White Mold On Rafters In Attic

Even if your roof is somewhat new chances of a leak can increase after the roof is disturbed in any way for work around that area.

White mold on rafters in attic.

Rafters in the attic floor joists in the basement or crawlspace and wooden furniture are all places where you can find white mold. When looking for attic mold trace both leak areas and areas of poor ventilation in the attic. After all some mold shows up as a white powdery material but more often in a crawl space than an attic. It is difficult to declare this one substance over another simply based on one s senses of sight or smell.

Cover yourself in safety gear including a breathing mask safety goggles rubber gloves and protective coveralls with a hood. Attics usually have a passive ventilation system in which outside air comes in through the soffit eave vents at the bottom warms up in the attic and escapes through the can or ridge vents at the top because hot air rises. Each time it rains or snows water accumulates in your attic degrading the structure of the building and also leading to the formation of mold in the attic. Closer inspection under good lighting will reveal a fungal growth pattern of spots like tiny mushrooms.

White mold is commonly found growing on wood surfaces. The vast majority of attic mold is caused by humidity which is why white mold growth is common here. It appears white or light gray like a coating of unsettled dust. The photo at page top shows white attic mold on the roof sheathing and rafters and some brown or black mold on the attic side of ceiling drywall where we pulled back insulation.

What does attic mold look like. Empty out your attic. Place objects into thick trash bags seal the bags tightly and take them outdoors to. A leaking roof can contribute to attic mold in a major way.

White mold can be confused with efflorescence a mineral deposit caused by water seepage. In the attic photograph at left we show a mix of green gray and white attic mold. If your attic sheathing doesn t look like new construction and is visibly black or white stained like this picture you likely have a ventilation issue that needs to be addressed and mold remediated. Why does attic mold rarely if ever affect indoor air quality in homes.

How to naturally treat kill attic mold. Mold usually causes a musty odor and may cause staining that may be black brown gray white yellow or green. If you find mold on wooden furniture many times you can remove it yourself however more porous materials such as cloth on chairs or sofas will need a professional cleaning. White mold is usually found in cool and damp areas such as basement walls.

White mold tends to grow in high humidity environments rather than areas suffering from total saturation. An attic is a. The mold itself may have a cottony texture but can also be velvety leathery or.