Your house's attic is a great place for black mold to grow. But, nobody ever goes up there, so it's not much of a problem is it?
Actually, it can be quite a problem for the rest of the house. Black mold in the attic should be cleaned and dealt with quickly to ensure that it does not cause further problems to your house and your family.
Where Does It Grow?
Wood - People often find black mold in the attic on wooden beams and plywood used for the roof. Mold naturally feeds on wood in the environment, so it is an ideal place in your home.
Vents - Often mold grows around the vents in the attic which lead to the bathroom, kitchen or other humid parts of the house. These vents must be cleared of mold or the spores will end up in your heating and cooling system.
Walls - Mold loves to grow in walls. If your gutters are not properly maintained, water will run down along the walls of the house and cause mold to grow there.
Ceilings Below - Moldy attics will lead to moldy ceilings. By the time the mold gets into the ceiling in your home, it is very difficult to clean up. This is one reason why you should be careful about mold in the attic.
Insulation - Black mold can grow inside your attic's insulation. This is an area that can become wet easily. In this case, your house's ventilation may be spreading mold spores throughout the house.
How Should It Be Cleaned?
If there is a serious black mold problem in the attic, it may be best to contact a professional. If the mold covers more than 10 square feet, of if it grows in a hidden place that is impossible to get to without doing some construction work, you should leave it to a professional.
If you do the job yourself, it will be a big job. Scrubbing moldy areas with soap and borax should get small bits of mold out. If you have to remove a wall panel or other large material, you should line the attic with plastic. You don't want the mold to come into contact with anything else, so make sure everything is contained in plastic before you move it through other parts of the house.
How Can It Be Prevented?
Many attic black mold problems are due to age or poor construction. When a house is built, it needs to have a good attic ventilation system installed. Otherwise, humidity from the house will collect there.
On wood, scrub the mold with bleach and repaint it. There are paints available that are specifically designed to prevent mold growth. If the problem on your roof is serious, you may have to do major reconstruction work.
To keep further mold problems from occurring in your attic, install an attic fan or better ventilation. Routinely checking your vents and air ducts will also help keep mold problems from getting out of hand.
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