallons of water, you will not have to clean the vinyl sidings for 9-12 months.

This strategy would be beneficial for homeowners who want to keep algae from growing in their homes for the longest time possible.

Various cleaning treatments available in most hardware stores may help homeowners maintain their vinyl siding clean and clear of algae.

However, having the house professionally power cleaned is one of the quickest and most cost-effective methods.

There are a wide variety of bleaches and alternatives available at the drug store. Thus, its best to seek expert advice before picking the right one to clean your vinyl sidings.

Recommended Reading: How To Kill Mold Before Painting

Regularly Clean Gutters And Downspout

Gutters and downspouts are two pieces of a system that keeps your home and property from becoming flooded during rain. However, gutters can only do their job right if theyre clean and well-maintained. Clogged or damaged gutters are a hazard to siding because they dump water down the side of your house. This can create the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. In fact, clogged gutters can rapidly damage siding, whether its existing siding or brand new material from a recent siding installation.

Luckily, you can avoid this situation by keeping your gutters clean. Experts recommend having your gutters cleaned twice a year. If you live near a heavily wooded area or have lots of trees on your property, you may want to clean them even more often. Be sure to take a look at your gutters after every rainstorm as well. Storms can throw branches, leaves, and other detritus in your gutters, which can cause them to overflow and damage your siding.

Why Does My Bathroom Smell Like Cigarettes

What is this? The smell of cigarette smoke through your bathroom fan is most likely related to your damper. If a backdraft damper is not installed, or if the damper is poorly installed, defective, or damaged, it will allow air from outside, or from another apartment, into the vent and out through the fan.

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How To Remove Mold And Mildew From Siding

There are several factors to consider when cleaning your siding. Questions you should ask yourself include:

• Do you have the proper tools to clean it?
• Are you trained with using a power washer?
• Can you physically do it?
• Do you have the time to do it?

Most people are unable to answer all these questions with a yes. For example, you may be busy and do not have time to wash your own house. Theres also the chance that your lack of experience could cause damage to your siding. When you need to remove mold from your houses exterior, its best to leave it to the professionals.

Professional cleaners employ a cleaning method called soft washing. Soft washing uses low-pressure techniques and biodegradable cleaning solvents to kill mold and mildew growth. When cleaning, workers take care to use proper angles to prevent water from getting underneath the siding.