Thursday, March 21, 2024

How Do You Get Rid Of Mold In Your Attic

What Are The Signs Of Mold Growth In The Attic

How to Clean Up Attic Mold | This Old House

Mold is everywhere, and its almost in every home. It grows in any space that gets damp, like a bathroom or an attic, and it can be especially nasty in an old house. Its not the kind of thing you want to mess around with, but knowing what to look for will help you find it before it becomes a problem.

Here are some things to keep an eye out for:

  • Black Spots: If you notice black spots on your ceiling or walls, especially if they are shiny and sticky when you wipe them off, they might be moldy and in this case you need black mold removal services.
  • Musty Odor: If you smell a musty odor in your home or office especially when the air conditioner/heater is on and in rooms with high humidity and poor ventilation but cannot find the source of the odor, it could be a mold growing inside your walls or under your floors.
  • Stains on The Ceiling: Stains on the ceiling are a sure sign mold is growing in your attic or basement, or anywhere that gets wet. Sometimes there are just a few spots, but more often there are long streaks showing mold has been building over time.
  • Health Problems: If you have been experiencing unexplained headaches, dizziness, or insomnia while living in your home for an extended period, these may be signs that you have molds growing in your residence.

I Found My Dream Home And It Has Attic Mold Now What Dont Panic

Whether youre buying or selling a home in the Pacific Northwest, mold is a fact of life. Mold spores are floating in the air all around us. They dont grow until they can attach themselves to a moist surface. Attic mold tends to go undetected because the attics not a place a homeowner spends much time hanging around in so when attic mold turns up on a home inspection, its often a surprise to both buyer and seller.

If you find mold in the attic, first, take a breath. Mold in these areas isnt a significant factor in indoor air quality, and truthfully, most molds are relatively harmless to humans. Visible mold is ready to be remedied and doesnt require costly testing. What you dont want to do is leave mold untreated, because the materials the mold has attached to can cause issues with timber and framing integrity. In the attic, mold can degrade drywall, spread to the ceiling below, and even cause problems with your roofs life expectancy.

Causes of attic mold

Mold can also grow in the attic when a home has been built during Oregons wet months. If interior wood framing and plywood had not been sufficiently dried before adding drywall and roofing material, moisture could be trapped inside.

Other factors that can contribute to attic mold are improperly vented combustion appliances like the stove or dryer improperly venting kitchen or bathroom fans improperly installed rain gutters or a leaking roof.

Eradicating mold for good is a two-part process

First, clean it up

Why Is Attic Mold Removal And Prevention Important

Moisture issues in your attic have to be resolved to avoid unnecessary problems. Mold grows in moisture and leaving it unchecked deteriorates attic sheathing and structural roof elements. Having molds in your attic means staining will become a usual phenomenon every time your attic or home is inspected. The longer you wait, the costlier it would be for mold remediation.

According to a study by the scientists of NIEHS, mold exposure has increased the risk of childhood asthma.

Even after concealing the visible mold, contamination due to mold affects the occupants and the surrounding of the structure. This is why you should consider prevention and removal of mold. While it may seem natural and unharmful. But it can cause more health issues than you think. Attic mold spores tend to spread around the house. This can affect the family even without spending more time in the attic. It spreads and that can be problematic. Several studies have proven the ill-effects of mold growth in your home. Prolonged skin rashes, chronic cough, irritation in eyes, sore throat and other such symptoms. Take precautions and measures for mold removal to keep off health risks.

Recommended Reading: How To Remove Mold From Concrete Walls

Why Should Attic Mold Be A Concern

There are two main reasons for being concerned about mold in the attic, one obvious and one not so obvious. The obvious reason is that mold can cause serious health hazards. As mold grows, it produces billions of microscopic spores that spread quickly through even small amounts of water. Left unchecked, these spores can trigger allergies and cause respiratory problems like asthma attacks, cough and a runny nose, sinusitis, and other health problems. Aside from the health risk, molds can affect the building materials as well as your personal possessions. Most people think of mold as a harmless growth, but it is actually a destructive agent. Mold breaks up the structure of materials by attacking the molecular bonds that hold them together. The result is always a weakened or destroyed material.

Considering the damages it can bring, mold should not be considered an incidental issue or something that can be ignored rather, it should be taken seriously as an issue that should be addressed as soon as possible.

How Do You Get Rid Of Mold In Your Attic

What Causes Mold to Grow in Your Home and How Should It Be Removed ...

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Considering this, is mold in the attic dangerous?

The short answer is that yes, mold in your attic or anywhere else in your home for that matter is dangerous. Even if you dont notice any serious health effects, they can occur later if the mold remains and in some cases, these effects can be severe.

Additionally, does attic mold need to be removed? Mold must be removed from attic sheathing because the spores can cause serious health problems. The effects of mold exposure depend on your health and the amount of mold youre exposed to. Common symptoms of mold exposure include coughing, wheezing, and nasal and throat irritation or congestion.

Also to know is, how much does it cost to get rid of mold in attic?

Attic Mold Removal CostAttic mold treatment costs $1,500 to $3,500 on average and can go as high as $6,000 to $10,000 if the leak is large or has gone undetected for a long time.

Why do I have mold in my attic?

The chief cause of attic mold is poor ventilation. This moisture can drip onto the attic floor or down the roof ceilings, creating a perfect scenario for mold growth. To prevent attic mold, first ensure that your attic is properly ventilated.

Read Also: What Can You Spray On Mold

What Are The Steps Of Professional Attic Mold Removal

Lets say you have a big mold problem. There is definitely more than 10 square feet of mold, you are having health issues, or you have decided DIY is not for you. What happens when you call a professional? When you have a mold remediation company come to your home, you need to know just what to expect.

Especially if you dont live in our service area, you should check out our post: How to Choose a Mold Removal Company. We answer every question you should ask a mold removal company, and give you the details you need to know.

Making A Mold Removal Spray

According to, HowToRemoveBlackMold.com, to make a mold removal spray, mix half white vinegar and half water in a spray bottle and spray down the mold colony. Tea tree oil and white vinegar are both completely natural and safe for wood and have strong fungicidal properties.For larger mold jobs, vinegar and tea tree oil may not be strong enough.

You can also try hydrogen peroxide, which is a strong but safe and natural alternative. Mix 1 part peroxide with 2 parts water and spray it on the moldy area, letting it dry for an hour. Scrub the area with a firm wire brush and allow it to dry one last time. Remove the plastic sheeting and repair any leaks to prevent new mold spores from emerging in the future. If your attempts at attic mold removal still donât work, contact a mold remediator for further advice, as some mold infestations are so large, they are better handled by a professional.

Things You Will Need

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How Can We Help

DIY removal and prevention of mold can be costly and time-consuming. Therefore, it is best to leave the work to the professionals.

At Green Attic, we specialize in attic mold remediation. We provide proper treatment and preventive solutions and offer a five years free mold removal warranty.Schedule a free inspection today.

Attic Mold: Ways To Manage And Remove It

There’s Mold in my Attic! What Caused it and How Insulwise Solves it.

The attic is a common place to store all the memories we have accumulated over the years. Attics are often loaded up with family heirlooms, old photographs, and childhood memoriesthings you want to keep forever but dont need to access on a regular basis. Attic spaces are often ideal for storage because they are far away from your homes foundations, and they are not at risk of flooding or other damages that affect ground spaces such as basements or garages.

However, they are not completely immune to damage in some cases, they can be affected by mold. Small patches of fungal growth can quickly spread and cause massive damage to attic structures and anything stored within them. Mold can also lead to many health conditions that can affect you and your family.

Fortunately, mold is an easily preventable and manageable problem. Below, we have provided a handy list of ways to find, remove, and prevent mold in your attic.

  • How to Prevent Mold from Forming
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    The Purpose Of This Remediation Is To Remove Mold From Impacted Sheathing Materials Within Attic Space Ie Plywood Plank Plywood In The While Maintaining A Clean And Safe Environment In The Remainder Of The Premises

  • SET UP A POLY CONTAINMENT BARRIER/S OR PLACEMENT OF DROP SHEETS AROUND & BELOW THE SURROUNDING ATTIC HATCH.
  • FULL INSPECTION OF ATTIC FOR POTENTIAL AIR FLOW BLOCKAGES WHICH INCLUDE PULLING BACK INSULATION TO CREATE PROPER AIR FLOW TO BEST OF OUR ABILITY.
  • REMOVAL OF MOLD FROM THE IMPACTED SHEATHING/S IN THE ATTIC WITH A PERACETIC ACID COMPOUND.
  • REMOVAL OF THIN WOOD PANELING THROUGHOUT ATTIC
  • THOROUGH SPRAY AND SCRUB OF FULL ATTIC
  • PROCESS WILL TAKE APPROX.. 4HOURS
  • RECOMMENDATION LETTER, BEFORE & AFTER IMAGES ALSO INCLUDING A CLEARANCE LETTER SIGNED BY A CERTIFIED MOLD INSPECTOR IN ACCORDANCE TO THE ONTARIO MOLD STANDARDS, WILL BE GIVEN UPON COMPLETION OF WORK
  • Why Does Mold Grow In The Attic

    Attics in the San Francisco, CA area are ideal places for mold to thrive. Often left unused, the attic is hot, humid and contains an abundant organic food sourcewood sheathing. Mold requires moisture, oxygen and a food source to grow and, the attic provides all three forms of nutrients.

    The moisture issues that cause mold growth in the attic may be attributed to any of three scenarios: insufficient or blocked ventilation, roof issues or leaks and the incorrect exhaustion of bathroom fans or dryer vents. If the attic were moisture-free, mold spores would have no chance of surviving.

    The ventilation system in the attic normally works by allowing outside air to enter through the soffit vents and escape through the top ridge vents. When the vents are blocked with insulation, however, the warm outside air will stagnate inside, condense on wood, and allow mold to develop.

    Roof leaks can lead to localized mold growth. The roof should be examined periodically for leaks. Dryer exhaust vents are designed to direct moisture outside the home. It is important that homeowners ensure the vents lead outdoors and not into the attic, where moisture and mold problems can begin.

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    What Methods Remove Mold From Attic Plywood

    The homeowners first task is to repair the moisture source. Without fixing thewater problem, the mold will only continue to flourish in the attic, despite cleaning the plywood. Remember that mold infestations occur in areas where a constant moisture source is available.

    Loose mold particles may be removed with a wet rag and detergent. When wiping away mold, be careful to avoid spreading the spores to uncontaminated areas. Steri-wiping is the process of folding a contaminated rag and using its clean side to wipe away new areas of mold.

    When nails protrude from the attic plywood, wiping the moldy areas is unfeasible. Rather, spray cleaning is an alternate method. Dry-process spray cleaning with baking soda or frozen C02 followed by HEPA vacuuming will effectively perform the task of eliminating the mold.

    What methods remove mold from attic plywood

    Unless barriers and negative air have been set up, do not sandblast areas inside the attic. Doing so will only increase the spread of mold spores throughout the area. Be aware that killing all the mold spores will be unlikely and dead spores will continue to be toxic.

    Power washing with water or other liquid solutions will be problematic. The attic insulation and other contents will become dampened with moisture, necessitating replacement. Allowing contaminated or wet insulation to remain in the attic will only accelerate the attic mold problem.

    How To Remove Attic Mold By Power Sanding

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    One such method is power sanding and wire brushing. This technique works well in smaller areas where the mold has not penetrated into the underlying material.

    And, if the mold growth is in difficult to reach areas such as in joints, then dry ice blasting is a useful method. Just make to sure to gear up safely with the appropriate mold removing PPE or personal protection equipment before diving in).

    The equipment for this technique can be very costly in time and money. And, it may even be prohibitive to the best of you DIYers. It is useful to keep in mind that getting rid of mold in your home, may very well be worth the cost of hiring a professional.

    Other blasting methods use various media to remove mold from attic surfaces including sand, soda, corn cob, dry ice and walnut shell.

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    Contact Floodtech 3 For Immediate Mold Remediation Services In Northern Virginia

    Coming across mold in your attic isnt fun and is more common than you might think. The professionals at FloodTech 3 has years of experience in providing mold removal services to residents in the Washington D.C. Metro area. They understand the dangers as well as proper methods to completely remove mold from your home before it can get worse. You can trust our team to find a permanent solution to keeping mold out of your home. To get started immediately, contact us today and remove pesky mold in your home that may be damaging your families health.

    A Roofer Looked In My Attic Saw Black Mold Especially Lower Towards The Soffit He Is Telling Me To Replace The Perimeter Of The Roof At A Minimum And Possibley The Entire Roof

    Its quite rare for mold growth to warrant the replacement of the sheathing. While it can look unsightly, it takes quite a while to structurally damage the sheathing. If youre already due for a roof replacement, replacing a few sheets makes sense. If your roof is in good shape, I rarely recommend tackling the sheathing. Focus on improving the roof ventilation to ensure the mold growth does not continue.

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    The First Step To Getting Rid Of Mold Is Identifying It In Your Home Here Are 5 Tips To Help You Figure Out Identifying Mold In The Attic

    Its not uncommon for people to only go into their attic a handful of times each year. Unfortunately, this can allow mold to cultivate and spread.

    While it may seem that this isnt an immediate issue because its confined to the attic, the mold can spread through air ducts and cause health problems for your family.

    It can also lower the value of your home.

    Need to figure out if youve got mold but arent sure what to look for? Dont worry, weve got you covered.

    Check out these five tips for identifying mold in your attic.

    What Are The Tell

    Attic Mold Cleaner
    • Dark black staining on wood surfaces If the wood in your attic shows any black discoloration, the problem has moved beyond moisture you have mold that should be removed.
    • Attic feels excessively hot or stuffy Attics should feel breezy if they are properly ventilated. When an attic is stuffy, that indicates you have a ventilation problem, which often results in mold problems.
    • Frost buildup on the underside of the roof sheathing in winter When its cold enough outside, water vapor in an attic with improper ventilation can freeze on the underside of your roof. This makes it especially easy to spot.
    • Wet insulation in the attic Not only is this a sign that you may have a mold problem, but when insulation gets damp or wet its ability to insulate becomes significantly diminished, costing you extra money to heat/cool your home.
    • Water dripping from smoke detectors, light fixtures, bath fans This is a sure sign that the floor above you has a level of moisture that needs to be addressed.
    • The smell of mildew in the attic Trust your nose. A musty or moldy smell in the attic means theres a moisture problem somewhere.

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