Mold in Your Attic – Deal Breaker?
Mold is one of the three big fear items that home buyers often ask me about during the home inspection process. Although mold is beyond the scope of the home inspection it is something I am always looking for. Simply put if you see mold in a home there is a moisture issue. Once the source of the moisture is addressed and the active mold is remediated by a qualified professional it won’t come back. It’s that simple. Mold needs moisture to grow.
Below I will focus on mold in attics and how it can affect you and your home.
Why does mold scare home owners and potential buyers?
The mold remediation industry is a multi-billion dollar industry that has used fear as their main marketing approach. Their is also a lack of metrics to quantify the risk of mold exposure in our buildings. That coupled with television dramatization about mold leads to fear. So whenever a buyer or homeowner sees mold in a home, they are very concerned.
Is mold in my home a problem?
It can be if left undressed. Again, mold in a building means you have a water problem. Dry buildings do not have mold problems. So, I wold focus on solving the water problem and your mold problem will go away. Ultimately, if remediate the mold and do not solve the water problem you will be in an endless cycle of never ending mold.
Is mold harmful to my health?
The short answer is No. The long answer is is can be with prolonged exposure. However, we have very little science to prove that mold exposure in buildings can affect human health and a great deal of evidence to suggest it can’t.
If we look at mold in our attic spaces it is not likely an indoor air quality issue. The stack effect explains how air rises through the lower levels of the home and up through the attic. Mold spore do not travel against this air flow so most of this air will make it’s way out of an upper roof cavity or vent.
If you were to find mold in your crawlspace it is much more likely that that air is going to contribute to the interior air we breath in. Simply put, we breath the air that is below our home.
Should I pay for mold testing?
I would suggest you save your money. As discussed above, mold is a symptom not the problem. If your home inspection reveals that your home may have water problems, there is the potential for concealed mold. However, if you focus on addressing the water problems, yo uwill also correct any potential mold problems.
Why does mold grow in my attic space?
Think about when you take a shower. The warmer air from inside the shower will meet the cooler air from in the room and you will end up with condensation on your bathroom mirror. The same is true for your attic space. During the winter months your roof is very cold. If the warmer interior air from your home migrates into your attic space you will end up with condensation on your roof sheathing, which will lead to mold.
Why is Mold in my attic a problem?
Although mold in your attic does not lead to indoor air quality issues, it can lead to deterioration of your roof structure. Once again, if the moisture issue is not addresses the mold will continue to grow and spread and will come up each time the home is inspected in the future.
How can I fix the mold in my attic?
To address the immediate symptom, mold, I would recommend reaching out to a qualified mold remediation contractor. However, to fix the underlining problem or moisture, the fix is usually pretty simple. There are three areas that lead to condensation in attic spaces:
- Not enough ventilation that will allow the outside air to keep the attic air the same temperature
- Not enough insulation to keep the warmer air from the home from moving into the attic space
- All ceiling penetration sealed to prevent further heat loss into the attic space
In most when I find mold in attic spaces they just need a few more vents installed or an upgrade on their insulation levels.
In summary
Mold = Water Problem. Fix your water issue and your mold issue will disappear.
A dry home is a happy home!